Graduate Faculty Focus | Jennifer Schroeder

"What I like most about Hood is how personal the education experience is here – classes are small, students get the attention they need from their professors, and the professors take educating students very seriously."

Jennifer Schroeder, Adjunct Professor of Bioinformatics

Program

Bioinformatics (M.S.)
Bioinformatics (Certificate)
Environmental Biology (M.S.)

Department

Biology
Computer Science & Information Technology

Faculty
Graduate School
Graduate Student

Academics
Natural Sciences
Math & Computer Sciences

11/16/2020

Jennifer Schroeder, P.h.D., is an adjunct professor at Hood College. Dr. Schroeder teaches graduate level statistics courses for students in the Bioinformatics and Environmental Biology master's programs.

Please briefly share about your educational and professional background.

I teach graduate level statistics courses for students in the Bioinformatics and Environmental Biology master's degree programs. I am also a statistician who works as a consultant in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry.

My educational background is in epidemiology and public health: I have a Ph.D. in Epidemiology from Johns Hopkins.

How did you end up teaching at Hood College? What do you appreciate the most about Hood?

I met Miranda Darby, Ph.D. when she was a postdoctoral fellow in Bob Yolken’s lab at Hopkins, and I was collaborating with Bob as a consulting statistician; this ultimately led to my teaching as an adjunct at Hood.

What I like most about Hood is how personal the education experience is here – classes are small, students get the attention they need from their professors, and the professors take educating students very seriously.

What are some of the most rewarding teaching moments for you?

Some of my proudest moments in teaching have been when a student has said to me that something they had struggled to understand, like statistical modeling, suddenly makes sense, or that now they can read and truly understand the scientific literature because of what they learned in one of my classes – that’s huge!

There are more students choosing to pursue Bioinformatics. What do you think makes Hood’s Bioinformatics degree different/unique?

What makes Hood College unique is the personal approach to education, and that sets the Bioinformatics program apart as well.

Do you have any advice for students who just graduated from the program and are looking to find a job?

My advice would be let people in your network - professional as well as personal - know you are looking for a job, and ask if they are aware of any positions you may be suited for.

I have gotten most of the jobs I have had by inquiring within my network.

Inspired by Jennifer Schroeder's academic journey? Explore Hood's graduate programs including the Bioinformatics master's program by clicking here.