Patricia Caldera, Academic Coordinator

(415) 502-6690 :: patricia.caldera@ucsf.edu

Patricia was born and educated in México where she completed a Baccalaureate in Chemistry at the Universidad de Guanajuato. She received her Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from New York University. Prior to joining SEP, Dr. Caldera was a research scientist at UCSF in the Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacology departments where she collaborated on projects of drug toxicology and rational drug design (HIV protease inhibitors). While a research scientist, she participated as a scientist volunteer for numerous programs, including several at SEP, being a science fair judge, speaking at a Career Day, and leading Expanding Your Horizons presentations. She is the co-founder of the Annual Family Science Night at Jefferson Elementary School that celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2009. Patricia has always liked sharing her love for science, especially with children, and SEP was the venue that allowed her to develop a deep understanding of science education. Patricia has been an Academic Coordinator at the Science and Health Education Partnership (SEP) since 1998. Her professional experience includes: teaching students from K-12, community college, graduate and professional students, and K-12 teachers; leading professional development for teachers and scientists in areas of science inquiry and teaching strategies in science that are inclusive for all students including English Language Learners. She has made multiple presentations at state and national science education conferences on these topics. She currently serves on the University Community Partnership Program.

Kishore Hari, Science Festival Coordinator

(415) 476-8083 :: kishore.hari@ucsf.edu

Kishore Hari joined SEP in November 2009, bringing an interest in engaging public audiences in science discussion. In 2007, he founded Down to a Science, a San Francisco based science cafe, to create social dialogues fueled by scientific research. Building on its success, Kishore started BayAreaScience.org, a web portal to all of the various science institutions and events throughout the Bay Area. Kishore has a B.S. in chemistry from the University of California-Berkeley. In 2002, he co-founded Superior Adsorbents Inc., an environmental services company  

specializing in heavy metal remediation from air, soil, and water.

Sabine Jeske, Academic Coordinator

(415)-476-3756 :: sabine.jeske@ucsf.edu

Sabine began working at SEP after teaching science at the secondary level and working in wildlife research. As a high school science teacher at a low-performing school with a majority of students from underrepresented backgrounds and of low socioeconomic status, Sabine implemented many innovative instructional practices. She is a native of Germany and received her Master's degree in Biology from the University of Bonn. At SEP, she led the effort to develop SEPLessons, an online science partnership lesson database, has coordinated partnership programs at the K-12 level, and taught Chemistry of Life. She currently has a lead role in our newest initiative, Pathways.

 

Jennifer Chu Kaelin, Academic Coordinator

(415) 476-6937 :: jennifer.kaelin@ucsf.edu

Before coming to SEP in 2006, Jennifer was involved in science education both as a middle school math and science teacher, as well as previously serving as coordinator for the Wild City! environmental education program at the California Academy of Sciences. While at SEP, Jennifer has been the lead coordinator of the City Science program, where she works with K-5 teachers and scientist volunteers, helping to support inquiry-based science lessons in the classroom, that they then go on to teach to other teachers during the week-long City Science Summer Institute. She has also developed science and professional development curriculum, led workshops for doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows and teachers, and been involved in program design. Jennifer received a B.S. in Biology from the University of California at San Diego, a M.S. in Environmental Studies from San José State University and a teaching credential from Santa Clara University.

Ben Koo, Academic Coordinator

(415) 502-6689 :: ben.koo@ucsf.edu

Ben joined SEP in October of 2008, bringing a variety of experience in both science research and education. Ben received his doctorate degree in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry at Yale University. During his time at Yale, Ben developed an interest in science education while volunteering to teach hands-on science lessons in a 2nd grade classroom with his research colleagues. Following his graduate studies, Ben decided to further pursue opportunities in education by becoming an Oakland Teaching Fellow, teaching 6th and 7th grade science at Bret Harte Middle School in Oakland, California. As a full-time teacher, he gained experience teaching a diverse group of students including English language learners and students with special needs in an urban public school setting.   Ben has helped coordinate a number of programs at SEP including Bio&ChemTeach, Teaching Workshops for Scientists, City Science and the Current Science Seminar Series.  Ben is currently involved in developing SEPLessons, SEP's online lesson plan database, and is helping to coordinate MedTeach and the new Pathways program.

Jean MacCormack, Academic Coordinator

(415) 476-0338 :: jean.maccormack@ucsf.edu

Before joining SEP, Jean had extensive experience with community, educational and medical institutions, and with bringing resources to bear on a variety of community and educational needs. With a background in social work and elementary education, she has witnessed the exquisite power of partnerships to promote creative problem solving while fulfilling a diversity of needs and fostering mutually respectful relationships. While working as the Science Resource Coordinator at an SFUSD elementary school, she worked closely with teachers in implementing the elementary science curriculum, and was an avid borrower from SEP’s Resource Center. She joined SEP as an Academic Coordinator in 2004 and her program responsibilities currently center on SF Science (Schools Focused on Science), the Daly Ralston Resource Center, and the High School Summer Internship Program. She holds a BA in Economics from Wellesley College and graduate diplomas in Social Work and Social Administration from the London School of Economics.

Lin Moses, Administrative Assistant

(415) 502-6324 :: lin.moses@ucsf.edu

Lin has over 14 years administrative and financial management experience working at both UCSF and UCSB.  She came to UCSF in 1982 and worked in several departments in both Medicine and Dentistry, including Radiation Oncology, Stomatology and Endocrinology, before transferring to UC Santa Barbara.  There, she served as grants manager in a research institute for the social sciences.  Lin returned to UCSF in 2000 and worked at SEP as assistant to the director before retiring in 2002.   She happily rejoined the SEP staff in May of 2006 where she once again serves as Assistant to the Co-Directors.

 

Katherine Nielsen, Co-Director

(415) 502-5137 :: katherine.nielsen@ucsf.edu

Katherine has spent nearly 10 years at SEP: she coordinated Triad, a gender equity in science program, at SEP from 1995 to 1997, returned to SEP in 2001, and became Co-Director in 2005. She has experience in both the education and scientific fields, having taught science at the middle and high school, community college, and undergraduate level; conducted research in developmental neurobiology; and completed a Masters Degree in Education from Stanford University and one in Biological Sciences from Montana State University. She has served as PI or Co-PI on awards addressing professional development, partnership, and diversity issues from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, National Institutes of Health, California Science Project, and others. She is a co-author of Girls in Science: A Framework for Action (NSTA Press) and recently led a collaborative effort to draft a book on science education partnerships.

Rebecca Smith, Co-Director

(415) 514-0588 :: rebecca.smith@ucsf.edu

Rebecca started her career in science education as a scientist volunteer in SEP’s programs while a graduate student in Biochemistry at UCSF. Her partnerships with extraordinary teachers and their students convinced her that this was a career path she wanted to pursue. After completing her doctorate, Rebecca began to work at SEP full time in 2000. In 2005, she was named Co-Director of SEP. Through her work, she has developed extensive experience developing and implementing teacher-scientist partnership programs, teaching doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows, and leading professional development for teachers. She has co-developed and taught two innovative courses that use active teaching techniques to help elementary and middle school teachers understand key concepts in biology and chemistry. Rebecca has extensive program evaluation, grant writing and administration experience. She serves as PI on SEP’s NIH NCRR SEPA award as well as grants from state and private funding agencies. Rebecca has also served on the Advisory Boards of other science education projects both locally and nationally.

Lakisha Witzel, Academic Coordinator

(415) 476-0337:: lakisha.witzel@ucsf.edu

Lakisha began working at SEP in October of 2008, with a background in biology and experience teaching in various informal science education settings.  Lakisha received her M.S. from San Francisco State University where she investigated the impact that scientists working in partnership with elementary school teachers have on 4th and 5th grade students.  While at SEP, Lakisha’s efforts have been focused on the Daly Ralston Resource Center, various partnership programs, and professional development for both teachers and scientists.  She currently leads City Science and SEP’s new program, City Science Curriculum Support (CS2), a supporting partnership program focused on FOSS for teachers who participated in SEP’s City Science Summer Institute.