天美社区

Miriam Segura, Ph.D.

Miriam Segura

Professor, Biology

Harry B. Forester Eminent Scholars Chair

Phone706-867-2951

Office locationHealth and Natural Sciences, 414,

Area(s) of Expertise: Cell Biology, Molecular biology, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (Advising Area of Expertise: Biology, Pre-Medicine)

Courses Taught

  • BIOL 1101/L - Biology: A Human Perspective
  • BIOL 1107K - Principles of Biology I 
  • HNRS 3000 - Honors Research Methods
  • BIOL 3240K - Cell Biology
  • BIOL 4250 - Advanced Cell Biology
  • BIOL 4700 - Senior Seminar

Education

  • Ph.D., Biochemistry, Cell & Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 2003
  • A.B., Molecular Biology, Princeton University, 1998

Research/Special Interests

Dr. Segura-Totten’s research centers on studying pedagogical interventions that increase critical thinking skills in students. In particular, Dr. Segura-Totten is interested in how college students approach the reading and analysis of scientific research articles, methods for reading articles that increase student comprehension of topics in biology, as well as the learning gains associated with the analysis of research articles.

Awards:

  • Inspiring Leaders in STEM Award - 2017
  • University System of Georgia (USG) Regents’ Teaching Excellence Award (Felton Jenkins, Jr. Hall of Fame Faculty Award) – 2017
  • 天美社区 Distinguished Teaching Award - 2016

Publications

Washburn, M.E., Shanks R.A., McCartney M, Robertson C.L., Segura-Totten M. (2023). J Microbiol Biol Educ.

Lee S., Zhong M., Foster C., Segura-Totten M., McCartney M. (2022) From Novice To Expert: An Assessment To Measure Strategies Students Implement While Learning To Read Primary Scientific Literature. J Microbiol Biol Educ. 23(3):e00126-22.

Segura-Totten, M, Dewsbury, B., Lo, S.M., Bailey, E.G., Beaster-Jones, L., Bills, R.J., et al. (2021). Frontiers in Education 6.

Howard KN, Stapleton EK, Nelms AA, Ryan KC, Segura-Totten M. Insights on biology student motivations and challenges when reading and analyzing primary literature. PLoS One. (2021) May 10;16(5):e0251275. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251275. PMID: 33970957; PMCID: PMC8109785.

Rhinehart WD, Laidlaw AJ, O'Neal AM, Toller JA, Segura-Totten M, Shanks RA, Kanak AE. Characterization and Genome Sequence of Mycobacterium Phage XianYue. Microbiol Resour Announc. 2020 Jun 18;9(25):e00459-20. doi: 10.1128/MRA.00459-20. PMID: 32554787; PMCID: PMC7303407.

Colston LE, Segura-Totten M, Shanks RA. Characterization and Genome Sequence of the Mycobacteriophage Donny. Microbiol Resour Announc. 2020 Jul 23;9(30):e00373-20. doi: 10.1128/MRA.00373-20. PMID: 32703827; PMCID: PMC7378026

Agarwal S, Smith M, De La Rosa I, Verba KA, Swartz P, Segura-Totten M, Mattos C. Development of a structure-analysis pipeline using multiple-solvent crystal structures of barrier-to-autointegration factor. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol. 2020 Oct 1;76(Pt 10):1001-1014. doi: 10.1107/S2059798320011341. Epub 2020 Sep 17. PMID: 33021502.

Nelms AA and Segura-Totten M. Expert-novice comparison reveals pedagogical implications for students' analysis of primary literature. Cell Biology Education – Life Sciences Education 18:ar56, 1–12, Winter 2019. 

Shanks RA, Hazel AN, Jones WH, Segura-Totten M. 2019. Genome Sequence of Mycobacterium Phage LilHazelnut. Micro Res Announc May 2019, 8 (19) e00431-19

Segura-Totten M. 2018. Revamping a Course to Change the Climate. In M.L. Crowe and B. Guerrant (Ed.), Mentoring through the Transitions: Voices on the Verge. (pp. 35-36). Washington, DC: Council on Undergraduate Research.

Smith M., Segura-Totten M., West K. 2018. QR code lecture activity as a tool for increasing nonmajors biology students’ enjoyment of interaction with their local environment. J. Microbiol. Biol. Educ. 19(1): doi:10.1128/jmbe.v19i1.1453

Fleischacker CL, Segura-Totten M, SEA-PHAGES, Garlena RA, Jacobs-Sera D, Pope WH, Russell DA, and Hatfull GF. 2017. Genome Sequence of Mycobacterium Phage CrystalP. Genome Announc. Jul 13; 5(28)

Segura-Totten M, Dalman D.E. 2013. The CREATE method does not result in greater gains in critical thinking than a more traditional method of analyzing the primary literature. J Microbiol Biol Educ. 14(2), 166-75.

Segura-Totten, M. 2012. Initiating Undergraduate Research Through a Task Force. In J. Kinkaid and L. Blockus (Ed.), Undergraduate Research Offices & Programs: Models & Practices (pp. 214-219). Washington, DC: Council on Undergraduate Research.

Segura-Totten, M. 2012. Jim and the forgotten embryos: a case study on stem cell-based therapy. Retrieved August 21, 2012

Tifft K, Segura-Totten M, Lee KK, and Wilson KL. 2006. BAF-Like: A proposed regulator of BAF. Exp Cell Res. 312, 478-87.

Segura-Totten M and Wilson KL. 2004. BAF: roles in chromatin, nuclear structure and retrovirus integration. Trends Cell Biol., 14: 261-6.

Liu J, Lee KK, Segura-Totten M, Neufeld E, Wilson KL, and Gruenbaum Y. 2003. MAN1 and emerin have overlapping function(s) essential for chromosome segregation and cell division in C. elegans. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 100:4598-603.

Segura-Totten M, Kowalski AK, Craigie R, and Wilson KL. 2002. Barrier-to-autointegration factor: major roles in chromatin decondensation and nuclear assembly. J. Cell Biol., 158:475-85.

Segura-Totten M and Wilson KL. 2001. Virology. HIV--breaking the rules for nuclear entry. Science, 294:1016-7.

Personal Information

Dr. Segura-Totten was born and raised in Puerto Rico, so she is fluent in both English and Spanish. She came to the U.S. to attend college and has since lived in several states on the east coast, as well as having traveled to Latin America and Europe. She loves to spend time with her parents, son, and friends. She welcomes all students, especially those wishing to converse in Spanish or learn more about her culture and research, to contact her.