The best aspects of this course included the comprehensive overview of methods for directed evolution of proteins and applications, the case studies that helped illustrate the case studies presented by the instructor, and the instructor’s enthusiasm for the content. Some students felt that their grade being so heavily reliant on two exams put undue stress on them. Another student wished that the course notes had been posted online. Suggestions included providing students with more supplemental material and giving them a clearer indication of exam/presentation/classroom expectations. Prospective students should know that their final grade consists of the combined percentages between two exams.

The best aspects of the course included the exposure to cutting edge scientific studies and the mix of theory and application included among the course materials. Some students appreciated the weekly scientific journal readings as the articles showed recent developments in the field, while others found that the journal articles were tedious, dry, and difficult to read. Students suggested that having lecture notes distributed would have been beneficial, and that expanding the grading system to include more than three tests would have been preferred. Prospective students wil find a background in molecular biology to be beneficial, and should be prepared to acclimate themselves to working with journal articles.