Dr. Daniel Dries
- Education:
- University of Delaware, Bachelor of Science
University of California, San Diego, Ph.D.
Biography
Dr. Dan Dries (pronounced “Dreez”) is a chemistry education researcher with general interests in active learning pedagogies, assessment of student learning, and creating productive learning environments for both students and instructors. Currently, his research interests include how active and inquiry-based learning impact student motivation, the impact of peer interactions on STEM identity, and the development of transformative communities of practice.
Trained as a biochemist and molecular neuroscientist specializing in Alzheimer’s disease,
Dan’s research now focuses on using theories of motivation and identity to create
more equitable learning environments for all students. Dan teaches General Chemistry
and Biochemistry, using evidence-based practices – including active learning, inquiry-based
pedagogies, and alternative grading – to improve student outcomes. An Education Associate
for the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), Dan is a
member of the Editorial Board for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education and
serves as Chair of the Fellowships Committee for the International Union of Biochemistry
and Molecular Biology (IUBMB).
Featured Publications
Daniel R. Dries, Jessica Bell, and J. Ellis Bell. “Types of CUREs: From First Year
to Capstone” in Martinez-Vaz, B. and Bell, J.E. (Eds.) Molecular Life Science CUREs:
Design, Implementation, and Assessment. Vol 1493. (2025) Washington, D.C.: American
Chemical Society.
Daniel R. Dries, Josh T. Beckham, Ashley Vater, and Shane Austin. “CUREs: Networks
and Communities” in Martinez-Vaz, B. and Bell, J.E. (Eds.) Molecular Life Science
CUREs: Design, Implementation, and Assessment. (2025) Washington, D.C.: American Chemical
Society.
Ludmila Tyler, Peter J. Kennelly, Shelly Engelman, Kirsten F. Block, Jennifer C. Bobenko,
Jaclyn Catalano, Jesica A. Jones, Margaret I. Kanipes-Spinks, Yang Mooi Lim, Jennifer
Loertscher, Tejiri Olafimihan, Hailey Reiss, Territa L. Upchurch-Poole, Yufeng Wei,
Kimberly J. Linenberger Cortes, Victoria Del Gaizo Moore, and Daniel R. Dries. “Evolution
of a Self-Renewing, Participant-Centered Workshop Series in BMB Assessment.” Biochemistry
and Molecular Biology Education. 2024 Jan-Feb;52(1):58-69. doi: 10.1002/bmb.21789.
Epub 2023 Oct 10. PMID: 37815098.
Daniel R. Dries and Yang Mooi Lim. Standards for the Doctoral Degrees in the Molecular
Biosciences: Recommendations of the Education and Training Committee of the International
Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB). Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Education. 2023 Jul-Aug;51(4):360-369. doi: 10.1002/bmb.21731. Epub 2023 May 23. PMID:
37218640.
Ursula J. Williams and Daniel R. Dries. “Supporting fledgling scientists: The importance
of autonomy in a guided-inquiry laboratory course.” (2022) Journal of Chemical Education.
99 (2): 701-707. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c00835
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Recent Creative, Scholarly Work and Publications
- Josh T Beckham, Daniel R Dries, Bonnie L Hall, Rachel M Mitton-Fry, Shelly Engelman, Charmita Burch, Roderico Acevedo, Pamela Mertz, Didem Vardar-Ulu, Swati Agrawal, Kristin Fox, Shane Austin, Margaret A Franzen, Henry V Jakubowski, Walter R P Novak, Rebecca Roberts, Alberto I Roca, Kristen Procko. “Seeing Eye-to-Eye? Comparing Faculty and Student Perceptions of Biomolecular Visualization Assessments.” Education Sciences. Published online January 15, 2024.