Jenny Amos

Jenny Amos
Jenny Amos she/her/hers
Teaching Associate Professor
Biomedical and Translational Sciences
(217) 333-4212
3242 Everitt Laboratory

For More Information

Education

  • Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, Cell and Developmental Biology Concentration, University of South Carolina, 2008
  • B.S., Chemical Engineering, Minor in Computer Science, Texas Tech University, 2004

Academic Positions

  • 2023-2024, Interim Associate Head, Biomedical and Translational Sciences, Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
  • 2020-current, Director of MEng Program, Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • 2020-current, Teaching Professor, Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • 2015-2020, Teaching Associate Professor, Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • 2017-2020, Director of Student Assessment and Evaluation, Quality Officer, Carle Illinois College of Medicine
  • 2012-2015, Sr Lecturer and Chief Program Advisor, Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • 2010-2015, Director of Undergraduate Programs, Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • 2009-2012, Lecturer and Chief Academic Advisor, Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Documents

Professional Activities

  • Guest Editor, Journal of Biomedical Engineering Education, 2023-2024

Other Professional Employment

  • Sr IDEAL Scholar and Program Assessment Workshop Facilitator, ABET, 2012-present
  • Postdoctoral Associate, Syracuse Biomaterials Research Institute, Syracuse University, 2008-2009

Other Professional Activities

  • BMES Education Committee, Chair, 2022-2025
  • Member, Board of Directors, BMES, 2020-2023
  • BMES ABET Commissioner, 2018-present
  • BMES Program Evaluator, 2012-present

Teaching Statement

My teaching philosophy involves focusing on big ideas, applied engineering and using systems-thinking approaches to problem solving. I like to introduce a little bit of theory behind topics, either the historical perspective or show derivations for relationships, and then show application. I also use projects as a way for students to explore concepts and apply their knowledge. For example, I teach our capstone design sequence where the students work on clinical and industry relevant projects and I also teach the Bioreactor Lab where students learn techniques and experimental design for tissue engineering careers. This also compliments my role in the department to look at the curriculum as a large system and analyze overlap, map concepts through courses, and make sure that we are covering what needs to be covered. We have a really unique curriculum and the faculty focus a lot of time and energy on constantly improving it.

Student Organizations

Design Teams

  • EMR for Sierra Leone, 2019-2020

Other Undergraduate Advising Activities

  • BMES EOH Faculty Mentor

Research Statement

My main research objective is to study applications of research-based pedagogy in the classroom and across a curriculum as well as design of assessment strategies for measuring student learning. Most of my educational research is at the program level, focusing on changes in faculty development and training needed to support new pedagogy as well as tracking student performance and development across the curriculum. I also have a passion for bringing professional skills (communication, ethics, historical perspectives, intercultural competency, and life-long learning) into the forefront of engineering education. My work spans K-12 outreach, undergraduate, graduate, and professional education settings.

Graduate Research Opportunities

My lab is always looking for outstanding candidates with an interest in education and skills in computing, statistics, modeling, and creating visual representations of data. Lab members will work in a multidisciplinary team to solve problems in engineering and medical education.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

My lab is always looking for outstanding candidates with an interest in education and skills in computing, statistics, modeling, and creating visual representations of data. Lab members will work in a multidisciplinary team to solve problems in engineering and medical education.

Research Interests

  • Medical Education - trainees and practicing physician learning
  • K12 Education - teacher development and student learning
  • Engineering Education - formal and informal learning expereinces

Selected Articles in Journals

Articles in Conference Proceedings

  • Liu, Hongye, Lawrence Angrave, David Dalpiaz, Chrysafis Vogiatzis, Zhiyuan Xiao, Sujit Varadhan, Jeremy Louie, Deepak Moparthi, and Jennifer Amos. "A Digital Book Based Pedagogy to Improve Course Content Accessibility for Students with and without Disabilities in Engineering or other STEMcourses (WIP)." In 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition. 2022. (Awarded Best Paper!)
  • Liu, Hongye, Deepak Moparthi, Lawrence Angrave, Jennifer Amos, David Dalpiaz, Chrysafis Vogiatzis, Sujit Varadhan, Yun Huang, and Rebecca Reck. "Understanding the needs of students with and without disabilities for inclusive UDL-based design of Engineering courses through learning management systems." In 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition. 2022.
  • Gertner, Yael, Juan Alvarez, Benjamin Cosman, and Jennifer Amos. "WORK IN PROGRESS Understanding Student Learning Profiles in Second Year Problem-Solving Engineering Classes." In 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition. 2022.
  • S Angra, CW Castleberry, O Stadie, and JR Amos, “Using Gradescope to Facilitate Tag-Enhanced Student Feedback,” Proceedings of the 52nd ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE '21), March 13--20, 2021. doi 10.1145/3408877.3432498
  • W P King, J R Amos, E Bethke, “Emergency Ventilator for COVID-19,” 2020 BMES Virtual Annual Meeting, October 14-17, 2020. Submission ID #1071.
  • Rathslag, M. P., & Van Vleet, B. R., & Amos, J. R., & Jensen, K. (2020, June), WIP: Lab Benchmarking: How Are We Using Lab Courses in BME Curricula? Paper presented at 2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access, Virtual On line . 10.18260/1-2--35553
  • Silva, M., & Shaffer, E. G., & Nytko, N., & Amos, J. R. (2020, June), A Case Study of Early Performance Prediction and Intervention in a Computer Science Course Paper presented at 2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access, Virtual On line . 10.18260/1-2--33977
  • Mussulman, D., & Jensen, K., & Amos, J. R., & Angrave, L., & Flanagan, K., & Fagen-Ulmschneider, W., & Ozymko, N., & Adhikari, R., & Osborn, J. (2020, June), Measuring Impact: Student and Instructor Experience Using an Online Queue Paper presented at 2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access, Virtual On line . 10.18260/1-2--34961
  • Amos, J. R., & Herman, G. L., & Pool, M., & Cross, K. J., & Insana, M. F., & Burks, G. R. (2019, June), Board 4: Leveraging Undergraduate Curriculum Reform to Impact Graduate Education: A Case Study Paper presented at 2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Tampa, Florida. 10.18260/1-2--32341
  • Jensen, K., & Amos, J. R., & Angrave, L., & Flanagan, K., & Mussulman, D., & Schmitz, C. D., & Fagen-Ulmschneider, W. (2019, June), Adoption of an Online Queue App for Higher Education: A Case Study Paper presented at 2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Tampa, Florida. 10.18260/1-2--32042
  • Chatterjee, I., & Robinson, T., & Kirn, A., & Amos, J. R. (2019, June), Board 28: Progress on a Mixed Methods Research Project Studying Interest and Identity of Participants Engaged in Engineering Camp Activities – Methods and Preliminary Results Paper presented at 2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Tampa, Florida. 10.18260/1-2--32312
  • Robinson, T., & Kirn, A., & Amos, J. R., & Chatterjee, I. (2019, June), Board 124: Influencing Student Engineering Interest and Identity: A Study Investigating the Effect of Engineering Summer Camps on Middle and High School Students (Work in Progress) Paper presented at 2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Tampa, Florida. 10.18260/1-2--32218
  • Burks, G. R., & Amos, J. R., & Castleberry, C. W. (2019, June), Embedded Tagging and Radar Map Shape Analysis for Assessing Student Outcomes Paper presented at 2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Tampa, Florida. 10.18260/1-2--32702
  • Cross, K.J., Clancy, K.B.H., Mendenhall, R., Imoukhuede, P.I., Amos, J.R. (2018), "Intersecting Identities of Women in Engineering", Proceedings of the 125th ASEE Conference and Expedition, Salt Lake, UT.
  • Chatterjee, I., Kirn, A, Amos, J.R. (2018), "The effect of engineering summer camps on middle school students interest and identity", Proceedings of the 125th ASEE Conference and Expedition, Salt Lake, UT.
  • Amos, J.R. and Dupont, G.R., (2018), "WIP: Are we on Track with Tracks", Proceedings of the 125th ASEE Conference and Expedition, Salt Lake, UT.
  • Amos, J.R. and Dupont, G.R., (2018), "Creating an Engineering-based medical school to address a critical gap in medical innovation", Proceedings of the 125th ASEE Conference and Expedition, Salt Lake, UT.
  • Cross, K.J., Clancy, K.B.H., Hunter, C.D.A, and Amos, J.R., (2017), “The Double Bind of Race and Gender: A Look into the Experiences of Women of Color in Engineering”, Proceedings of the 124th ASEE Conference and Expedition, Columbus, OH.
  • Amos, J.R. and Brunet, M.C. (2017), “Pre-post Assessment in a Speaking Communications Course and the Importance of Reflection in Student Development of Speaking Skills”, Proceedings of the 124th ASEE Conference and Expedition, Columbus, OH.
  • Herman, G.L., Amos, J.R., Cross, K.J., Silverman, D., Bashir, R., Loewenstein, J. (2017), “Defining the Frontiers of Bioengineering Education at Illinois and Beyond”, Proceedings of the 124th ASEE Conference and Expedition, Columbus, OH.
  • Rodrigues, Michelle A., et al. "Life History Transitions: Parents Still Matter more than Female Friends for Adolescent Girls' Mental Health."86th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY. Vol. 162. 2017, p 335. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.23210
  • Amos, J. R., & Choi, H. H., & Long, K. D., & Rusch, A. (2016, June), Work in Progress: Assessing Intercultural Competency in an E-learning Environment Paper presented at 2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, New Orleans, Louisiana. 10.18260/p.27213
  • Amos, J.R., Choi, H., Long, K.D., Rusch, A. (2016), “Assessing Intercultural Competency in an E-Learning Environment”, Proceedings of the 123rd ASEE Annual Conference and Expedition, New Orleans, LA.
  • Amos, J.R., Jensen, K., Pool, M., Vozenilek, J. (2016), "Immersive First-year Experience for Bioengineering Curricula", Proceedings of the 123rd ASEE Annual Conference and Expedition, New Orleans, LA.
  • Amos, J. R., & Hunter, C. D., & Clancy, K. B. H., & Tillman, A. S. (2015, June), Race, Inclusion, and Science: Things That Really Do Go Together Paper presented at 2015 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Seattle, Washington. 10.18260/p.24636
  • Amos, J. R., & Vogel, T. J., & Imoukhuede, P. (2015, June), Assessing Teaming Skills and Major Identity Through Collaborative Sophomore Design Projects Across Disciplines Paper presented at 2015 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Seattle, Washington. 10.18260/p.23584
  • Sutton, B. P., & Amos, J. R., & Ramirez Garcia, M. A., & DUPE Bailey, J. L. (2013, June), Works in Progress: Development of Integrated Computer Simulations and Laboratory Exercises for Teaching Human Physiology Paper presented at 2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Atlanta, Georgia. 10.18260/1-2--22784
  • Amos, Jennifer R. Capstone Experiences That Build Discipline Identity. Capstone Conference Proceedings, 2012.

Book Reviews (in print or accepted)

  • Frame, M.D., Frame L.D. (2023). Bioengineering in Extreme Environments, Cognella.
  • Smith, C.A. and Campbell, S.W. (2011). A First Course in Differential Equations, Modeling, and Simulation, Taylor & Francis.

Other Publications

  • “AFM Scanning of Cheek Cells,” Benchfly Recording, IGERT June 2011.

Bulletins

Magazine Articles

  • “New Course Tracks to Industry, Engineering at Illinois Magazine, 3 (1), p 10.
  • “Simulated Practice Makes Perfect,” Engineering at Illinois Magazine, 3 (1), p 11.
  • “Seniors develop Bioreactor lab to help undergraduates gain hands-on experience" Engineering at Illinois, Top Stories, April 2011.

Conferences Organized or Chaired

  • American Society of Engineering Education, Illinois-Indiana Regional Conference Chair 2020-2021
  • Organizing Committe, Biomedical Engineering Educator Community (BEEC) Conference, Jan 2020
  • Section Organizer, BME Council of Chairs Meeting, April 2019
  • Program Committee, ABET Symposium 2016, Chair for Program Assessment Track

Other Scholarly Activities

  • CITL Assessment Fellow
  • I-STEM Affiliate

Professional Societies

  • Chair of National BMES Education Committee
  • Board Member, BMES
  • ABET Commissioner and Member of National Training Committee
  • Member of National BMES Accreditation and Assessment Committee
  • BMES Member and BMES Student Chapter Advisor

Service on University Committees

  • Council on Learning Outcomes Assessment, Senate representative, 2020-current
  • Council on Learning Outcomes Assessment, Engineering representative, 2017-2020
  • Provost’s Assessment Working Group, 2015-2017
  • Campus Education Policy Board, 2015-2017

Service on Department Committees

  • MEng Internal Advisory Board, 2019-current
  • BIOE Curriculum Committee, 2010-2020

Service on College Committees

  • Chair, Curriculum Oversight Committee, 2016-2018
  • Case Development Director, 2017-2018
  • Associate Course Director for JumpStart orientation, 2017-2018
  • Director of Assessment and Evaluation/Quality Officer, 2017-2020
  • Assessment and Accreditation Committee, Chair, 2013-2020
  • Leaning Into 2020, 2020 summer 

Service on Campus Committees

  • Senate Education Policy Committee, 2013-2016, 2019-2022
  • Office for Student Conflict Resolution Sub-Committee on Student Conduct, 2013-2015, 2020-2022 
  • Internal Advisory Board, Center for Global Studies, 2019-2021
  • Council for Institutional Learning Outcomes Assessment CILOA, 2018-present

Other Outside Service

  • University of Florida, Biomedical Engineering Department Advisory Board, 2020-2023
  • NSF ERC Center Cell Manufacturing and Technology (CMAT) Workforce Development Board, Lead Institution: Georgia Tech
  • Wolters Kluwer Firecracker Advisory Board

Teaching Honors

  • Campus Teaching Excellence Award (2021 )
  • College of Engineering Teaching Excellence Award ( 2019)
  •  ASEE Teacher of the Year for Illinois-Indiana  ( 2018)
  • Distinguished Teacher Scholar (May 2015)
  • Rose Award for Teaching Excellence (May 2013)
  • Amy L. Devine Faculty Recognition Award (2012)

Research Honors

  • Fulbright Scholar, Brazil (2020-2023 )
  • Assessment Fellow (2014)
  • Education Innovation Fellow (May 2013)
  • Fulbright Scholar, France (2015-2018)

Public Service Honors

  • OUtstanding Campus Representative (2021 )
  • Chancellors Public Engagement Award (2014-2015)

Other Honors

  • Fellow (2021 )
  • Fellow (2020 )
  • Laura Hahn Faculty Scholar (2021 )
  • Honorary Knight of St Patrick (2015)
  • Outstanding Academic Advisor (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)

Improvement Activities

  • Process Oritented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL) Training Workshop, December 2018
  • Engineering Ambassador Workshop Training as Faculty Mentor, 2012
  • IDEAL Scholar Training, 2011

Recent Courses Taught

  • BIOE 200 - BIOE Career Immersion
  • BIOE 201 - Conservation Principles Bioeng
  • BIOE 303 - Quantitative Physiology Lab
  • BIOE 435 - Senior Design I
  • BIOE 436 - Senior Design II
  • BIOE 498 RI (BIOE 598 RI, BIOE 598 RIO) - Regulatory & Safety Issues
  • BIOE 498 RI (BIOE 598 RI, BIOE 598 RIO) - Regulatory and Safety Issues
  • BIOE 570 - Seminar Series
  • BIOE 571 - Biological Measurement I
  • BIOE 572 - Biological Measurement II
  • BIOE 575 - Capstone Project
  • ENG 110 (TE 110) - Comm & Pres Engr
  • ENG 298 JA - Intro to Sustainable Eng
  • ENG 411 - Technical Communications
  • ENG 411 (ENG 498 EA, ENG 198 EA, ENG 198 EB) - Technical Communication
  • ENG 498 EA - Technicagl Communication