Douglas Baird

Biography

"Douglas Baird, PhD, is director of the Division of Pre-medical and Pre-health Programs at Drexel University College of Medicine. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing the design, academic rigor and analysis of outcomes of the division’s programs with an emphasis on enhancing the quality of programming; guiding the professional school application process; interprofessional education and advisement in career choice; professional development; and increasing clinical and community service opportunities for students. Education: PhD in Biology - Yale University (1988) MPhil in Biology - Yale University 1987) MS in Biology - Yale University (1986) BS in Life Sciences - Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1980)"

Research Interest

After earning his PhD, Dr. Baird served as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Pathology at the College of Physicians & Surgeons at Columbia University. He researched axonal growth and target neuron selection in the laboratory of C.A. Mason. At the Howard Hughes Medical Institute of Rockefeller University, he investigated the regulation of brain-specific genes during cerebellar development in the laboratory of N. Heintz. He has received grant support for numerous studies in the field of neurobiology and anatomy. More recently, Dr. Baird's interests lie in the study of teaching and academics. In 2014 and 2015 he was the principal investigator for "TUteach: Serving Philadelphia By Preparing Better Science and Math Teachers, Phase 1 and 2," funded by the Verizon Foundation. He also served as PI for "Mobile Device Intiative for Step-2," a sub-award from the University of Texas, Austin. He was co-PI for "New Teacher Support Program: A Model for Retaining and Sustaining Early Career STEM Teachers," funded by the National Science Foundation (PI: Victor Donnay, Bryn Mawr College).