Mattoo and Olson recognized for outstanding teaching
04-22-2026
Two Purdue Biological Sciences faculty members are being recognized for the ways they bring research, innovation and student-centered learning into the classroom.
Matt Olson and Seema Mattoo have been named recipients of the 2026 Al and Martha Chiscon Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching. The award honors faculty who demonstrate a strong commitment to undergraduate education and consistently create meaningful learning experiences for their students.
Olson has reshaped the traditional lab experience by developing a full-semester Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) for first-year students. Since 2017, the course has allowed students to meet their introductory lab requirement while participating in hands-on, discovery-driven research. The experience culminates in a public poster session, giving students the opportunity to share their findings with the department.
He also created the course *Immunobiology of Cancer and Infectious Disease*, where his approach to teaching emphasizes flexibility and critical thinking. Through thoughtful course design, including take-home exams, Olson encourages deeper reflection and engagement with complex scientific concepts.
Mattoo has similarly expanded opportunities for students to take an active role in their learning. She created the “Medical Microbiology” course in 2013 as one of the only upper-division Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) courses in the Department of Biological Sciences. The course takes a concept-based approach to learning, guiding students through the molecular strategies that bacterial and viral pathogens use to cause disease and evade host defenses. Exams are open-book, with questions designed as puzzles that require students to synthesize and apply the concepts they have learned, rather than simply recall facts. Students also work in teams to critically evaluate primary research articles, assess experimental data, and design follow-up experiments of their own, which they present at a public poster session that builds both scientific confidence and communication skills.
In 2023, Mattoo added another layer of innovation by incorporating artificial intelligence tools into the Medical Microbiology course - doing so before Purdue had established official guidelines for AI in the classroom. To navigate this uncharted territory responsibly, she consulted directly with AI experts, including Reid Hoffmann of OpenAI, on questions of grading integrity, academic honesty, and the evolving role of AI in higher education.
Beyond Medical Microbiology, Mattoo also developed a graduate-level “Responsible Conduct in Research” course in 2013 tailored to the molecular sciences, which has since become the go-to resource for ethics training among graduate students in Biological Sciences and Biochemistry.
Her approach focuses on preparing students for today’s scientific landscape by strengthening critical thinking and analytical skills, while also fostering a sense of ownership in the learning process.
“I’m honored to receive this award and join the company of such outstanding educators,” Mattoo said. “My greatest reward has always been hearing from former students years later, thanking me for preparing them well - that’s the recognition that sustains you. Hard work often goes unnoticed; so, many thanks to my nominator(s) and the awards committee for their advocacy. It truly makes all the difference - and I’m grateful.”
Olson emphasized the collaborative environment that supports teaching innovation within the department.
“I am so honored to be selected for the Chiscon Undergraduate Research Award, particularly within a department filled with such outstanding educators,” Olson said. “I have worked intentionally to create new ways of immersing students in learning through hands-on lab research and engagement with primary literature. I am incredibly grateful for the supportive community around me, especially the colleagues and mentors who continually offer ideas, guidance, and resources that make this work possible.”
Together, Olson and Mattoo exemplify the department’s commitment to advancing undergraduate education through creativity, mentorship and a focus on student success.
About the Department of Biological Sciences at Purdue University
The Department of Biological Sciences is the largest life sciences department at Purdue University. As part of Purdue One Health, we are dedicated to pioneering scientific discoveries and transformative education at the cutting edge of innovation. From molecules to cells, from tissues to organisms, from populations to ecosystems- we bring together multiple perspectives, integrating across biological scales to advance our understanding of life and tackle the world’s most pressing challenges. Learn more at bio.purdue.edu.
Written by: Alisha Willett, Communications Specialist, amwillet@purdue.edu
Contributors: Seema Mattoo, smattoo@purdue.edu
Matt Olson, olson126@purdue.edu