Blog Posts

teaching

Teaching Philosophy • June 28, 2024 • Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) has established a Cultural Fluency Teaching Academy (Academy) for faculty to participate in a 9-month (3 quarters) program to deepen their understanding of best practices in culturally responsive pedagogy. Participating faculty will be supported in using qualitative and quantitative research to evaluate the impact of changes on student retention and success,with a specific focus on diverse and traditionally underserved student populations. This is the teaching philosophy statement I wrote as part of my application to participate.
Building computers for remote teaching • July 21, 2022 • When I was young, my dad used our living room to build custom computers for designing off-shore drilling rigs. Now I work from home building computers for scientific discovery and data analysis. How did I get here?



A Review: RStudio Teaching Certification Course • April 29, 2019 • I highly recommend the online RStudio Teaching Certification Course taught by Greg Wilson



asciinema for recording command-line terminal sessions • February 23, 2019 • Live coding screencasts are way more awesome when the text can be copied. asciinema makes this possible.



Video tutorial: how to GitHub notifications • May 17, 2018 • Have you ever wondered: I'm missing information, how do I get notified of things? These notifications aren't useful, how do I turn them off? Is so, this video is for you!



Instructor Training in Puerto Rico • April 24, 2017 • Building community through training and coding



Effective Teaching Tips from a Train-the-Trainers Workshop • February 13, 2015 • How do we train the next generation of scientists to manage, analyze, and share data in a reproducible way so that they can be more productive and effective?

science

Using recount3 to query public RNA-seq datasets • January 12, 2022 • The recount3 package enables access to a large amount of uniformly processed RNA-seq data from humans and mice. This tool makes it easy to reproduce published analyses or create a meta-analysis from multiple datasets. In this post, I provide the code I used to explore human heart data from the Gene Expression Tissue Database and to reproduce an analysis of mouse hippocampus data from the Sequence Read Archive.



Why aren't there more part-time positions in academia? • October 7, 2021 • I left academia for a year, and it changed how I think about the 'leaky pipeline' in STEM. This blog post is a data-supported rant I wrote right before returning back to a post doc position after a one-year hiatus.



Surviving the post-doc years with part-time jobs • December 11, 2020 • As a post-doctoral scholar, I aimed to work for 40 hours a week on research on projects. I rarely working overtime as is often recommended. Instead, I volunteered and worked seasonal jobs on the side. These part-time jobs have improved my quality of life and been a source of professional development. In this post, I'll talk about some of the things I've learned at what it means for my future career.



Using R to analyze and visualize tweets from SACNAS • November 7, 2019 • This blog post explains how I use R to analyze Twitter data to gain a better understanding of who is tweeting at conferences and how impactful those tweets are. I hope you find this explanation useful and that it inspires you to conduct your own analyses of Twitter data.



Bar plots as Venn diagram alternatives • May 7, 2019 • With this blog post, my goal is to demonstrate how scientists can to use bar charts instead of Venn diagrams to communicate empirical results in an easy-to-reproduce manner.



Musings and Music about Moving to Californ-i-a • March 4, 2019 • That's right. After living in Austin, Texas for 15-ish years, I'm moving to Davis, California to continue my postdoctoral research. Here are some musings some musings about my move and a playlist.



How my father shaped my career before and after his death • June 12, 2018 • This post is a Father's Day reflection. I read a lot of posts where male academics write about their fathers scholarly influence, so I thought is would be fun to write something from a similar but different experience.



Using music, beer, and pop-culture to communicate science • January 2, 2018 • A little bit about my Nerd Nite talk called Zombie Brains: Microbial Mind Control. TLDR: David Attenborough meets Tom Waits meets Ed Yong



Reproducible Data-Driven Discovery • February 24, 2017 • Report back from the Curriculum Development Hackathon for Reproducible Research using Jupyter Notebooks and the Moore Foundation Early Career Researcher Symposium Control

community

Ten networking strategies for community managers • April 22, 2019 • The goal of this blog post is to provide community managers with a few strategies for foster relationships within scientific communities to facilitate the exchange of ideas and information.



Open-source style community engagement for the Data Commons Pilot Phase Consortium • May 29, 2018 • This blog post discusses how we are building an open community around a larger goal of making big data more findable and usable to accelerate biomedical discovery. I wrote it at the very beginning of my first postdoctoral scholar position at UC Davis.



CarpentryCon West 2018 • May 6, 2018 • A community gathering of Data, Software, and Library Carpenters in sunny Davis, CA. For details visit: http://ivory.idyll.org/dibsi/CarpentryConWest.html



Increasing transparency in postdoc hiring and on-boarding • May 2, 2018 • A brief summary of the interview process for my postdoc with Titus Brown. Highlights include: collaborative documents for interview questions, salary negotiations, and science communication



Timeline for the Data Carpentry & Software Carpentry Reorganization • June 17, 2017 • This is something I wrote about the future of the Carpentries during the merger between Data Carpentry & Software Carpentry. I was a secretary on the board and also involved with instructor training and lesson translations.

spanish

Usando R para analizar y visualizar tweets de SACNAS • November 8, 2019 • Esta publicación de blog explica cómo uso R para analizar los datos de Twitter para comprender mejor quién está tuiteando en las conferencias y cuán impactantes son esos tweets. Espero que encuentre útil esta explicación y que lo inspire a realizar sus propios análisis de los datos de Twitter.



Data Carpentry Python Ecology Lesson Translated into Spanish • January 17, 2019 • We are excited to announce our newest community-driven lesson translation: Análisis y visualización de datos usando Python



Three years in the making for Instructor training in Latin America • August 27, 2018 • Building global communities of Spanish-speaking Carpentry instructors and lesson developers

yoga

Yoga at the Ritz 14 - Expansive • March 18, 2025 • This theme of this class is expansion, inspired by a mediation on on that theme. This class is more Vinyasa-style and less Restorative-style than my typical 7:30 AM Ritz class.



Sun Salutations Variations • March 5, 2025 • An hour long vinyasa-style class with Heart Chakra / Love theme.
Mountain Lotus Yoga - Connecting with Community • March 1, 2025 • This 60-minute yoga class was designed as part of a 10-hour yoga training course on the Art of Intuitive Sequencing. The theme of this class is Connecting with Community
Monday Morning February Flow • February 2, 2025 • An hour long vinyasa-style class with Heart Chakra / Love theme.
Sugar Bowl Yoga Flow • January 22, 2025 • This 15-minute yoga class is part 1 of a 3-part 60-minute yoga class at SportHaus at Sugar Bowl. Part 1 is focused on grounding, meditating, and gentle stretching to prepare the mind, body, and spirit for the deeper stretches later in the class. The practice begins with a gratitude meditation focusing on people, places, and experiences. The practice ends with Sun Salutation A (Surya Namaskar) with affirmations to link the mind to the body and the spirit or breath. The full sequence of poses is listed below along with a YouTube video to follow along.



Warrior II Flow • January 15, 2025 • A 5 minute yoga flow with a welcome, warm-up stretch, Warrior II Flow, and a gratitude meditation.
Yoga at the Ritz 13 - Yoga Conditioning • January 14, 2025 • Today's class inspired by a request for hip opening yoga class.



Yoga at the Ritz 12 - Self Care • November 19, 2024 • This yoga flow incorporates props and self-massage, so I call it a self-care flow.
Yoga at the Ritz 11 - Strength and Conditioning • November 15, 2024 • This is a yoga-like strength and conditioning class I taught when subbing for another instructor.
Yoga at the Ritz 10 - Mindful Moon Flow • October 22, 2024 • These yoga classes begin with a mindful meditation then moves into a moderate flow with half moon as the peak pose. The full body workout ends with a gratitude meditation during Savasana.
Tahoe Flow 1 - YinYasa • October 20, 2024 • Yinyasa yoga is a hybrid class that combines elements of yin and vinyasa yoga. The class begins with restorative postures to stretch the fascia (a thin layer of connective tissue that supports the body's organs). Then, we warm the body with subtle movements and incorporate sun salutations and standing poses to build strength, flexibility, and balance. This is a relaxed flow class appropriate for all levels and abilities. Yinyasa will leave you feeling calm and energized.
Yoga at the Ritz 9 - Slow Flow • October 12, 2024 • This yoga class stars slow with restorative poses then increases intensity with vinyasas and standing poses before cooling down and resting in Savasana.
Yoga on the Beach - Birthday Yoga • October 12, 2024 • This is a private class for a group of celebrating a friend's 40th birthday. They requested a light flow ending with a nice restorative savasana. The class begins with writing 12 affirmation statements, breath-work, and a birthday meditation. After a brief warm-up, we do sun salutations and add in the 12 affirmations statements as mantras. This is followed by a series of standing poses to build strength, flexibility, and balance. After a little core-work, we cool down, relax, and end with a juicy savasana.



Yoga at the Ritz 8 - Hip Opening • October 8, 2024 • Today's class inspired by a request for hip opening yoga class.
Yoga at the Ritz 7 - Sun Salutations with Affirmations • October 4, 2024 • I used today's class to beta test a flow I'm working on for a private group yoga class next Saturday. The sequence is pretty similar to most of my classes with breath-work, warm-up, standing poses, inversions, and relaxation. However, this time I added what I call 'Sun Salutations with Affirmations'. We make a list of 10 affirmations then say them outloud with each new asana in the Sun Salutation.
Yoga at the Ritz 6 - Slow Flow • October 1, 2024 • This yoga class is a slow flow focused on stretching, strengthening, and balancing. It includes a full body scan to bring awareness to any tightness and tenderness in the body.
2024 Lake Tahoe Performance Summit • September 27, 2024 • A 30-minute mediation and yoga flow for mindful sport performance enhancement.



Yoga at the Ritz 5 - Fallen Star • September 24, 2024 • This class centers around the 'fallen star' or 'fallen triangle' pose as the peak pose.
Yoga at the Ritz 4 - Slow Flow • September 19, 2024 • This yoga class is a slow flow focused on stretching and balancing. It includes a full body scan to bring awareness to any tightness and tenderness in the body.
Yoga at the Ritz 3 - Feelin' Good • September 3, 2024 • This yoga class is all about feelin' good. It is a full body workout that is designed to lengthen, strengthen, and balance.
Yoga at the Ritz 2 - Core and Restore • September 2, 2024 • This yoga class focuses on deep core activation through strength and conditioning as well as rest and restoration. It is designed to foster a balanced and happy equilibrium to start your holiday.
Stand Up Paddle Yoga 10 - Labor Day • September 1, 2024 • Today is the last Stand Up Paddle class of the season! It also happens to be Labor Day, so the class honors those two milestones if you will.
Beach Yoga 14 - Feelin Good • August 31, 2024 • This is my very last beach yoga class of the summer of 2024. The playlist and the sequence are designed to kick of the day feelin' good!



Yoga at the Ritz 1 - Feeling Good • August 27, 2024 • This is my first time teaching at the Ritz, marking the beginning of my Fall Yoga Flow Series. Today's classes are all about starting the day feeling good.
Stand Up Paddle Yoga 9 - Going Inside • August 25, 2024 • Stand Up Paddle was cancelled today because of weather, so we went inside for yoga with a view of the lake to stay warm and cosy.
Beach Yoga 13 - Mindfulness • August 24, 2024 • The theme of this class is 'Mindfulness', and it begins with an inhale-exhale meditation. Because was 45° outside and raining, the class was moved indoors to a beautiful living room with 180° window views of the beach.
Stand Up Paddle Yoga 8 - Fallen Star • August 18, 2024 • This class centers around the 'fallen star' or 'fallen triangle' pose as the peak pose.
Beach Yoga 12 - Fallen Star • August 17, 2024 • This class centers around the 'fallen star' or 'fallen triangle' pose as the peak pose.
Stand Up Paddle Yoga 7 - Mindfulness • August 10, 2024 • The theme of this class is 'Mindfulness'. This class begins with a full-body scan meditation.
Beach Yoga 11 - Mindfulness • August 10, 2024 • The theme of this class is 'Mindfulness'. This class begins with a full-body scan meditation.
Yoga at the Rideout • August 9, 2024 • A mindfulness yoga class in Tahoe City, TA designed for a younger audience with a focus on movement, breath, and mindfulness.
Yoga for La Fuerza Latina Summer Retreat at Frog Lake • August 7, 2024 • A three hour yoga workshop on mindfulness, meditation, mantras, breathwork, and asanas designed for an amazing group of current and former Truckee High School students.



Stand Up Paddle Yoga 6 - Gratitude • August 4, 2024 • The theme of this class is 'Gratitude'. The class begins with everyone sharing three things they are thankful for and concludes with a gratitude meditation. The playlist includes many songs titled Thank You to continually cultivate thankful thoughts.



Beach Yoga 10 - Gratitude • August 3, 2024 • The theme of this class is 'Gratitude'. The class begins with everyone sharing three things they are thankful for and concludes with a gratitude meditation. The playlist includes many songs titled Thank You to continually cultivate thankful thoughts.
Stand Up Paddle Yoga 5 - Gratitude • July 28, 2024 • The theme of this class is 'Gratitude'. The class begins with everyone sharing three things they are thankful for and concludes with a gratitude meditation. The playlist includes many songs titled Thank You to continually cultivate thankful thoughts.
Yoga on the Beach 9 - Balance • July 26, 2024 • The theme of this class is 'Balance' and included a meditation and asans to bring aware to balance in mind, body, and spirit.
Stand Up Paddle Yoga 4 - Balance • July 21, 2024 • The theme of this class is 'Balance' and included a meditation and asans to bring aware to balance in mind, body, and spirit.
Yoga on the Beach 8 - Balance • July 20, 2024 • The theme of this class is 'Balance' and included a meditation and asans to bring aware to balance in mind, body, and spirit.
Stand Up Paddle Yoga 3 - Family • July 14, 2024 • The theme of this class is 'Family' and includes partner poses and glances to build connection to one another.
Yoga on the Beach 7 - Family • July 13, 2024 • The theme of this class is 'Family' and includes partner poses and glances to build connection to one another.
Mindful Yoga in the Mountains • July 12, 2024 • A mountain top yoga class in Tahoe Meadows, NV designed for a younger audience with a focus on movement, breath, and mindfulness.
Stand Up Paddle Yoga 2 - Hip Opening • July 7, 2024 • The theme of this class is the Sacral Chakra. The sequence includes hip-opening postures such as modified Warrior II and Star poses.
Yoga on the Beach 6 - Root Chakra • July 6, 2024 • The theme of this class is the Root Chakra with an emphasis on grounding postures.



Stand Up Paddle Yoga 1 - SUP Basics • June 30, 2024 • This is my first time teaching SUP yoga! This class provides an introduction to SUP yoga and focuses on grounding poses to build confidence and stability on the water.
Yoga on the Beach 5 - Root Chakra • June 29, 2024 • The theme of this class is the Root Chakra with an emphasis on grounding postures.
Yoga on the Beach 4 - Fire Chakra • June 22, 2024 • This class focuses around the Solar Plexus or Fire Chakra. The sequence is designed to cultivate the fire within you.
Yoga on the Beach 3 - Fire Chakra • June 15, 2024 • This class focuses around the Solar Plexus or Fire Chakra. The sequence is designed to cultivate the fire within you.
Yoga on the Beach 2 - Sacral Chakra • June 8, 2024 • The theme of this class is the the Sacral Chakra. The sequence includes many hip-opening postures such as Warrior II and Godess pose.



Mindful Yoga on the Beach • June 6, 2024 • A beach yoga class in Carnelian Bay designed for a younger audience with a focus on movement, breath, and mindfulness.



Yoga on the Beach 1 - Root Chakra • June 1, 2024 • The theme of this class is the Root Chakra with an emphasis on grounding postures.
Yoga for Joy and Peace • January 27, 2024 • A 30 minute yoga sequence I co-wrote as part of my yoga instructor training certification.
3rd Chakra Fire Yoga • December 4, 2023 • A 15 minute asana sequence to build inner fire and strength. I wrote and taught this sequence as part of my yoga instructor training certification.
Sun Salutation with Affirmations • November 24, 2023 • As part of my yoga instructor training, I wrote a sequence that incorporates movement, mantra recitation, and meditation to learn more about ourselves. I taught it in class with a large group of people, but I also repeat this regularly at home and outdoors.
Birthday Beach Yoga and Breathwork • October 8, 2023 • For my 40th birthday I organized a beach yoga class. I wasn't a certified instructor yet, but I had started my training. The playlist was designed to bring awareness to the breath and the beauty of nature. It was awesome!



Saturday Lakefront Yoga • August 26, 2023 • A lakefront top yoga class on King's Beach designed for a younger audience with a focus on movement, breath, and mindfulness.



Friday Mountain Top Yoga • August 25, 2023 • A mountain top yoga class in Tahoe Meadows, NV designed for a younger audience with a focus on movement, breath, and mindfulness.