Dr Amoah brings a wealth of expertise to the courses he teaches. Specializing in Environmental Systems Biology, Ecotoxicology, and Environmental Microbiology, his instructional approach combines cutting-edge research with practical applications. Students in his courses benefit from a dynamic learning environment that explores the intricate relationships between environmental health, microbiology, and ecosystems. Dr. Amoah's commitment to fostering a global perspective is evident through his role in developing courses at the university's Microcampus in Yangling, China. By integrating hands-on laboratory experiences and emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, he inspires students to critically engage with complex environmental challenges and develop innovative solutions in the realms of environmental science and public health.
This course introduces foundational biology concepts within the framework of environmental systems, providing a bridge between Introductory Biology and more advanced upper-division biology coursework in the Environmental Science major or elsewhere. We will address the role of biota – from molecular to ecosystem processes/scales – in affecting and responding to environmental change. The course is unique in its focus on the role of biota along the continuum from natural to highly-disturbed environments, and its emphasis on linkages between biological activity and environmental quality. The course contains three primary sections, focusing on a fundamental introduction to (i) ecology and evolution (stressing quantitative reasoning from basic principles), (ii) cellular and molecular biology, and (iii) ecosystem science, from the perspective of environmental systems science. These three distinct course modules will be tied together with a cross-cutting set of example systems or case studies that provide an exciting contextual framework for the exploration of fundamental concepts.
This course provides students with a fundamental understanding of environmental microbiology including 1) the functional diversity of microorganisms in the environment, 2) the influence this diversity of organisms has on human well-being and ecosystem health, 3) how microbes interact with environmental pollutants, 4) and novel advances in environmental microbiology. Topics covered in this course include a) microbial environments, b) detecting microbes (and their actions) in the environment, c) microbial biogeochemistry, d) and bioremediation. Other topics covered in short include e) recently-discovered ‘missing links’ in the tree of life, f) the role of bacteriophages in the environment, g) and other exciting novel (recently-discovered) topics.
Ecotoxicology is the study of the biochemical and molecular impacts of chemical toxicants and non-chemical stressors, individually or when combined in mixtures, on biological organisms; from the individual to entire ecosystems. Some of the harmful effects of toxicants and stressors are severe and cause quick ecological and/or physiological harm. However, others are chronic causing long-term damage to populations of organisms over multiple generations. This course provides knowledge of the very broad range of anthropogenic stressors and toxicants; as well as their physiological and behavioral impacts on individuals and/or populations of organisms. Ecotoxicology is an interdisciplinary discipline, involving Ecology, biology (e.g.: Anatomy, Physiology, Genetics, and Microbiology), Chemistry (e.g.: bot inorganic and organic Chemistry, as well as biochemical and analytical Chemistry), Epidemiology, Statistics, and Soil, Water, and Atmospheric sciences. The goal of this course is to provide the prerequisite tools for students to gain insight into, and understand, the complex discipline of Ecotoxicology.