I also became a parent while I was earning my PhD. I had to work really hard to overcome the feeling that I didn’t belong or that I wasn’t smart enough to be a scientist, and I had to push forward even when I felt like giving up. The biggest challenge I faced along the way was my own self-doubt. From that lab, I went to grad school and earned my PhD studying the molecular mechanisms of how certain bacteria cause diseases in plants.
I got interested in molecular biology after college, when I started working in a lab that studied the molecules involved in how plants sense and respond to light. I learned that there are an infinite number of questions that can be asked about the natural world, and just as many different approaches to answering those questions, some of which are even fun! This was a wonderful experience-every day, I got to observe many different marine species in their natural habitats, including manta rays, reef squid, and even barracuda. I even studied marine biology for a semester on a remote island in the Caribbean.
James! In college, I focused on marine biology and ecology. Khan Academy: How did you get into science? Can you describe your career path?Ĭohn: I’ve always loved biology, but it was my high school AP Biology class that really set me on the path to becoming a biologist. If you’re having trouble with the exercises, you can use our hints and rationales to understand what you are missing. Then, head straight to those units, spend some time with the instructional material, and do the exercises. Khan Academy: What advice would you give to AP Biology teachers and students?Ĭohn: The AP Biology exam is coming up, so I suggest taking the Course Challenge (which you can find at the bottom of the course page) to see what areas you need to review. The questions I wrote often present real research findings, show colorful images or diagrams, or are centered around interesting phenomena or cool locations.īut in general, I’m most excited that students and teachers have a free resource that they can use to learn biology and prepare for the AP Biology exam. The units all have rigorous and engaging practice questions. Khan Academy: What about the new AP Biology course makes you most excited?Ĭohn: I’m super excited about Units 6–8, which cover gene expression, natural selection, and ecology-these are my favorite topics in biology. We spoke with Megan Cohn, the creator of the course and Khan Academy’s biology content creator, about her career path, her advice for young people who are considering a career in science, and how teachers and students can use the new AP Biology course on Khan Academy.
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