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Susan Wessler’s research concerns the interaction between transposable elements and plant genes. She and her lab members have pioneered the use of genome-wide approaches (both bioinformatic and wet bench) in transposable element discovery and analysis. To address the concerns of the large population of first-generation students who are often unaware of the rigor demanded by STEM professions, Wessler developed the student-centered Dynamic Genome (DG) course. The hands-on bioinformatics/wet lab course, taught in the state-of the-art Neil A. Campbell Science Learning Laboratory, teaches undergraduates to navigate computational and experimental methodologies applied to transposable elements in plant genomes through authentic research experiences and an introduction to bioinformatics and experimental tools.