Faculty Profile: Dr. Andrew Hill
As a PhD student in neuroscience, Andrew Hill was fascinated by crickets. He recorded and analyzed nerve impulses in the cercal system, a specialized sense that warns of nearby predators like wasps.
His goal was to better understand the human nervous system. He learned that at synapses, where one neuron connects to another, impulses go back and forth, rather than in just one direction. The discovery could help to refine models of sensory processing.
“You don't have to look at the human brain to understand the brain,” he said. “You can look at the brains of other creatures. With crickets, the idea was to study a system where you could access the neurons very easily.”
To Hill, who’s now assistant professor of biology at Hilbert College, it was an example of how biology can make wide-ranging connections: from one species to another and from one career to another.
“Once you have a biology degree, you can go into health fields,” he said. “You can go into technology. You can go to grad school and do research. It’s an open door.
Biology and Behavior
While involved in research, Hill has long enjoyed teaching, as well. Over 16 years at several colleges and universities, he’s found he prefers smaller colleges over large universities.
When Hilbert offered him a biology position in 2021, he found it a perfect fit, he said. “The focus here is really on the teaching, to have our students mature over four years and have them succeed at the end.”
Because of the college’s small size, Hill teaches biology in two degree programs. One is a Bachelor of Arts in Biology. It covers a broad range of subjects: not only microbiology, genetics and human anatomy, but also basic chemistry and physics.
The goal, he said, is to prepare biology students for a variety of possible careers. The degree can apply to medicine, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals or teaching.
Another career option is research. “Laboratory research is really exciting nowadays,” he said. “It’s almost impossible to keep up with the pace of scientific innovation right now.”
Hill’s own background helps him advise students on careers. With experience in biology and neuroscience, he can point them to what kinds of graduate programs they might want to pursue and what they need to learn as undergraduates to get into those programs.
Teaching Biology
While involved in research, Hill has long enjoyed teaching, as well. Over 16 years at several colleges and universities, he’s found he prefers smaller colleges over large universities.
When Hilbert offered him a biology position in 2021, he found it a perfect fit, he said. “The focus here is really on the teaching, to have our students mature over four years and have them succeed at the end.”
Because of the college’s small size, Hill teaches biology in two degree programs. One is a Bachelor of Arts in Biology. It covers a broad range of subjects: not only microbiology, genetics and human anatomy, but also basic chemistry and physics.
The goal, he said, is to prepare biology students for a variety of possible careers. The degree can apply to medicine, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals or teaching.
Another career option is research. “Laboratory research is really exciting nowadays,” he said. “It’s almost impossible to keep up with the pace of scientific innovation right now.”
Hill’s own background helps him advise students on careers. With experience in biology and neuroscience, he can point them to what kinds of graduate programs they might want to pursue and what they need to learn as undergraduates to get into those programs.
Teaching Forensic Laboratory Science
The other degree program in which Hill teaches is Hilbert’s Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science: Laboratory Science, another targeted application of biology.
Hill notes that popular TV shows promote a distorted version of forensic science. On TV, an investigator collects evidence at a crime scene, then dons a lab coat to test it.
“In reality, the two functions are very separate,” Hill said. “Samples are brought to the lab, like bodily fluids and hair. Forensic lab scientists spend a good amount of time doing analysis. You have to be really interested in chemistry, biology and a bit of math.”
The work involves physics, as well—another course he teaches. Analyzing tire skid marks can reveal a car’s speed and road conditions. The body position of a corpse can suggest whether a person jumped or was thrown.
Yet another part of a forensic scientist’s job is being prepared to testify in court. “You have to know how to present evidence in a way that’s understandable to the general public,” he said.
In both biology and forensic lab science, Hill said, he’s not just teaching particular techniques. He’s teaching students how to keep on learning.
“You do have to know the material in a particular course, but at the same time, what you're really trying to do is teach the student how this knowledge fits together,” he said. “Using a bit of creativity, doing some problem-solving: Ultimately, those are the real skills.”
Explore Diverse Career Options in Biology and Forensic Lab Science
Biology is at the forefront of many of today’s scientific advances. A degree program such as the Bachelor of Arts in Biology at Hilbert College can prepare a student to go in many different career directions, including medicine, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and research. Biology can also be a key element for a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Laboratory Science.
Both programs combine general science classes with opportunities for pre-professional programs in occupations in medicine, dentistry, veterinary and pharmacy. Learn more about how such a degree can prepare you for a rewarding and cutting-edge career in biology or forensic lab science.