Skip to main content

Thomas Mark Newpher

Associate Professor of the Practice of Psychology and Neuroscience
Psychology & Neuroscience
308 Research Drive, LSRC B030, Box 91003, Durham, NC 27708

Selected Presentations & Appearances


Team-based learning in neuroscience education: an interactive demonstration and exploration of evidence-based findings and real-world classroom experiences - Professional Development Workshop · October 2024 International Meeting or Conference Society for Neuroscience,
Designing a neuroscience teaching lab and tracking impacts on student self-efficacy and engagement in undergraduate research - Neuroscience Teaching Conference · July 2024 Other Wake Forest University,
Team-based learning: Utilizing structured classrooms to impact outcomes for your STEM students - JoVE Education Webinar · September 29, 2022 Invited Talk Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE),
Strengthening Connections Between Students (and Thier Neurons!) in the Classroom: A Team-Based Approach to Learning in the Neuroscience Major - Family Weekend, Student for a Day Lecture · October 2021 Invited Talk Duke University, Reynolds Theater

In this guest lecture, Dr. Thomas Newpher will discuss how he uses team-based learning in neuroscience education to increase student learning and sense of belonging. He will also discuss the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for strengthening of synapses, and how these processes relate to classroom learning.

Reynolds Theater, Bryan Center, West Campus

Student Sense of Belonging in Remote Learning Courses and the Importance of Instructor Support - Neuroscience Teaching Conference · July 2021 International Meeting or Conference Wake Forest University, Virtual
Team-based learning in neuroscience education: an interactive demonstration and exploration of evidence-based findings and real-world classroom experiences - Professional Development Workshop · October 2024 International Meeting or Conference Society for Neuroscience,
Designing a neuroscience teaching lab and tracking impacts on student self-efficacy and engagement in undergraduate research - Neuroscience Teaching Conference · July 2024 Other Wake Forest University,
Team-based learning: Utilizing structured classrooms to impact outcomes for your STEM students - JoVE Education Webinar · September 29, 2022 Invited Talk Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE),
Strengthening Connections Between Students (and Thier Neurons!) in the Classroom: A Team-Based Approach to Learning in the Neuroscience Major - Family Weekend, Student for a Day Lecture · October 2021 Invited Talk Duke University, Reynolds Theater

In this guest lecture, Dr. Thomas Newpher will discuss how he uses team-based learning in neuroscience education to increase student learning and sense of belonging. He will also discuss the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for strengthening of synapses, and how these processes relate to classroom learning.

Reynolds Theater, Bryan Center, West Campus

Student Sense of Belonging in Remote Learning Courses and the Importance of Instructor Support - Neuroscience Teaching Conference · July 2021 International Meeting or Conference Wake Forest University, Virtual
The Changing Landscape of Higher Education - TEDx · February 2020 Invited Talk Duke University, Reynolds Auditorium

This jointly delivered talk by Dr. Thomas Newpher and undergraduate Ben Thier highlights how they are striving to make education a team-based, data-driven practice. They delve into novel research they have conducted on team-based learning, course structure, and classroom dynamics.

Team-Based Learning in Undergraduate STEM: Learning Outcomes and Impacts on Course Satisfaction - BRITE Ideas Teaching and Research Series · November 2019 Invited Talk Duke University,
Learning at Synapses and in the College Classroom - Department of Neuroscience · March 2019 Invited Talk Thiel College,

Outreach & Engaged Scholarship


Bass Connections Team Leader - Impacts of Collaborative Learning in STEM · 2020 - 2021 Projects & Field Work Education & Human Development
Bass Connections Team Leader - Collaborative Learning in STEM: Impacts on Student Motivation, Retention and Self-efficacy · 2019 - 2020 Projects & Field Work flag North Carolina Education & Human Development

Service to the Profession


Ad Hoc Reviewer - Textbook - Principles of Neurobiology, Luo · 2023 Other Garland Science,
Guest Editor - Methods Collection, Methods to Visualize Structural and Functional Changes at Synapses · 2021 Editorial Activities Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE),
Ad Hoc Reviewer - Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education · 2021 Other
Ad Hoc Reviewer - International Journal of Educational Methodology · 2021 Other
Ad Hoc Reviewer - Textbook - Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain, Bear · 2021 Other Jones and Bartlett Learning,
Ad Hoc Reviewer - Textbook - Principles of Neurobiology, Luo · 2023 Other Garland Science,
Guest Editor - Methods Collection, Methods to Visualize Structural and Functional Changes at Synapses · 2021 Editorial Activities Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE),
Ad Hoc Reviewer - Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education · 2021 Other
Ad Hoc Reviewer - International Journal of Educational Methodology · 2021 Other
Ad Hoc Reviewer - Textbook - Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain, Bear · 2021 Other Jones and Bartlett Learning,
Ad Hoc Reviewer- Journal - Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology · 2017 Other Elsevier,
Ad Hoc Reviewer- Textbook - The Neurobiology of Learning and Memory · 2017 Other Oxford University Press,
Ad Hoc Reviewer- Textbook · 2017 Other Columbia University Press,
Ad Hoc Reviewer- Journal - Trends in Cell Biology · 2011 Other Cell Press,

Service to Duke


Neuroscience Teaching Laboratory, Implementation Committee (Department) · February 2023 Committee Service Department of Psychology and Neuroscience,
Poster Judge . DIBS Annual Symposium · 2021 Event Attendance Duke Institute for Brain Sciences,
Reviewer . Zener Award · 2021 Other Duke University, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience,
Interviewer . Rhodes Scholarship · 2021 Other Duke University, Office of University Scholars and Fellows,
Interviewer . Marshall Scholarship · 2021 Other Duke University, Office of University Scholars and Fellows,
Neuroscience Teaching Laboratory, Implementation Committee (Department) · February 2023 Committee Service Department of Psychology and Neuroscience,
Poster Judge . DIBS Annual Symposium · 2021 Event Attendance Duke Institute for Brain Sciences,
Reviewer . Zener Award · 2021 Other Duke University, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience,
Interviewer . Rhodes Scholarship · 2021 Other Duke University, Office of University Scholars and Fellows,
Interviewer . Marshall Scholarship · 2021 Other Duke University, Office of University Scholars and Fellows,
Mentor . Faculty Fellows Program · September 2020 Other Duke University,

The Faculty Fellows Program is a program for sophomore merit scholars. Thirteen distinguished faculty members representing a wide range of disciplines from across the university are leading small groups of 6-7 students in discussions of academic articles throughout the year. Each group will meet four times during the year—twice in the fall semester and twice in the spring semester.

Faculty Sponsor . House Course- Impacts of Neurological Disorders · 2020 Other Duke University,
Reviewer . Outstanding Undergraduate Thesis in Neuroscience Award · 2020 Other Duke University, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience,
Reviewer . Deans Summer Research Fellowship · 2020 Other Undergraduate Research Support Office,
Reviewer . Team applications · 2020 Other Duke University, Bass Connections,
Charles Lafitte Undergraduate Travel and Research Awards Committee (Department) · September 2018 Committee Service Duke University, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience,