Frederick Hughson, Professor of Molecular Biology, received the President's Award for Distinguished Teaching at commencement.

Hughson, a faculty member since 1994, specializes in structural cell biology with a particular focus in intracellular transportation and quorum sensing of bacteria.

A faculty member noted that Hughson is a "truly great science teacher" who redesigned the required lecture course for molecular biology majors, "Biochemistry," in a way that "inspires our students to understand and deduce, rather than to memorize." He also developed a core biochemistry course for graduate students that successfully "molded the students into thinkers and made it so they could be successful in graduate school." 

One undergraduate described taking Hughson's "Biochemistry" course as "a lot of fun," made more so by Hughson's approach. "He has an endearing way of speaking about his material — you know he thinks the science is awesome, and he conveys his enthusiasm in his lectures in such a way that you start to get genuinely, I-will-bring-this-up-at-the-dinner-table excited about things like biotin's swinging arm or ATP synthase."

Graduate students, who have learned about gifted teaching from Hughson, also value him as a mentor. "Top to bottom he is an exemplary mentor," said one graduate student. "He is extremely smart and constantly challenges me to explore new topics and push myself to become better in all facets of my research."

In addition to teaching University students, Hughson has directed the HHMI summer program at Princeton for high school science teachers from across the United States and Canada. "Thus, students far removed from Fred's classroom benefit from his teaching skills: Fred's work is truly 'in the nation's service,'" stated a colleague.

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Source:  Princeton News, by Karin Dienst, Office of Communications