Marjorie C. Brandriss, PhD
School
New Jersey Medical School
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Department/Program
Molecular Genetics & Microbiology
Year Inducted Phone E-Mail 
2003 973-972-4483 ext. 2-6261 brandris@umdnj.edu
Biography
Dr. Brandriss is Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at UMDNJ - New Jersey Medical School. A faculty member since 1981, she has been actively involved in teaching NJMS, NJDS and GSBS students as well as in maintaining an NIH-funded research program studying the regulation of eukaryotic gene expression. Dr. Brandriss, who obtained her A.B. degree cum laude in biology from Cornell University in 1971 and her Ph.D. in microbiology and genetics from M.I.T in 1975, has made teaching a priority in her career. She assisted in the development of the first Human Genetics course at NJMS in 1990 and was its Assistant Coordinator (1999-2000). As Course Director for Medical Microbiology since 2001, she successfully piloted a non-credit elective for fourth year medical students entitled Fellowship in Medical Education in which they wrote up cases based on their experience in clerkships and then served as discussion leaders with second year students taking Microbiology, integrating the basic science material with infectious disease cases. This gave the senior students valuable teaching experience while simultaneously exciting the second year students about the clinical relevance of what they had been learning. She also directs a course called Teaching Skills in Medical Microbiology that trains graduate students to present material to the medical students in the Microbiology laboratory sessions. Over the years, she has worked closely with colleagues at NJMS to enhance their lecture presentation skills. She has been recognized by medical students with the Golden Apple Award for her teaching efforts, and by the administration with the University Excellence in Teaching Award (2003) and election into the Master Educator Guild (2003). As Vice Chair of the NJMS Jubilee Curriculum Steering Committee, she has been actively involved in the development and design of a renovated curriculum for NJMS.