BIOCAPS Spotlight
Dr. Frank Huynh
Assistant Professor of Teaching
Dr. Frank Huynh obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and PhD in Physiology from the University of British Columbia. During his PhD, he studied the effects of the appetite-suppressing hormone leptin on regulating glucose and lipid metabolism. Dr. Huynh completed his post-doctoral training at Duke University Medical Center, where he studied the metabolic functions of a family of deacylase enzymes called sirtuins, which are thought to have anti-aging properties. As an Assistant Professor at San José State University, Dr. Huynh continued to investigate how nutrients are metabolized and how this contributes to both normal and pathological processes.
Throughout his academic training, Dr. Huynh combined his research interests with his passion for teaching. As a teaching assistant at UBC, Dr. Huynh taught undergraduate physiology labs. While completing his post-doctoral training, he obtained an Adjunct Assistant Professor position at Elon University, where he also taught undergraduate physiology labs. As an Assistant Professor at San José State University, Dr. Huynh led a federally-funded research lab while also teaching both graduate and undergraduate courses in integrative physiology, comparative physiology, endocrine physiology as well as the systems physiology lab course.
What inspired you to pursue a career in teaching within academia?
I have always found that teaching about a topic always helped me to learn that topic better. Sometimes, in my research I would get so focused on trying to find the mechanism of a very specific physiological process that I would forget to step back and think about the big picture. Having to go back to basics to introduce a topic and teach about different but related topics helps me to refocus and look at problems from different perspectives.
What motivated you to move to UBC?
I actually completed my BSc in Biochemistry and PhD in Physiology at UBC. I then left to do a postdoctoral fellowship at Duke University and obtained a faculty position at San Jose State University, where I ran a research lab and taught various physiology courses. However, after 12 years in the U.S., we were really missing our family and some great opportunities came up, so it was time to come home.
Can you share a rewarding experience you’ve had in your career?
The most rewarding experiences I have in my job are when my students succeed. I always encourage my students to apply for awards because it helps hone their written communication skills. For me, it is rewarding enough just to see their writing skills improve, but when they get the awards, it is a very proud moment for them and myself. Many of my students then apply to health professional schools, graduate schools, and biotech jobs and when they reach out to tell me they have achieved their goals, there is no better feeling for me.
What are your long-term goals or aspirations within your career?
As I switch my focus to Educational Leadership at UBC, I aim to combine my interests in human health and education to investigate how health and access to healthcare impact academic performance. My other interests include how to use generative AI effectively in physiology education and how to increase participation of under-represented students in STEM. If you are interested in these topics, please let me know so we can collaborate!
Any message to CPS community?
I look forward to meeting new colleagues and reconnecting with previous mentors. I would love to collaborate with anyone with an interest in improving the experience and success of our students in the new CAPS major program as well as our research labs. Please reach out if you have any ideas and let me buy you a coffee!