My primary research interests today focus on the pedagogy of science. Teaching science is my passion, and I am continually seeking new ways to increase student engagement. I have reported on the impact of habitat restoration and service learning projects on student engagement in undergraduate non-major biology courses. Currently, I am exploring the effectiveness of social media incorporation into course content as a means to engage students with external material, and am evaluating best practices for incorporating universal instructional design principles into online course design.

My doctoral studies focused on the ecology of natural toxins, and the evolutionary response of aquatic populations to these toxins. Within that realm, I investigated whether toxic algal blooms influence the ecology of primary consumers.

Ph.D. - Marine Science-Biological Oceanography
College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg (2005)

M.S. - Environmental Science
University of Massachusetts, Boston (1996)

B.A. - Biology
Excelsior College, Albany NY (1994) 

Leadership Institute for Early Career STEM Faculty
Project Kaleidoscope (2010)

Connecting Student Learning Outcomes to Teaching, Assessment, Curriculum
Alverno College Institute (2010)

Fostering Teaching Excellence with the Community of Inquiry Framework
American Public University System (2012)

Przyborski, K. 2012. Online Course Design: 8 Tips for Teaching Students with Disabilities. Get Educated eLearning and Education Blog. Get Educated.com. http://www.geteducated.com/elearning-education-blog/online-course-design-8-tips-for-teaching-students-with-disabilitie.

Przyborski, K. 2012. Between the Lines. Whole Terrain Journal. 19, 44-47.

Lester, K. 2008. Mitchell Students get a Grasp on Eels. Wracklines Fall/Winter.

Lester, K., Vargo, G., Walsh, J., Heil, C., Hopkins, T., Burghart, S., Remsen, A., Sutton, T., Neely, M.B., and Spence, D. 2008. Zooplankton and Karenia brevis in the Gulf of Mexico. Continental Shelf Research.  28, 99-111. 

Lester, K., Merkt, R., Heil, C., Vargo, G., Neely, M.B., Spence, D., Melahn, L. and Walsh, J.  2003. Evolution of a Gymnodinium breve red tide bloom on the West Florida Shelf.  In: Harmful Algal Blooms 2000, Hallegraeff, G.M., Blackburn, S.I., Bolch, C., and Lewis, R.J. (Eds.), IOC of Unesco, pp. 161-163.

Coastal Erosion in Connecticut. Invited Talk. Presented at New London Maritime Museum, 2012. New London, CT.

What my students teach me about environmental activism. Invited Talk. Presented at the Mitchell College Baccalaureate Hooding Ceremony, 2009. New London, CT.

The Mitchell Beach Restoration Project: Habitat restoration as an experiential teaching tool. Invited Talk. Presented at the University of Connecticut, Department of Marine Sciences, September, 2009. Avery Point, Connecticut.