Despite the demands of an active research program focusing on virus-cell interactions, Schiff displays unparalleled accessibility and commitment to her students. As departmental director of undergraduate studies, she has a lasting influence on all microbiology majors throughout their university careers. Schiff serves as her department's representative on the College of Biological Sciences Educational Policy Council at the University of Minnesota, where she is a strong voice for high educational standards. Her influence is also important in other areas, such the Preparing Future Faculty program, which helps doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows hone their teaching and assessment skills, and the teaching workshops she conducts on the effective use of technology and writing in the classroom.
Schiff is widely recognized as a gifted educator who inspires her students to high levels of achievement. She designed an upper-level, writing-intensive course in virology for advanced undergraduate majors, for which she consistently receives the highest possible student evaluations. Her commitment to excellence in undergraduate education extends to her own laboratory, where 18 undergraduates in recent years have been able to experience the hands-on approach to science Schiff encourages. These students' pursuit of independent research projects has resulted in a host of awards, presentations at national meetings, and publications. Schiff has received numerous awards at the University of Minnesota for her efforts, culminating in her 2002 election to the University of Minnesota's Academy of Distinguished Teachers, the University's highest recognition of its most distinguished scholar-teachers.
An honors graduate of Brown University with a Sc.B. in biology, Schiff received a Ph.D. in immunology from Tufts University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in microbiology at Harvard University.
The Carski Foundation Distinguished Teaching Award will be presented at the 104th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), May 23–27, 2004, in New Orleans, Louisiana. ASM is the largest single life science society, composed of over 42,000 scientists, teachers, physicians, and health professionals. Its mission is to promote research and training in the microbiological sciences and to assist communication between scientists, policymakers, and the public to improve health, economic well-being, and the environment.