Michael J Budziszek (he/him)


Professor College of Arts & Sciences Biological and Physical Sciences Providence

Biography and Expertise

Michael Budziszek has an M.S. and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, and his background is in plant molecular biology. He is a research scientist and has applied his skills as a researcher to both the scientific field and the field of teaching and learning.

Budziszek’s current scientific research involves defining the roles that various cell wall synthase genes have on the development of the plant cell wall. He is also actively researching how students learn in order to better align his teaching style and attempt to create a more optimal environment for learning. He is a member of the College of Arts & Sciences Outcomes Assessment Committee (chair from 2014–16).

At JWU, Budziszek has assisted in the development of both the Physician Assistant (PA) and Biology programs. He is also the advisor to the Arts in Sciences Club, where students use scientific protocols to produce artwork. In the future, Budziszek hopes to engage Biology students in scientific research endeavors.

Education

PhD
University of Rhode Island

MS
University of Rhode Island

BS
University of Rhode Island

Open a Cannabis Business Workshop- Boston
Cloverleaf University, Denver, CO.

2026 JWU Athletics Gamechanger Recognition
JWU Women’s Softball

Senior Toast 2025
President Marie Bernardo- Sousa

Senior Toast
President Marie Bernardo- Sousa

Gamechanger
JWU Women’s Ice Hockey

Gamechanger
JWU Men’s Ice Hockey

Gamechangers
JWU Women’s Softball

Johnson & Wales University Teaching Excellence
Johnson & Wales University

Travel Grant
North East Section of the American Society of Plant Biologists

Graduate Poster Award
Gordon-Kenan Research Conference Seminar

Teacher Excellence Award
Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI

Teacher Excellence Award
Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI

Teacher Excellence Award
Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI

Army R.O.T.C. Student Athlete Award
U.S. Army

Higher Education (Magazine)
Rhode Island Monthly
March 1, 2024
https://www.rimonthly.com/cannabis-entrepreneurship-programs/

Cannabis Programs are Growing in RI Schools (Newspaper)
Providence Journal
February 28, 2024
https://subscribe.providencejournal.com/restricted?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.providencejournal.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Feducation%2F2024%2F02%2F29%2Fwhy-ris-cannabis-education-college-courses-dont-have-internships%2F72710181007%2F&gps-source=CPROADBLOCKDH&sltsgmt=0051_B

Cannabis 101: Cannabis Campus (Magazine)
Rhode Island Monthly
November 1, 2023
https://www.rimonthly.com/cannabis-campus/

Local University Creates Cannabis-Based Degree Program (TV)
ABC 6 Providence
November 18, 2022
https://www.abc6.com/local-university-creates-cannabis-based-degree-program/

Science of the Cannabis Plant (TV)
ABC6 News, Providence, RI
November 18, 2022
; https://www.abc6.com/science-of-the-cannabis-plant/

Brace for abrupt shifts in legalized cannabis market (Magazine)
Providence Business News
September 30, 2022
https://pbn.com/brace-for-abrupt-shifts-in-legalized-cannabis-market/

3 Ways JWU Cannabis Entrepreneurship Program Can Impact the Industry (Internet)
JWU News
September 19, 2022
https://www.jwu.edu/news/2022/09/cannabis-entrepreneurship-panel.html

Opinion/Thorsson and Budziszek: States see green in emerging cannabis industry (Newspaper)
The Providence Journal: Opinion
April 9, 2021
https://www.providencejournal.com/story/opinion/columns/2021/04/09/opinion-thorsson-and-budziszek-states-see-green-emerging-cannabis-industry/7093876002/

The Business of Cannabis Education (Internet)
The Green Rush Show
February 5, 2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uejQoPY4fmQ&t=7510s

What’s New at JWU? An Interactive Chat with New Provost Kyle McInnis, Sc.D., FACSM & Special Guests (Internet)
JWU Live Stream
February 3, 2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbYXhqPLBmY

Measuring climate change, on the backs of scuba divers (Magazine)
Experience Magazine
February 12, 2020
https://expmag.com/2020/02/measuring-climate-change-on-the-backs-of-scuba-divers/

The tobacco farmers chasing a sweeter crop (Newspaper)
BBC British Broadcasting Corporation
January 1, 2020
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-50629107

J&W opens center with ‘cutting-edge’ ribbon cutting (Newspaper)
The Providence Journal
September 1, 2019
https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/2016/09/01/j-amp-w-opens-center/25533418007/

Panelists advocate for local farming (Newspaper)
The Brown Daily Herald
April 2, 2019
https://www.browndailyherald.com/article/2019/04/panelists-advocate-for-local-farming

Effects of Climate Change on California Wildfires (TV)
The Dan Yorke State of Mind Show
November 15, 2018
https://www.wpri.com/fox-providence/11-15-jwu-science-professor-michael-budziszek-talks-california-wildfires-on-state-of-mind/

What Happened to Recalled Flubber 50 Years Ago? (TV)
WJAR 10 Providence
May 19, 2014
https://turnto10.com/amp/archive/what-happened-to-recalled-flubber-50-years-ago

Sigma Xi

Southside Community Land Trust

The Adult Higher Education Alliance

American Society of Plant Biologists

American Association for the Advancement of Science

National Association of Biology Teachers

American Chemical Society

National Science Teacher Association

Roberts, A. & Dimos, C. & Budziszek, M. & Goss, C. & Lai, V. & Chaves, A.
Knocking Out the Wall: Revised Protocols for Gene Targeting in Physcomitrella patens
Springer New York
125-144

Roberts, A. & Dimos, C. & Budziszek, M. & Goss, C. & Lai, V. & Chaves, A.
Knocking Out the Wall: Revised Protocols for Gene Targeting in Physcomitrella patens
Springer New York
125-144

Berry, E. & Tran, M. & Dimos, C. & Budziszek, M. & Scavuzzo-Duggan, T. & Roberts, A.
Immuno and affinity cytochemical analysis of cell wall composition in the moss Physcomitrella patens
Frontiers in Plant Science
7
248

Berry, E. & Tran, M. & Dimos, C. & Budziszek, M. & Scavuzzo-Duggan, T. & Roberts, A.
Immuno and Affinity Cytochemical Analysis of Cell Wall Composition in the Moss Physcomitrella patens
Frontiers in Plant Science
7

Roberts, A. & Dimos, C. & Budziszek, M. & Goss, C. & Lai, V.
Knocking Out the Wall: Protocols for Gene Targeting in Physcomitrella patens
Humana Press
273-290

Roberts, A. & Dimos, C. & Budziszek, M. & Goss, C. & Lai, V.
Knocking out the wall: protocols for gene targeting in Physcomitrella patens
Springer
273–290

Budziszek, M.
Molecular cloning of CesA genes from a gametophyte cDNA library of the fern Ceratopteris richardii /

Powell, J. & Longo, C. & Budziszek, M. & Neill, A. & Hague, J. & Ayrapetov, M. & Chandlee, J. & Guadette, A. & Steere, B. & Maxwell, R. & Buckley, C. & Smith, C. & Lins, J. & Crothers, N. & Clark, A. & Masso, K. & Kausch, A. & Neff, M.
“Modern Techniques of Genetic Engineering”: Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Creeping Bentgrass Cv. PennA4 using a mutant BAS1 construct for the production of dwarf plants
In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology – Animal
40
30A-30A

Hague, J. & Derrig, G. & Longo, C. & Ayrapetov, M. & Neill, A. & Budziszek, M. & Powell, J. & Chandlee, J. & Kausch, A.
A project-based approach: Teaching agricultural biotechnology to high school teachers and students using modern techniques of genetic engineering
In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology – Animal
40
39A-39A

Ayrapetov, M. & Longo, C. & Neil, A. & Budziszek, M. & Powell, J. & Hague, J. & Chandlee, J. & Kausch, A.
Project-based education in plant biotechnology: A unique approach
In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology – Animal
40
39A-39A

A Framework for Experiential and Reflective Pedagogy in Cannabis Science Education
Oral Presentation
50th Annual In-Person AHEA Conference
AHEA https://www.ahea.org/
University of South Florida
Tampa
FL
United States

Genotype Analysis of PpCSLD5/8 CRISPR/Cas9Knockout Mutants
Poster
86th Annual Northeast ASPB (American Society of Plant Biologists) Conference
American Society of Plant Biologists
SUNY Old Westbury
Old Westbury
NY
United States

Teaching Science Using Stories: Application of the Story-Based Inquiry Method
Lecture
Sunshine State Teaching and Learning Conference
University of Central Florida
Daytona Beach
FL
United States

Mobile Learning (mLearning)
Lecture
University Faculty In-Service Seminar
Johnson & Wales University
Providence
RI
United States

Mobile Learning (mLearning)
Oral Presentation
Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning: Rhode Island College
Rhode Island College
Rhode Island College
Providence
RI
United States