Teaching
At Caltech, Dr. Lester has taught several courses in the Biology and the Computational and Neurosciences options. He currently co-teaches Bi/CNS/NB 150 with Dr. Ralph Adolps. Bi 150, Introduction to Neuroscience, is a core course for the CNS and NeuroBiology graduate options which covers general principles of the function and organization of nervous systems and provides both an overview of the subject and a foundation for advanced courses. He also teaches Bi/NB/BE 155, Neuropharmacology. This course delves into original research on the neuroscience of drugs for therapy, for prevention, and for recreation. Students learn the prospects for new generations of medications in neurology, psychiatry, aging, and treatment of substance abuse.
In 2014, Dr. Lester expanded the Caltech Freshman seminar course he taught several years ago into one of Caltech's initial MOOC offerings on the Coursera platform.