Professor
Diana Rigueur
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Most Helpful Review
Spring 2022 - This class is very difficult, but it doesn’t help that the “MCDB 138 Team,” which is composed of 2 professors and 3 TAs, give inconsistent answers. When I ask questions, the professors give contradictory statements regarding class material (for example, if something is true or false). The questions on the assessments are often very poorly worded and it’s never easy to understand what’s exactly being asked.
Spring 2022 - This class is very difficult, but it doesn’t help that the “MCDB 138 Team,” which is composed of 2 professors and 3 TAs, give inconsistent answers. When I ask questions, the professors give contradictory statements regarding class material (for example, if something is true or false). The questions on the assessments are often very poorly worded and it’s never easy to understand what’s exactly being asked.
Most Helpful Review
Spring 2025 - I took MCDB 144 with Dr. Rigueur after taking MCDB 138 with her. Overall, I would recommend taking the courses she teaches as she is a good professor who is clearly very passionate about biology. In terms of course content, this course is pretty biochemistry heavy as it mainly focuses on molecular mechanisms involving DNA, RNA and proteins. The trickiest part of this course in my opinion was breaking down these processes as well as keeping track of all the various components and their roles (like transcription factors) in each mechanism. That being said, don't be too intimidated as this course is very doable if you put in the effort. I would highly recommend paying attention to content covered in lecture for this course. This shouldn't be a big problem, as Dr. Rigueur is a very engaging lecturer and facilitates discussions about class content during lecture to enhance understanding. In addition to slides, Dr. Rigueur also includes helpful videos in her lecture slides to better visualize the processes she talks about in lecture and explains what is happening in the videos as well. She also provides really helpful resources like study guides to help students study for exams. Discussions mainly focus on research papers loosely relating to content covered in lecture. Though it may seem daunting, Dr. Rigueur provides resources in the beginning of the quarter on what to pay attention to when reading a paper with is really helpful. When I took the course, discussion consisted of discussing the assigned paper for the week. Lastly Dr. Rigueur encourages students to reach out to her if they need help. She has office hours which are very helpful and also provides her office line for students. Highly recommend reaching out to her if help is needed!
Spring 2025 - I took MCDB 144 with Dr. Rigueur after taking MCDB 138 with her. Overall, I would recommend taking the courses she teaches as she is a good professor who is clearly very passionate about biology. In terms of course content, this course is pretty biochemistry heavy as it mainly focuses on molecular mechanisms involving DNA, RNA and proteins. The trickiest part of this course in my opinion was breaking down these processes as well as keeping track of all the various components and their roles (like transcription factors) in each mechanism. That being said, don't be too intimidated as this course is very doable if you put in the effort. I would highly recommend paying attention to content covered in lecture for this course. This shouldn't be a big problem, as Dr. Rigueur is a very engaging lecturer and facilitates discussions about class content during lecture to enhance understanding. In addition to slides, Dr. Rigueur also includes helpful videos in her lecture slides to better visualize the processes she talks about in lecture and explains what is happening in the videos as well. She also provides really helpful resources like study guides to help students study for exams. Discussions mainly focus on research papers loosely relating to content covered in lecture. Though it may seem daunting, Dr. Rigueur provides resources in the beginning of the quarter on what to pay attention to when reading a paper with is really helpful. When I took the course, discussion consisted of discussing the assigned paper for the week. Lastly Dr. Rigueur encourages students to reach out to her if they need help. She has office hours which are very helpful and also provides her office line for students. Highly recommend reaching out to her if help is needed!
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Most Helpful Review
Spring 2023 - Dr. Rigueur is an outstanding professor whose passion for research and biology shines through in every lecture. I have taken her MCDB 144, MCDB 180A, and MCDB 180B courses, and she has significantly enriched my learning experience by fostering an engaging, supportive, and enriching learning environment. From the beginning, she made me feel welcomed by ensuring that every student, including myself, was recognized and included during class discussions. MCDB 144 itself is an intensive class covering many aspects of molecular biology. However, Dr. Rigueur's lecture style is highly engaging as she is able to simplify complex concepts for students. Attending office hours is a great way to discuss material and get to know Dr. Rigueur herself. The exams were rigorous, but fair as long as you studied and understood the material well. Under Dr. Rigueur's guidance, all of the molecular biology knowledge and techniques that we learned has well prepared me for working as a research associate in a lab after graduation. Overall, I greatly enjoyed this class due to Dr. Rigueur's enthusiasm, passion, and expertise across multiple fields of biology. Not only did she teach the material effectively, but she also cultivated a supportive community that inspired growth and enthusiasm for science. I'd highly recommend taking this class with Dr. Rigueur!
Spring 2023 - Dr. Rigueur is an outstanding professor whose passion for research and biology shines through in every lecture. I have taken her MCDB 144, MCDB 180A, and MCDB 180B courses, and she has significantly enriched my learning experience by fostering an engaging, supportive, and enriching learning environment. From the beginning, she made me feel welcomed by ensuring that every student, including myself, was recognized and included during class discussions. MCDB 144 itself is an intensive class covering many aspects of molecular biology. However, Dr. Rigueur's lecture style is highly engaging as she is able to simplify complex concepts for students. Attending office hours is a great way to discuss material and get to know Dr. Rigueur herself. The exams were rigorous, but fair as long as you studied and understood the material well. Under Dr. Rigueur's guidance, all of the molecular biology knowledge and techniques that we learned has well prepared me for working as a research associate in a lab after graduation. Overall, I greatly enjoyed this class due to Dr. Rigueur's enthusiasm, passion, and expertise across multiple fields of biology. Not only did she teach the material effectively, but she also cultivated a supportive community that inspired growth and enthusiasm for science. I'd highly recommend taking this class with Dr. Rigueur!
Most Helpful Review
Summer 2025 - Dr. Rigueur is an outstanding professor whose passion for teaching and dedication to her students truly stand out. She has a remarkable ability to take complex molecular biology topics and present them in a clear, engaging, and relatable way. Her lectures are well-structured, filled with relevant examples, and always tied back to the broader significance in medicine and human health, which kept the material both exciting and relevant. One of Dr. Rigueur’s greatest strengths is her empathy and care for students. She goes above and beyond to support us, not only academically, but also personally. She dedicates her time to listen to students’ struggles and shares her own stories, which makes her teaching feel very genuine and human. Her compassion and encouragement made a huge impact on my learning experience. The course itself was rigorous but fair. Expectations were clear, and assessments (quizzes, assignments, and exams) reflected the material covered in class. The workload required consistent effort, but it was very rewarding, I walked away from the class with a much deeper understanding of cellular and molecular processes. Overall, MCD BIO 144 with Dr. Rigueur is one of the most impactful classes I have taken at UCLA. I would highly recommend it to any student interested in molecular biology, biomedical research, or medicine.
Summer 2025 - Dr. Rigueur is an outstanding professor whose passion for teaching and dedication to her students truly stand out. She has a remarkable ability to take complex molecular biology topics and present them in a clear, engaging, and relatable way. Her lectures are well-structured, filled with relevant examples, and always tied back to the broader significance in medicine and human health, which kept the material both exciting and relevant. One of Dr. Rigueur’s greatest strengths is her empathy and care for students. She goes above and beyond to support us, not only academically, but also personally. She dedicates her time to listen to students’ struggles and shares her own stories, which makes her teaching feel very genuine and human. Her compassion and encouragement made a huge impact on my learning experience. The course itself was rigorous but fair. Expectations were clear, and assessments (quizzes, assignments, and exams) reflected the material covered in class. The workload required consistent effort, but it was very rewarding, I walked away from the class with a much deeper understanding of cellular and molecular processes. Overall, MCD BIO 144 with Dr. Rigueur is one of the most impactful classes I have taken at UCLA. I would highly recommend it to any student interested in molecular biology, biomedical research, or medicine.
Most Helpful Review
Summer 2025 - Prof. Rigueur is a pretty decent professor and she gets the job done! Albeit I took this class over the summer, but I think she makes her expectations in exams clear and doing supplemental reading often provides the answers to her trickier questions. IMO as long as you keep up with the reading and attend lectures this class is not very hard.
Summer 2025 - Prof. Rigueur is a pretty decent professor and she gets the job done! Albeit I took this class over the summer, but I think she makes her expectations in exams clear and doing supplemental reading often provides the answers to her trickier questions. IMO as long as you keep up with the reading and attend lectures this class is not very hard.
Most Helpful Review
Winter 2023 - Dr. Rigueur is an outstanding professor whose passion for research and biology shines through in every lecture. I have taken her MCDB 144, MCDB 180A, and MCDB 180B courses, and she has significantly enriched my learning experience by fostering an engaging, supportive, and enriching learning environment. From the beginning, she made me feel welcomed by ensuring that every student, including myself, was recognized and included during class discussions. Dr. Rigueur's lecture style emphasizes collaboration and teamwork, particularly through peer-editing papers, which encouraged us to voice our honest feedback to improve. As a result, I have seen significant growth in my communication and scientific writing skills. The material assigned outside of class was thoughtfully designed. It was rigorous, but manageable which allowed me to growth as both a student and researcher without feeling overwhelmed. Under Dr. Rigueur's guidance, I improved my ability to read and comprehend primary literature which built confidence, and prepared me for graduate school. Overall, I greatly enjoyed this class due to Dr. Rigueur's enthusiasm, passion, and expertise across multiple fields of biology. Not only did she teach the material effectively, but she also cultivated a supportive community that inspired growth and enthusiasm for science.
Winter 2023 - Dr. Rigueur is an outstanding professor whose passion for research and biology shines through in every lecture. I have taken her MCDB 144, MCDB 180A, and MCDB 180B courses, and she has significantly enriched my learning experience by fostering an engaging, supportive, and enriching learning environment. From the beginning, she made me feel welcomed by ensuring that every student, including myself, was recognized and included during class discussions. Dr. Rigueur's lecture style emphasizes collaboration and teamwork, particularly through peer-editing papers, which encouraged us to voice our honest feedback to improve. As a result, I have seen significant growth in my communication and scientific writing skills. The material assigned outside of class was thoughtfully designed. It was rigorous, but manageable which allowed me to growth as both a student and researcher without feeling overwhelmed. Under Dr. Rigueur's guidance, I improved my ability to read and comprehend primary literature which built confidence, and prepared me for graduate school. Overall, I greatly enjoyed this class due to Dr. Rigueur's enthusiasm, passion, and expertise across multiple fields of biology. Not only did she teach the material effectively, but she also cultivated a supportive community that inspired growth and enthusiasm for science.
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