Ian Duncan
3 courses · 43 reviews
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DO NOT TAKE HUMAN GENETICS. Duncan does not show up to his OH bc he simply FORGETS about it. He has not responded to most of my emails and does not have clear grading criteria. Average is a 60 for the class although tests have curves. The TAs are not helpful and the graders takes FOREVER to grade. Also he missed the last day to submit final grades
12/27/2023
Biol324 had a ton of guest lectures, but Duncan was pretty good about taking the information that they gave us and translating it into an exam that wasn't impossible. All slides get posted online so going to class isn't required. He seemed a little scatter-brained at times but is a good professor overall
12/15/2019
Especially after taking Bio 2960 at WashU, having Duncan as a bio professor was so refreshing. He was MUCH clearer than any of the other bio professors I had and he wrote on the board rather than relying on powerpoint slides, which made taking notes much easier. Tests are straightforward, easy to know what to expect.
10/4/2017
Awesome dude, he is really into the whole drosophila thing. He may not care too much about you as an individual but he clearly loves what he is teaching and tries really hard to communicate the information thoroughly and clearly. Exams are hard but what do you expect from an premed intro class at at washu?
11/15/2015
lectures are scattered, doesn't explain key concepts, struggled to find help, tests are ridiculous, worst class i've taken at WUSTL.
1/12/2015
Duncan is kind of all over the place with notes; it can be very unclear what he is talking about in class at times, even if you've done the reading in the textbook. The textbook isn't very helpful most of the time; it doesn't go nearly as in depth as class. I went through this class by basically teaching myself and going to TA hours a lot.
7/8/2014
He's fantastic! Though, at times, not the most exciting lecturer, he teaches interesting material and is great at answering questions. I definitely recommend taking his class!
11/13/2013
As unhelpful as a professor gets. I took the class this Summer, I emailed him to set up a meeting time because I didn't understand the material, and he responded with a class-wide email to direct all questions to the TA (who was fabulous, but she couldn't help me as much as he could have.)I highly dislike Dr. Duncan, Larson is better in every way.
12/11/2012
Duncan can be dry and his notes sort of scattered. That being said, if you really understand his notes and the problem sets, the exams are doable, though there is always that hard question no one gets. He's not the most riveting, but once I took the time to actually understand his lectures by going over the notes, I found his exams much easier.
1/17/2012
Duncan makes the pretty dry material seem slightly interesting. But watch out; he writes frustratingly difficult exams and just doing problem sets won't save you. Another weed-out similar to 2960 and many premeds will cry.
12/9/2011
Restored my interest in Bio. It was a pleasure to go to lecture every day. He is a lot tougher than Larson, which is why some reviewers say they like Larson better, but he was way more interesting. Tests were conceptual. Don't bother memorizing old exams because he'll write new curveballs. Make sure to UNDERSTAND the problem sets.
11/4/2011
Very interesting lecturer. Sometimes dry and slow but cares a lot for the class. Lectures go through basics and problems go through mediums. Tests are where you have to really think using what you already learned and worked on. Don't read the book unless you don't understand basic concepts... Work the problem sets over 2x w/o looking at answers.
10/21/2011
Even though the class wasn't easy, Duncan taught the material very well
4/19/2011
Very dry lecturer. Runs through material without really explaining. Writes difficult tests that try to trip you up.
3/24/2011
He sounds exactly like Milton from Office Space. That being said, at first I found him to be a pretty boring prof. However, as the class progressed his lectures got more interesting. He really cared about the class, and helped students understand the issues of genetics that affect all of us.
1/8/2011
Very good at explaining topics- I think some students overlook that due to the difficulty of genetics itself. Is surprisingly funny at random times. Exams are difficult, but you don't need to read the book unless you don't understand lectures.
12/31/2010
He taught the first half of the course quite well and his exams are manageable. Only the materials covered in class will be covered in the exam so studying the notes is enough for the exams.
3/29/2008
A good professor. He made genetics much more interesting than I thought it would be. Exam questions are difficult, but generally based on problem sets and similar to previous exams. Understand the problem sets and you should do well.
3/5/2008
Pretty dull lectures, but he does cover the material on the exams. However, the problem sets were very important to learning what he wanted to teach. I didn't get enough understanding out of lecture to actually do the problem sets.
2/2/2007
A very solid professor: lectures are always well-planned and clearly presented. Sometimes a dull lecturer, but his sense of humor occasionally shows itself. His exams are tough, but not unfair.
12/27/2005
Good professor, seemed that he liked being there teaching, taught the subject well and made it remotely interesting
12/20/2005
Duncan is the man! He told us to not give up when attempting to have children, even after a miscarriage. And he passed out at his wife's amniocentesis!
12/14/2005
Cares a lot for his students and makes class interesting. He is a great professor.
11/30/2005
listen to him say echinus cut on streamin video. I liked him alot better than templeton.
1/30/2005
Duncan and I are cool even though I think he infected me with his evil demon cough (don't sit too close). He makes some interesting comments and asides. To do well all you need are class notes and problem sets. Duncan r0x0rz.
1/5/2005
Way to make biology ten times more complicated than it actually is - read the book, do the problem sets, read the lecture notes, but don't go to lecture.
12/24/2004
Duncan was disorganized and made me fall asleep. Maybe some of that is because the material itself is boring, but the guy isn't particularly energizing either. Don't expect the homework and lectures to prepare you very well for the exams. Templeton's half is better.
12/23/2004
I liked this class, and I thought Duncan was funny - definitely don't ever read the textbook, just do the problem sets and you'll be good to go
12/23/2004
Little that Duncan says makes sense, I had to learn from the book and the labs. The worst prof Ive had yet.
12/22/2004
horrible experience. this person is very full of himself and does a poor job of teaching. his homework assignments had nothing to do with what was discussed in class and the exams were the same
12/20/2004
Pretty boring, not good at explaining the material. Usually I'd read the book in these cases, but the textbook for this class is absolutely horrible.
12/10/2004
exams were difficult, means were very low--granted it's a "weed-out" course. however, i've done the homeworks and reading, attended every (painfully boring) lecture. boo.
10/23/2004
Pretty hard tests, but he has the best lectures that I've ever had at WashU.
12/11/2003