Historical instructor

NICHOLAS ZUMWALDE

Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 4.93/5 from 14 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.

RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.

What students say

Original student reviews · all captured dates

GEN662 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 4/5
He is not the professor of this class anymore, but I want everyone to know he is one of the best professors in UW-Madison. I can't understand why the Genetics Department let him go...
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GEN662 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 4/5
Cancer genetics was very applicable to the medical field, especially the VEGF pathway and BRACA genes that are covered in class as well as current biologic treatments and future targets for resistant cancers.
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GEN588 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 3/5
He cares about students and teaching as a whole. Very accessible outside of class and he obviously knows his stuff. Everything explained clearly. All slides posted on Canvas and lectures were recorded. Exams were challenging but averages remained ~85. Only complaint is the $70 textbook automatically added to tuition- only used it once. 9.5/10
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GEN588 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 3/5
This was the first semester Immunogenetics (GEN 588) and it is a challenging course, but Professor Zumwalde breaks down the material really well in his lecture, and in the problem sets so we know what to focus on. His Canvas is also really well organized which helps to stay on top of things. Analogies were on point.
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GENETICS/MDGENET 662
Quality 5/5Difficulty 2/5
Professor Zumwalde was a great professor for Cancer Genetics. Digestible lectures and readings. Very responsive and amazing at explaining concepts if asked!
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Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.

Classes with NICHOLAS ZUMWALDE

GENETICS 234

Genomes and Society

3 credits

Explores how genome sequencing revolutionizes health, medicine, and environmental challenges.

No offering record · Spring 2026

with this instructor · course overall, matching historical terms

Nicholas ZumwaldeKatie Vermillion

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2025–Spring 2026 · limited sample
GENETICS/MDGENET 662

Cancer Genetics

Credits unavailable

CANCER GENETICS focuses on the genetic basis of cancer, covering DNA abnormalities, immune interactions, and clinical relevance.

No offering record · Spring 2026

with this instructor · course overall, matching historical terms

Nicholas ZumwaldeTomas Prolla

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

Recorded teaching history

Distinct courses recorded per term

Explore courses taught by this instructor →
Browse recorded courses
TermCourseTitle
Spring 2026GENETICS 234Genomes and Society
Spring 2026GENETICS/MDGENET 662Cancer Genetics
Fall 2025GENETICS 234Genomes and Society
Fall 2025GENETICS 335Genomes in a Modern World
Fall 2025GENETICS 588Immunogenetics
Spring 2025GENETICS 375Special Topics
Spring 2025GENETICS 566Advanced Genetics
Spring 2025GENETICS/MDGENET 662Cancer Genetics
Fall 2024GENETICS 375Special Topics
Fall 2024GENETICS 588Immunogenetics
Spring 2024GENETICS 375Special Topics
Spring 2024GENETICS 566Advanced Genetics
Spring 2024GENETICS/MDGENET 662Cancer Genetics
Fall 2023GENETICS 375Special Topics
Fall 2023GENETICS 588Immunogenetics
Spring 2023GENETICS 566Advanced Genetics
Spring 2023GENETICS/MDGENET 662Cancer Genetics
Fall 2022GENETICS 133Genetics in the News
Fall 2022GENETICS 155Freshman Seminar in Genetics
Fall 2022GENETICS 588Immunogenetics
Spring 2022GENETICS 566Advanced Genetics
Spring 2022GENETICS/MDGENET 662Cancer Genetics
Fall 2021GENETICS 133Genetics in the News
Fall 2021GENETICS 155Freshman Seminar in Genetics
Fall 2021GENETICS/MDGENET 677Advanced Topics in Genetics
Fall 2020GENETICS 133Genetics in the News
Fall 2020GENETICS 155Freshman Seminar in Genetics
Fall 2020GENETICS/MDGENET 677Advanced Topics in Genetics
Spring 2020GENETICS/MDGENET 662Cancer Genetics
Spring 2020MM&I 341Immunology

Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.

Instructor identity & provenance 
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