Current instructor

Paul Friesen

Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 4.80/5 from 10 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

MMI575 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 4/5
Professor Friesen is a great professor for a tough class. He is very accessible outside class and really wants you to do well. (Go to weekly discussions and try not to miss class, it really makes a difference.) You can tell that both he + professor Mehle are both very knowledgeable about virology and care about communicating it well. Recommend!!
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BIOCHEM 301
Quality 5/5Difficulty 3/5
Dr. Friesen Is an amazing professor. He has such a passion for teaching students and loves to see students succeed. He is one of the most friendly professors I have ever had. Very inspirational and amazing at his job. Would most definitely take him again!
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BIOCHEM 301
Quality 4/5Difficulty 3/5
Gave hw graded on "completion", but took off points when I did a brief answer to each question, as I normally do on study guides. Regardless, relatively engaging professor who is passionate about biochem/virology, and gives helpful info and really prepares students well for exams.
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MMI575 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 3/5
Wonderful professor and such a cool class. Gets to know you by name (if you attend office hours/discussion, etc.) and seems to really care about his students and their learning. Passion/love for virology is infectious (ha ha). You will definitely need to study for this class however! Lots of information.
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MMI575 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 4/5
I highly recommend Professor Friesen. Is probably one of the best professors I have had at UW. He's also a pretty cool guy. His class if difficult but rewarding (what you put in is what you get out). 10/10 recommend!
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MMI575 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 3/5
Dr. Friesen promptly replies to emails and is always willing to spend extra time outside of class to clarify. Very enthusiastic about the material he presents, which makes lectures interesting and holds your attention.
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Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.

Classes with Paul Friesen

BIOCHEM 299

Independent Study

1–3 credits

Independent Study involves research work under the direct guidance of a Biochemistry faculty member.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Scott CoylePaul Friesen+31 more

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026
BIOCHEM 301

Survey of Biochemistry

3 credits

Survey of Biochemistry explores chemical properties of biomolecules, metabolism, and DNA processes, linking them to disease, drug design, and gene therapy; it does not prepare students for advanced biochemistry or med/vet admission.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · Paul Friesen

Paul Friesen taught an engaging course where he prepared students well for exams. He assigned homework graded on completion, though he deducted points for brief answers. Reviewers described him as passionate about biochemistry and virology.

Paul FriesenMario Pennella+1 more

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2023–Spring 2026
BIOCHEM 681

Senior Honors Thesis

2–4 credits

Senior Honors Thesis: First semester of individual study for undergraduate students in an Honors program completing a thesis in Biochemistry, arranged with a faculty member.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Scott CoylePaul Friesen+28 more

No recorded grade history

BIOCHEM 682

Senior Honors Thesis

2–4 credits

Second semester individual study for undergraduates in an Honors program completing a Biochemistry thesis, arranged with a Biochemistry faculty member.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Scott CoylePaul Friesen+28 more

No recorded grade history

BIOCHEM 691

Senior Thesis

2 credits

First-semester individual study for undergraduates completing a Biochemistry thesis, arranged with a Biochemistry faculty member.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Scott CoylePaul Friesen+28 more

No recorded grade history

BIOCHEM 692

Senior Thesis

2 credits

Second semester individual study for undergraduates completing a Biochemistry senior thesis, involving literature review, research methodologies, thesis writing, and communication of findings.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Scott CoylePaul Friesen+28 more

No recorded grade history

BIOCHEM 699

Special Problems

1–4 credits

Special Problems provides credit for supervised research, library, or lab work. Students arrange specific projects and credits directly with their faculty supervisor.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Scott CoylePaul Friesen+28 more

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026 · limited sample
BIOCHEM 910

Seminar-molecular Virology (advanced)

1 credits

Advanced seminar covering research reports, special topics, and recent literature in molecular virology.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2022: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=4 letter grades); Fall 2022: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=7 letter grades); Fall 2025: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=7 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.

Paul FriesenRobert Kirchdoerfer+5 more

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sample
BIOCHEM 990

Research

1–12 credits

Independent laboratory research course for preparing a graduate thesis or dissertation under faculty supervision.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Scott CoyleMichael Cox+42 more

No recorded grade history

BIOCHEM/MM&I 575

Biology of Viruses

2 credits

Biology of Viruses covers animal virology at the molecular level, focusing on virus structure, replication/lifecycle, pathogenesis, and prevention.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2024: 2.66 GPA, 32.3% A/AB (n=31 letter grades); Spring 2025: 2.88 GPA, 35.3% A/AB (n=34 letter grades); Spring 2026: 2.72 GPA, 33.3% A/AB (n=27 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.

Paul FriesenAndrew Mehle

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2023–Spring 2026
MICROBIO 699

Special Problems

1–4 credits

Individual advanced work in Microbiology under faculty guidance, involving identifying research problems, conducting experiments, analyzing data, and communicating results.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Michael ThomasPaul Friesen+25 more

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026 · limited sample
MICROBIO 990

Research

1–9 credits

Graduate research course involving full lab and literature review of a microbiology problem, leading to thesis and publication preparation.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Michael ThomasPaul Friesen+34 more

No recorded grade history

Recorded teaching history

Distinct courses recorded per term

Explore courses taught by this instructor →
Browse recorded courses
TermCourseTitle
Spring 2027BIOCHEM 299Independent Study
Spring 2027BIOCHEM 301Survey of Biochemistry
Spring 2027BIOCHEM 681Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2027BIOCHEM 682Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2027BIOCHEM 691Senior Thesis
Spring 2027BIOCHEM 692Senior Thesis
Spring 2027BIOCHEM 699Special Problems
Spring 2027BIOCHEM 910Seminar-molecular Virology (advanced)
Spring 2027BIOCHEM 990Research
Spring 2027BIOCHEM/MM&I 575Biology of Viruses
Spring 2027MICROBIO 699Special Problems
Spring 2027MICROBIO 899Independent Study
Spring 2027MICROBIO 990Research
Spring 2027ONCOLOGY 990Research
Fall 2026BIOCHEM 299Independent Study
Fall 2026BIOCHEM 681Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2026BIOCHEM 682Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2026BIOCHEM 691Senior Thesis
Fall 2026BIOCHEM 692Senior Thesis
Fall 2026BIOCHEM 699Special Problems
Fall 2026BIOCHEM 910Seminar-molecular Virology (advanced)
Fall 2026BIOCHEM 990Research
Fall 2026MICROBIO 699Special Problems
Fall 2026MICROBIO 899Independent Study
Fall 2026MICROBIO 990Research
Fall 2026ONCOLOGY 990Research

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

Instructor identity & provenance 
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