How he became a biologist...and teacher!
“When I went to Northern Michigan University as an undergraduate, I had no clue as to what I wanted to do with my life. I found myself taking a lot of biology and chemistry classes and I enjoyed them. My advisor was bugging me to pick a major so I settled on Water Science, which was a new interdisciplinary field that included biology and chemistry. As I neared graduation, I still had no clue as to what I wanted to do. One of my professors asked if I would stick around and put his Biometrics labs on computer for him. He suggested that I get a Masters and that I could get paid while going to school by being a teaching assistant. The concept of getting paid for school blew me away and I signed on!”
“When I finished that work I decided to work towards a doctorate in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics at the University of Minnesota. During that time I had more chances to teach, and loved it!”
“After graduation, I did postdoctoral research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I first worked on the Human Genome Project in the Chemistry Department, then worked on the genetic control of cannabinoid receptors in the School of Pharmacy, and finished up by working on rat tapeworm effects on physiology in the School of Veterinary Medicine. I've done a lot of different science and enjoyed it all.”
What are you doing now with your UWFox students?
“Currently some students and I are working on mold growth inhibition, which has a great deal of potential if we can get it all worked out. I'm still interested in DNA analysis and along with some other people am working on getting a forensics lab in the Fox Valley. I’m interested in stem cell research, fighting cancer and other genetic diseases, antibiotics, viruses, prions (Chronic Wasting Disease, for example)--there are a ton of interesting and exciting things being done in the biology! Additionally, I'm involved in new teaching strategies/techniques in order to help students understand concepts better and to make me a better professor.”
Tell us about weird jobs you’ve had….
“One summer between college semesters I was hired by the DNR to plant trees for a little over a month. The rest of the summer I worked for Aspluhnd killing trees from pipelines so that leaks could be detected easily. Talk about polar jobs! ”
Academics
- BA: Water Science, Northern Michigan University
- Ph. D. Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biophysics, University of Minnesota
- Currently: Assistant Professor Biological Sciences, UW-Fox Valley
Tidbits
- Avid Green Bay Packer Fan (Packers Partners Club of Champions)
- Presenter Community book series @ Appleton Public Library
- National Science Teachers Association
- American Society for Microbiology