Online TA Profiles
Stephen Allen, MSc
OTA ID#: 104330
| Education Experience: |
BSc, Biochemistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada, 1985 MSc, Biochemistry, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 1987 BA, Theology, Ambassador College, Big Sandy, Texas, 1990 Graduate Certificate, Bioinformatics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, 2000 |
|---|---|
| Focus of Study: | My graduate work in biochemistry related to identifying control and regulatory elements on human genes involved in nitrogen metabolism. |
| Awards: | I have been recognized as an outstanding educator in “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers”. I received the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, pre-doctoral research fellowship, the Aldous Prize in Pharmacology, two Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada summer undergraduate research fellowships, and Academic Excellence Awards for highest gpa in an undergraduate program. |
| Publications: | 1. “Towards a Non-Aristotelian Epistemology of Science” ETC: A Review of General Semantics 60:228-240 (2003).
2. “Activity of Human delta-5 and delta-6 Desaturases on Multiple n-3 and n-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids” FEBS Lett 509:77-80 (2001). 3. “Associations Between Central and Peripheral Measures of Phospholipid Breakdown Revealed by Cerebral 31P Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Fatty Acid Composition of Erythrocyte Membranes” Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 25(8):1513-1521 (2001). 4. “Activity and mRNA Abundance of Delta-5 and Delta-6 Fatty Acid Desaturases in Two Human Cell Lines” FEBS Lett 491(3):247-251 (2001). 5. Experiments and Investigations in Biology, Ambassador University Press, Big Sandy, TX (1995). |
| Work Experience: | Technical Director - Bio Vision Technology Inc.
2002-present I assess and advise on scientific and technological issues relating to biomass fractionation technologies, manage technical and business feasibility studies, and coordinate and write applications for grants and project funding Instructor of Mathematics and Chemistry Kings-Edgehill School 2002 I instructed Grade 10 mathematics and Grade 11 chemistry at the oldest private school in Canada. Senior Research Scientist and Project Manager - QuantaNova Canada Ltd. 1999-2001 I oversaw all bioinformatics research relating to lipid genomics in the company, initiated and coordinated integrated research projects, and imparted strategic leadership at all stages of a project. Research Associate - QuantaNova Canada Ltd. 1999 I developed and implemented research proposals and conducted experiments to further corporate research goals relating to identifying novel genes involved in fatty acid metabolism. Clinical Analysis Manager - Scotia Pharmaceuticals Ltd. 1997-1998 I managed the clinical analysis department of a medium-sized pharmaceutical firm involved in the development of photodynamic therapy for cancer and pharmacological uses for natural plant oils. Instructor in Biological Sciences - Ambassador University 1988-1997 I designed and taught a number of undergraduate courses in biology and chemistry at a liberal arts university in Texas: General Biology, Human Anatomy and Physiology, General Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Open Seminars. |
| Skills & Achievements: | I have over 12 years of direct academic teaching expertise at the undergraduate or post-secondary level and many years of corporate experience managing and directing numerous research projects. |
| Career Interests: | Above all, teaching itself is my career interest; research has been secondary. However, my research field of interest has been molecular biology of fatty acid metabolism and the use of bioinformatics to elucidate novel genes involved in lipid metabolism. Currently, I am involved in a significant project for converting woody biomass into alternative fuels and chemicals. |
| Outside Interests: | I am an accomplished violinist and conductor, having directed university choruses and community orchestras for a number of years. I very much enjoy Biblical studies, producing a newsletter for those keenly interested in exploring Biblical topics. |
| Message to Students and/or Parents: |
We may divide educators into three groups based on the idea that true education relates more to "seeing the forest" than it does to "seeing the trees". Poor educators do not understand even the "trees", and so their teaching becomes confusing and muddled. Good educators understand "trees" excellently well, yet their teaching is too complicated. A great educator, however, understands not only the "trees" but also the "forest". Because of this, he can simplify the otherwise complicated issues in the "trees" and make them easily comprehended. My wide range of skills and experience allows me to reach into the details without losing sight of the big picture. |
| Postings Answered: | 1722 |
| Cumulative OTA Rating: | 4.9/5 What is OTA Rating? |
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- Five Pillars of Islam - Describe the belief in the five pillars of Islam and their meaning to Muslims. Describe how your life would be different if you practiced one of these pillars of faith.
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- Ethics, employers, and drug use - "Drug use is information that is rightfully private and only in exceptional cases can an employer claim a right to know about such use." Defend or oppose this statement.
