Jason’s FAQs:
This page serves as a tl;dr resource for things about me. If it’s not covered here, that doesn’t mean it’s a secret, just that it’s not a FAQ.
Where did you attend school?
I went to California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) for my undergrad and Master’s (BS in Biotechnology; minor in Chemistry; MS in the Biological Sciences). I went here (UC Riverside, yo!) for my PhD in Microbiology, and I did a postdoc at UC Irvine. SoCal through and through.
What (and with whom) did you study for your PhD and/or postdoc?
I studied insect microbiomes and ecotoxicology with Quinn McFrederick in the UCR Entomology Dept. I studied microbiomes and metabolomes with Katrine Whiteson at UCI in the following ways: 1. Human oral microbiome and metabolomes, and how this relates to the social ecology of the home environment, 2. Disease-associated microbiomes and metabolomes (i.e. Alzheimer’s Disease and Cystic Fibrosis), 3. Wastewater microbial ecology.
What do you study here?
I study two major things here at UCR: 1. Science pedagogy, motivation, mentorship, and STEM education; 2. Wastewater-based epidemiology and microbial ecology. Check my research page for more information.
What do you teach?
I teach microbiology courses at UCR. At Cal Poly, I taught everything from Introductory Biology, to Human Sexuality, to Microbial Physiology.
What’s a “Teaching Professor/Professor of Teaching?”
“Teaching professors” are academic senate faculty, just like other faculty members, and yes, I’m tenure-track. We’re hired to focus on teaching and pedagogy. I usually teach microbiology-focused courses.
Can you supervise my Undergraduate Honors thesis or Independent Study?
Yes! I’m happy to talk with you about your projects and research interests.
Can you serve on dissertation and or qualifying exam committees?
Yes! Reach out to see if I’m a good fit. I’m part of the Microbiology and Plant Pathology graduate programs. If you’re in a different department, it’s usually not a problem, just a bit of paperwork.
Do you advise graduate students? Do you chair dissertation committees?
I’m always up for meeting with students, even if you’re not in Micro/Plant Path, and I’d happily co-chair/co-advise a dissertation committee. I don’t generally take students on my own, because of my more limited opportunities of support (I don’t have a true lab to employ you as an RA). Does this mean that I won’t take students? No, but if you want to work with me, we’ll have to consider lots of things and make sure it’d be the best option for you. We can always work something out, but co-advising is the easiest path.
What’re your office hours, course schedule, and can we meet outside of those hours?
Office hours change every quarter, so check Canvas for the most recent ones. If you want to see what I’m currently teaching, check the UCR Schedule of Classes. We can always meet outside of scheduled office hours, just email me and we’ll figure out a time.
What’s your email address?
UCR email addresses have the format of firstname.lastname@ucr.edu. I don't have it listed here so bots can't grab it. I betcha can figure it out though! You can also just click on the envelope on my homepage.