Ethan Strauss

Technical Services Scientists IV
Promega Corporation
2800 Woods Hollow Rd
Madison, WI 53711-5399
800-356-9526 X1373
estrauss@promega.com
1504 Prairie Rd
Madison, WI 53711
608-278-1390
ethan@q7.com

 


Education

History

  • Technical Services Scientist IV, Promega Corporations 9/2003 to present
  • Technical Services Scientist III, Promega Corporations 9/2000 to 9/2003
  • Technical Services Scientist II, Promega Corporations 10/98 to 9/2000
  • Technical Services Scientist I, Promega Corporations 10/97 to 10/98
  • Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Illinois. 8/96-10/97
  • Visiting Instructor of Biology, St. Mary's College of Maryland. 8/95-5/96
  • Graduate Student, University of Maine. 9/90-8/96
  • Research Assistant, Oregon Health Science University. 1/88-8/90
  • Undergraduate, Reed College. 82-87

Scientific Experience

  • Technical Services Scientist IV (9/2003-present) Promega Corporation.
    • Provided technical support for Promega's complete product line via telephone, Fax, and e-mail.
    • Attended conferences as a Promega representative.
    • Provided technical training for new Technical Services Scientists, Field Applications Specialists, and various other Promega employees.
    • Followed ISO9000 procedures.
    • Lead internal teams to database Promega's technical service information resources and rewrite the technical appendix section of Promega's print catalog.
    • Provided computer support for the technical service department.
    • Developed a number of web based tools for biology (for example http://www.promega.com/siRNADesigner/default.htm ).
    • Extensive computer use including:
      • FrontPage Explorer & Editor
      • HTML
      • JavaScript
      • VBscript
      • Microsoft Word
      • Bioinformatics servers on the web
      • Microsoft Internet Explorer
      • Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft
      • Excel
      • Access
      • A number of different internal software package
  • Technical Services Scientist III (9/2000-9/2003) Promega Corporation.
  • Technical Services Scientist II (9/98-9/2000) Promega Corporation. 
    • Provided technical support for Promega's complete product line via telephone, Fax, and e-mail.
    • Wrote and edited literature for Promega
    • Developed and maintained web pages for Promegas internal and external web sites. 
  • Technical Services Scientist I (10/97-9/98) Promega Corporation. Provided technical support for Promega's complete product line via telephone, Fax, and e-mail. Designed web pages for Promega's internal web site.
  • Postdoctoral Research Associate (8/96-10/97). Dr. Schuyler Korban. Department of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign. Investigated fatty acid synthesis in soybean: expression of genes involved in fatty acid synthesis and modification during soybean embryo development. Cloned fatty acid synthase genes, constructing overexpressing soybeans to produce high oil varieties. Developed a lab web page (No longer available)
  • Visiting Instructor (8/95-5/96). Department of Biology, St. Mary's College of Maryland. Teaching at a small liberal arts college; directed independent student research projects, participated in departmental and campus-wide faculty meetings, advised students, and developed and taught courses.
  • Courses Taught
    • Contemporary Bioscience (Fall 1995). Introductory biology for non-majors.
    • Contemporary Bioscience (Emphasis on agricultural technology)(Spring 1996). This course focused on various technologies, ranging from methods for sustainable agriculture to the use of genetic engineering in crop plants, used in agriculture.
    • Biology of Plants (Spring 1996). Introductory botany with laboratory. Physiology, anatomy, development, genetics, and diversity of higher and lower plants and fungi.
    • Plant Physiology (Fall 1995). General plant physiology. Original research papers relevant to plant physiology were read and discussed in class. Laboratory exercises were designed to give the students some familiarity with modern plant physiology techniques (i.e. PCR and tissue culture) and instrumentation (i.e. porometers and pyschrometers).
    • Introductory Biology Laboratory (Fall 1995, and Spring 1996). Laboratory for introductory biology for biology majors
  • Graduate Research Assistant (9/90- 8/95). Dr. Stellos Tavantzis. Department of Plant Biology & Pathology, University of Maine. Studied molecular genetics of Potato Virus X (PVX) and PVX resistance in potato. Studied mycovirus genome structure and expression using VSB717, a double-stranded RNA virus of the plant pathogenic fungus Rhizoctonia solani, as a model system. Computer analysis of DNA, RNA, and protein sequences. Trained professors, graduate students, postdocs, and technicians in a variety of computer techniques including the use of PCgene, BLAST DNA homology search programs, and various internet tools. Trained undergraduate lab assistants in molecular biology techniques.
  • Teaching Assistant. Introductory Botany (1/95-5/95). Dr. Christa Schwintzer and Dr. Benedict Neubauer. Department of Plant Biology & Pathology, University of Maine. Taught plant physiology and plant anatomy laboratories
  • Laboratory Coordinator. Introductory Botany (for students with no biology background) (8/94-12/94). Dr. Douglas Gelinas. Department of Plant Biology & Pathology, University of Maine. Designed, scheduled, and taught introductory botany laboratories .
  • Teaching Assistant. Introductory Biology Laboratory (4 semesters between 1992 and 1994). Departments of Plant Biology & Pathology, and Zoology, University of Maine. Presented laboratory lectures, designed and graded all lab assignments. Designed of molecular biology and immunology labs for all laboratory sections (about 800 students).
  • Research Assistant (1/88-8/90). Dr. Rodney Sparks. Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Oregon Health Science University. Studied molecular and cellular biology of differentiation and oncogenesis of murine cells in culture. Trained and supervised lab aides and summer interns in basic cell culture and molecular biology techniques.
  • Laboratory Assistant (summers '86 & '87). Dr. John Hearst. Department Chemistry, University California at Berkeley. Studied photosynthesis in photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter capsulata. Attempted to develop monoclonal antibodies for research on nucleic acid structure.

Honors and Awards

  • Travel grant. National Plant Lipid Cooperative. 1997 Symposium on Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plant Fatty Acids and Glycerolipids
  • University of Maine Department of Botany Teaching Assistantships (1992-1995).
  • University of Maine Graduate School Research Assistantships (1990-1993). These assistantships are competitive university wide.
  • University of Maine Association of Graduate Students grants spring and fall 1991, spring and fall 1992, and spring 1995.
  • National Science Foundation Predoctoral fellowship 1990 (honorable mention).

Other Experience

  • Techniques in Bioinformatics and Comparative Genomics (2000) from the BioPharamaceutical Technology Center
  • Bioinformatics course ("Bioinformatics 1") distance learning from the University of Manchester (2000).
  • Botany department representative University of Maine Association of Graduate Students (AGS) (1992-1993 and 1994). Served as a member of the graduate student board. Helped to rewrite the AGS constitution. Served as the AGS representative on the university wide health insurance committee.
  • Paper session assistant (1992). American Phytopathological Society Northeast regional meeting.
  • Committee member (1992). Committee to choose the College of Sciences nominee for the University of Maine Distinguished Professor award.
  • Residence Hall Advisor (8/86-5/87) Reed College, Portland Oregon. Acted as liaison between students and administration for 28 students in a co-ed college dormitory. Helped new students to adjust to college life. Organized dorm activities.
  • Computer assistant (8/86-5/87) Reed College, Portland Oregon. Assisted students in problems with Macintosh computers and with the UNIX operating system. Repair and recovery of files from crashed disks.
  • I have done paid and volunteer work for a number of local, state, and national parks.

Conferences Attended

  • National Plant Lipid Cooperative 1997 Symposium on Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plant Fatty Acids and Glycerolipids
  • Washington Area Section American Society of Plant Physiologists Spring meeting 1996.
  • Invited Speaker, Potato Virus Yn (PVYn) Forum. National Farmers Union. Prince Edward Island, Canada. 1993
  • American Phytopathology Society Northeastern Division regional meeting 1992.
  • Plant Molecular Biology Gordon Research Conference 1992. Joint meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology and The
  • American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 1989

Presentations and Publications

Ethan Strauss     last updated July, 2004