Alan Thompson, Ph.D.
Biology Faculty
Coming to FPU from Harvard University and University California, Davis, Alan Thompson brings a variety of research interests including understanding oncogenic viruses and the trasformation of regular cells into cancer cells and the biological activity of novel oxidized lipids. He also brings an appreciation for FPU's smaller class sizes and his own ability as professor to give individualized attention here. While committed to core scientific concepts, he also enjoys exposing students to cutting-edge technology.
"In AIMS Hall we have the space and equipment to accommodate scientific research in a wide variety of areas: organic chemistry, microbiology, recominant DNA work or even mammalian cell biology.
"However, new buildings and equipment aren't really what makes FPU unique; neither do scientific research opportunities distinguish FPU from most other universities. I know it sounds cliché but...FPU's students walk away from here having been immersed in a community. Most students don't drive here, park their car, attend class, walk out, get back in the car and drive home. The university in general is characterized by relationships. Especially at the upper division level, we have extremely small biology and chemistry class sizes. I'm not sure it's possible to get much more personalized attention than the students get here wthout hiring a personal tutor! This extends beyond the classroom: students don't have to wait a week before a 10-minute slot opens up in my schedule. I think most of the faculty share my hope that students will feel free to knock on my office door and ask whatever's on their mind.
"The smaller size of the courses also has another benefit: when I'm requested to write a letter of recommendation, I am able to provide the type of detail most admissions committees or hiring committees are interested in. It hardly is of much value to have only a vague memory of Joe Bob's face in a lecture hall of 200 students accompanied by my spreadsheet telling me he got a 'B+' in my class. The science faculty here are able to observe students 'close-up'—how well they work in team settings, how conscientious they are in the laboratory, etc."
