Cruzen CV 2008 - Biola University

Matt Earl Cruzen, Ph. D.
matt.cruzen@biola.edu
530 South B Street
Tustin CA 92680
h(714) 544-6094
o(562) 903-4856
CV
Objectives:
To be a full time life science professor, utilizing my broad background and training in molecular
biology/biochemistry, communication skills, and experience. My strengths are a persistence and
dedication with an inner drive towards accomplishing goals in a team environment, and a true
passion for teaching and seeing others learn. I also have a hunger for more knowledge and to
communicate to others as a life long learner and educator.
Education:
Institution Degree Field of Study
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona B.S.-1985 Microbiology
University of California, Irvine Ph.D.-1993 Biological Chemistry
California State University, Long Beach Teacher credential program 1998-2000
Major Research Field: Microbiology, Genetics, and Molecular Biology.
Honors: California State Polytechnic University, Pomona: Magna Cum Lauda, 1985.
Teaching Experience:
Associate Professor, Biola University, La Mirada CA, August 2002 – present.
Develop and teach courses in: General Biology for majors, Principles of Biology for non
majors, Cellular Biology, Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genetics, Genetics
Laboratory Developmental Biology, Developmental Biology Laboratory, Biochemistry, and
First year seminar for Biology majors. Perform extra academic duties as required of a full
time faculty member including: developing an undergraduate research program [aging studies
in Caenorabditis elegans using RNA inhibition], serving on the General Education council,
and Biological Sciences department chair Spring 2005-present, also served as chair of the
course evaluation committee Fall 2006-Fall 2008, and serve on the Faculty Promotion
Committee Fall 2008 -present.
Microbiology Instructor, Irvine Valley College, Irvine CA, August 1994 –June 1998.
Teach microbiology lecture and laboratory. The course enrolls 32 students per semester.
Responsibilities include instruction and evaluation of theory and applied skills in
microbiology.
Biological Sciences Instructor, Santa Ana College, Santa Ana CA, August 1993 – June 2002.
Teach biology and microbiology laboratory and lecture. These courses enroll an average of
30 students per semester. Responsibilities include instruction and evaluation of theoretical
and applied skills.
Science Teacher, Century High School, Santa Ana Unified School District, September 1997-
June 2000.
Science Tutor for Home School Family Ministries and Carden Conservatory Science
teacher/tutor Fall 2004- present: Develop and teach biological and physical sciences
curriculum for home schooled junior high and high school students
Develop curriculum and teach integrated science to freshmen, sophomores and juniors.

Instructor, University of California Irvine Summer Institutes (CAMP-Community College
Summer Institute, CAMP Summer Science Academy, Upward Bound, and AP Biology, July
and August 1994, 1996, 2000, 2001.
Wrote curriculum for and taught activity-based courses in molecular biology, general
biology, physics and chemistry to underrepresented minority community college transfer
students and high school students in laboratory settings.
Research Experience:
Research Scientist, Avid Bioservices, May 2002-August 2002
Develop growth media and conditions to optimize product yield for cell lines grown in mass
culture
Design and develop methods for streamlining and reducing cost in production.
Tecnical Support Scientist I, Focus Technologies Incorporated, September 2001-April 2002.
Troubleshooting of diagnostic assays
Prequalification of incoming raw materials
Design and develop methods for streamlining and reducing cost in production.
Write and present technical material in group settings
cGLP/cGMP and ISO9001 training
Research Associate, Oncotech Incorporated, June 1993 - August 1994.
Assay development, and independent research of human tumor necrosis factor (TNF)
intracellular processing and biological activity.
Drug and assay development of compounds which affect glutathione metabolism in breast,
ovarian, and melanoma cell lines, and fresh tumor specimens, employing experimental
procedures such as ELISA and spectrophotometric enzyme activity assays and cell surface
characterization by flow cytometry.
Responsible for maintaining cell culture, and laboratory inventory and ordering.
Graduate Student, University of California, Irvine, September 1985 - April 1993.
Carry out original research cloning, characterization, and molecular biology of human
aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases using experimental procedures such as Southern and Northern
blotting, in vitro transcription, manual and automated sequencing, and PCR.
Carry out physiology and aging studies in Caenorabditis elegans monitoring a variety of
enzyme activities by fluorometric analysis of life span specified cloned nematodes.
Supervise undergraduate and rotating graduate student projects.
Administrative Experience:
Department Chair: Biological Sciences, Biola University Spring 2005-present.
Developer, Director, Lead Instructor of Biola Youth Summer Science Programs: Science Quest:
CSI Biola, Yes this is Rocket Science, Leap into Science, Summer 2004-present
Director, Community College SMET programs, University of CA, Irvine Center for Educational
Partnerships, September 2000 – September 2001.
Develop, market, budget and implement curriculum for high school and community college
transfer students in UC summer institutes.

Professional Societies and Affiliations:
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Field Service: Foreign exchange student to France 1979-1980
California Teachers Association
Publications:
Cruzen M.E. and Arfin, S.M. (1994). Nucleotide and Deduced Amino Acid Sequence of Human
Cysteinyl-tRNA Synthetase. DNA Sequence-J. DNA Sequencing and Mapping 4, 243-248.
Cruzen, M.E. Characterization of cDNAs and Genomic DNAs for Human Threonyl- and
Cysteinyl-tRNA Synthetase. Doctoral Dissertation. University of California, Irvine, 1993.
Cruzen M.E., Bengtsson, U., McMahon, J., Wasmuth, J., and Arfin, S.M. (1992). Assignment of
the Cysteinyl-tRNA Synthetase Gene (CARS) to 11p15.5. Genomics 15, 692-693.
Arfin, S.M., Gerken, S.C., Kontis, K.J., and Cruzen, M.E. (1992). "Threonyl-tRNA Synthetase
Gene Amplification in Borrelidin Resistant Mammalian Cells", Gene Amplification in
Mammalian Cells: Techniques and Applications. Kellems, R.E. (ed.), Marcel Dekker, Inc. New
York, pp. 97-105.
Cruzen, M.E., and Arfin, S.M. (1991). Nucleotide and Deduced Amino Acid Sequence of
Human Threonyl-tRNA Synthetase Reveals Extensive Homology to the E. coli and Yeast
Enzymes. J. Biol. Chem. 266, 9919-9923.
Research Presentations:
Meeting on C. elegans, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, May 6-10, 1987. Presented a poster on
Lysozomal Enzyme Activity as a Biomarker of Aging Using Long-Lived Mutants of
Caenorabditis elegans. Abstr. Meeting on C. elegans. p.155.
Thirteenth International tRNA Workshop, Vancouver, Canada, June 4-9, 1989. Presented a
poster on Human Threonyl-tRNA synthetase: cDNA and Deduced Amino Acid Sequence.
Abstr. 13th international tRNA Workshop Th-am-17.

References:
Pastor Bucky Dennis
Associate Pastor Mariner’s Church
5001 Newport Coast Drive
Irvine, CA 92612
(949)854-7030 x302
Juan Francisco Lara
Assistant Vice Chancellor
University of California
Irvine CA 92717
(949)824-6362
Mary Halvorson
Vice President of Academic Affairs
Santiago Canyon College
8045 East Chapman Avenue
Orange, CA 92864
(714) 564-4081
Kris Kontis, Ph.D.
12671 Bubbling Well Road
Santa Ana, CA 92705
(714) 731-1691
Professor Stuart M. Arfin, Ph.D.
University of California
Irvine, CA 92717
(949) 824-6755