Steve A. Alas

Education

• City of Hope National Cancer Center, Postdoctoral Fellowship (2001-2005)
• University of California, Los Angeles, PhD in Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics (1994-2000)
• California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, BS in Biological Sciences, minor in Chemistry (1990-1994)
• Edgewood and West Covina High Schools, Class of 1990

Activities at Cal Poly Pomona (2005-present)

• Recipient of the 2023 CSU Wang Family Excellence Award, the California State University System’s highest honor for service
• Recipient of the 2019 CSU Faculty Innovation & Leadership Award (FILA), the California State University System’s highest honor for leadership
• Recipient of the 2018-2019 Provost Award for Excellence in Service, at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, the University's highest honor
• Director of the Discovery Camps at Cal Poly Pomona from 2015-present. The camps immerse K-8 students from the local communities into Robotics, Computer, Science, Imagination, Horse, Entrepreneurship, Fashion Tech and Little Chef camps. Offering scholarships to underserved children in the Pomona Unified School district, the program aims at promoting STEM success at a very young age.
• Director of the Science Educational Enhancement Services (SEES) program (2013-2025). Program provides research fellowships, academic excellence workshops, professional development workshops, science courses, peer mentoring, academic/career advising and computer facilities
• Coordinator for the CSU-LSAMP program at Cal Poly Pomona from 2013-2025. Program was part of the 23-campus CSU-LSAMP consortium. The program is dedicated to broadening student involvement in the STEM disciplines, including science and engineering.
• Director of the Scholars Program in Research, Education & Science (SPIRES) from 2019-2026. Program prepared undergraduate STEM majors for graduate school and the workforce. Provides career development workshops, workplace psychology workshops, research fellowships, and more.
• Director of the Biological Training in Education & Research (BioTiER) program from 2013-2018. The program trained graduate students in Biological Sciences in 3 career tracks: 1. life science industries (biotech, environmental, bioengineering, pharmaceutical, etc), 2. preparation of community college faculty, 3. preparation for PhD programs
• Director of the STEM Success program at CPP (2016-2020). Focused on the transition of college freshmen in the STEM disciplines entering college, the program summer STEM activities through its STEMpire competition, as well as it's CPP Shark Tank Innovation program.
• Director of the SEES Health Professionals Project (2013-2015), funded by The California Wellness Foundation. The program focused on under-represented juniors and seniors preparing to enter the health professions (medicine, dentistry, public health, pharmacy, optometry, nursing, etc)
• Director of the Hearst SEES Apprentice Program (2013-2015), funded by the Hearst Foundation. Program provided research opportunities to undergraduates entering the STEM fields. Students are funded to perform research with faculty at Cal Poly Pomona, Western University of Health Sciences, City of Hope National Medical Center and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
• My research lab focuses on DNA damage in human tumor cells and stem cells. Research team comprised of graduate students and undergraduates
• Instructor of basic biology, genetics and cell biology courses. Classes include BIO 1210 Foundations of Biology, BIO 2400 Genetics, BIO 3000 Genetics and Human Issues, BIO 3220 Cell & Molecular Biology, BIO 4030 Human Genetics, BIO 5750 Cancer Cell Biology, and SCI 1100/A Integrative Science.