BLAKE FRANKS
Staff Writer
Dr. Jay Brewster, associate professor of biology at Pepperdine University’s Seaver College, teaches his students more than genetics or biology. He teaches them how to be reliable people inside the classroom as well as in the real world. And his colleagues and students have taken notice.
Brewster grew up in the Midwest. He was born and raised in York, Neb., but moved to Wyoming at the age of 13. After he graduated from high school, he attended York College for a short time. It was at York that he studied under Terry Kite. Kite is a current professor of physics at Seaver College—a connection that would one day lead Brewster to consider teaching at Pepperdine.
Brewster majored in science education at Lubbock Christian University—graduating in 1989—and later received his Ph.D. from Rice University in the Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology.
Brewster came to Pepperdine in 1997 after working as a research associate at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research. He says one of the reasons he likes Pepperdine is because he is able to work with his students in the laboratory.
“As a scientist, I enjoy being at a university where undergraduates are engaged in my research,” he said. “They are very young so I have a lot of impact on their development as scientists. I love the balance of research and teaching.”
The research opportunities are not the only reason Brewster came to Pepperdine. He admits that Malibu has felt like a foreign environment to him, but that he still enjoys living here. “The real reason I am at Pepperdine is the spiritual atmosphere,” he said. “In this faith-based environment, science and faith is balanced nicely.” Brewster added that at some other Christian schools science is sometimes forgotten.
Brewster’s specialties include cell biology and genetics. He is particularly interested in cell signaling, or how molecular signals are carried within cells and from one cell to the next, and his research reflects this.
“I’m interested in human biology and how organs maintain function through molecular signals,” said Brewster. He described the process of apoptosis, or cell death, as a cell destroying itself to get rid of unwanted cells. This research is crucial because the abnormal regulation of this process has been shown to cause neurological degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.
One characteristic about Brewster’s teaching style that both he and his students agree on is how demanding his classes are. “I can be a little bit strict. I like my students and their assignments to be on time,” said Brewster. “I need [my students] to be reliable people after they graduate.”
Distinguished Professor of Biology Dr. Stephen Davis said that the nature of the subjects Brewster teaches requires his courses to be demanding. “His courses are not only demanding, they are progressive,” he said. “Science doesn’t stagnate, it’s a progressive field, and you have to stay current.” He also complimented Brewster on being personable with his students as well. “His sense of humor lets him get away with more than most. It really puts people at ease.”
Max Fitzgerald, a student in Brewster’s genetics class, agrees. “He’s very thorough, and he really wants people to understand what it takes to be a good student,” said Fitzgerald. “He’s funny and approachable, but has no tolerance for laziness.”
Fitzgerald believes that Brewster makes his class demanding because he wants to instill in his students an appreciation for the tediousness and busy work that goes into genetics research.
Each summer, Brewster helps host the Summer Undergraduate Research in Biology program at Pepperdine. The program is a summer research opportunity geared specifically to undergraduate students who want to pursue a career in biological research, science education, environmental science or biotechnology.
One of Brewster’s colleagues in this program is Dr. Karen Martin, a marine biology professor and Frank R. Seaver Chair in Natural Science. “He teaches in an area that is at the cutting edge of biology,” she said. “He wants his students to finish their degrees ready for anything.” Martin also told of the many successes of Brewster’s past students, namely one student who received the renowned Fulbright scholarship. Both Davis and Martin commented on how Brewster takes time to really get to know his students in and out of class.
Brewster has been married to his college sweetheart, Stephanie, for 18 years. He has three children: a 10-year-old daughter, Reagan, and two sons, Keaton age 7 and Landon age 5. He says that he tries not to take his work home with him or talk about his research at the dinner table, although he says his children are always interested in learning about science.
As for what the future holds, Brewster says his goals are simple. “I know that I want to continue to grow as a scientist and a teacher.”
05-18-2007
