Alfred M. Maluach | PhD Candidate, Neuroscience

Teaching Philosophy

My teaching philosophy is straightforward: keep it simple and incremental.

Every student can learn and master anything, from simple crocheting to basic science, to so-called rocket science. I ​strongly hold the view that conventional teaching methods stratify students, too quickly (and unfairly) into excellent, ​good, average, and below average, without a critical appreciation of the context of their teaching and/or learning ​environments. In my teaching practice, I introduce students to concepts—starting with the most basic and moving ​along with them to moderately complex and incrementally challenging topics. I teach with enthusiasm and ​unimpeachable clarity to ensure that no students are left behind. I have found that this approach helps students ​stay motivated as they reflect critically on the changing complexities of concepts and how they are systematically ​integrated. Ultimately, this improves students’ retention of learned concepts and their application to unique test ​situations.

Courses TA’d or Tutored

• Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)- Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (CPBS) & ​Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (BBLS)
  

• CHM139H1: Chemistry: Physical Principles- University of Toronto
  

• CHM247H1: Introductory Organic Chemistry II- University of Toronto
  

• PHYS4115 – Research Project and Thesis, Laurentian University

• INTE 3307 – Research Methods for Health Sciences, Laurentian University

• PCL102- The Art of Drug Discovery, University of Toronto

• Independent Contract Instructor, Blyth Academy Private School
  

Digital footprints

• Maluach AM, Misquitta KA, Prevot TD, Fee C, Sibille E, Banasr M, Andreazza AC. Increased Neuronal ​DNA/RNA Oxidation in the Frontal Cortex of Mice Subjected to Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress. Chronic ​Stress. 2017 Jan-Dec;1:2470547017724744. doi: 10.1177/2470547017724744. Epub 2017 Aug 16. PMID: ​29250610; PMCID: PMC5730347.

• Maluach AM, Using the Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Model in Mice to Understand the Involvement of DNA/RNA Oxidation in Major Depressive Disorder, TSpace, 2017

• Alfred Majak Maluach receives the Outstanding Recent Alumni Award at the U of T’s African Scholars Award ​ceremony: https://www.utoronto.ca/news/u-t-s-african-scholars-community-leaders-celebrated-awards-ceremony
• Alfred Majak Maluach chimes in on the Ukraine-Russia conflict & refugee situation; ​https://globalnews.ca/video/8718755/former-refugee-wants-help-offered-to-ukraine-extended-to-all-refugees
• Alfred Maluach Opinion: Words matter: I am not persuaded by Peter Biar’s ‘Revivalist’ narratives on South ​Sudan, why you too should be skeptical Talk of Juba, 2023

Open Course- Under Construction

AM2322- Critical Appraisal of Basic Science Literature

By the end of this course, students will be able to effortlessly read and critically evaluate scientific literature. ​The course covers the following four thematic issues: 1) A systematic breakdown of the basics of scientific ​publishing through case studies across journals of varying impact, such as PLOS Biology, Cell, Nature, ​Science, Lancet, NEJM, Acta Neuropathologica, etc. 2) A review of the anatomy of a scientific paper, i,e how ​a scientific paper is organized 3) A deep dive into how researchers consolidate concordant and discordant ​research findings into a ‘story’ and how consumers of such knowledge make sense of this through a healthy ​dose of appreciation, criticism and/or skepticism in light of study limitations. 4) Getting acquainted with ​scientific research methods (e.g hypothesis-driven inquiry, technologies) used in research studies