GAIL MARLOW TAYLOR, Ph.D.
BOOKS
You Can Only Go Forward: A Journey of Caregiving and Hope, Loss and Renewal. 2018. Available in print and Kindle editions on Amazon and in a digital edition on Barnes & Noble.
The Alchemy of Al-Razi: A Translation of the Book of Secrets. 2014. Available in print and Kindle editions on Amazon.
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in History, 2014, University of California, Irvine First field: Early Modern Europe Second Field: World History Dissertation : “Putting Down Roots: The Reception of New World Medicinal Plants in Early Modern Germany, 1492- 1648”
M. A. in History, 2008 California State University, Fullerton Thesis: “Al-Razi’s Book of Secrets: The Practical Laboratory in the Medieval Islamic World”
B.S. in Biology, 1966 University of Pittsburgh
GRANTS AND AWARDS
Fulbright Scholarship, Germany, September 2011 – June 2012
Thyssen Foundation Pre-Dissertation Fellowship, Germany, July 2011 – August 2011
Archival Summer Seminar, German Historical Institute, Germany, June 2011 – June 2011
Giles T. Brown Outstanding Thesis Award, CSF, Fullerton, May 2009
World History Assn/ Phi Alpha Theta Paper Prize, Graduate Division, September 2008
Lawrence B. de Graaf Prize, Best Overall Paper, PAT, CSF, April 2008
First Prize, Graduate Paper, PAT Regional Conf., Chapman University, April 2008
Ben H. Procter Research Paper Award, Best European Paper, Southwestern Social Science Association Conference, Las Vegas, NV, April 2008
TEACHING AND RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
University of California, Irvine: Teaching Assistant—to Professor Evers in “Europe: Terror and Redemption.” Winter Quarter 2014. Gave lecture on WWI, met with students, graded homework, exams, essays
Teaching Assistant—to Professor Moeller in “Hitler and the Germans.” Winter Quarter 2011 Taught two weekly discussion sections, met with students, graded homework, exams, essays
Teaching Assistant—to Professor Wiener in “American Political History: FDR to Obama.” Fall Quarter 2010. Taught two weekly discussion sections, met with students, graded homework, exams, essays
Research Assistant—to Professor Strasser, Early Modern Europe. September 2009 – August 2010. Locate and compile information on gathering, networks, and distribution of medical and botanical knowledge by Jesuit missionaries in the Philippines, seventeenth century.
PRESENTATIONS
“Al-Razi: Alchemy and the Lab,” Guest speaker for regional Mensa meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii. Nov. 5, 2020. (PowerPoint on Zoom).
“Al-Razi: Alchemy and the Lab,” Guest lecturer for Professor Joachim Burgtorf’s Medieval History Class, California State University, Fullerton. Fullerton, CA. Oct. 5, 2020. (PowerPoint on Zoom).
“Alchemy: The Laboratory’s Quest for Gold.” Guest speaker at the San Diego Mensa Regional Gathering 2014, San Diego, CA. 2014
“World War I: The Reconfiguration of Europe.” Guest lecturer, for Professor Kai Evers’ European Studies class: Modern Europe Terror and Redemption, University of California, Irvine. 2014
“Saying Good-bye to Alchemy: The Laboratory Then and Now.” Guest Speaker for Mission Hospital Laboratory, Christmas Brunch, Mission Viejo, CA. 2012
“Inside al-Razi’s Book of Secrets: Alchemy and the Laboratory Manual.” Guest lecturer for Professor Joachim Burgtorf’s Medieval History Class, California State University, Fullerton. Fullerton, CA. 2011
PUBLICATIONS AND PAPERS
“The Book of Secrets: Alchemy and the Laboratory Manual from al-Razi to Libavius.” Paper presented at the PAT/WHA Conference, San Diego, CA. 2010
“The Physicians of Jundishapur.” Sassanika: The History and Culture of Sassanians, UC Irvine School of Humanities, http://www.sassanika.com. 2010
“The Kitab al-Asrar: An Alchemy Manual in Tenth-Century Persia” Arab Studies Quarterly 32 (Winter 2010): 6-27.
“Virus 956: The Discovery of the West Nile Virus in Uganda, 1937-1940.” Paper presented at the Pacific Coast Branch, American Historical Association, Albuquerque, NM. 2009
“By the Book: Alchemy and the Laboratory Manual from al-Razi to Libavius” Chronicle of Historical Studies, Vol. 6 (Winter 2008-09): 175-188.
“Alchemy and the Laboratory Manual from al-Razi to Libavius, 920-1597.” Paper presented at the Phi Alpha Theta Southern California Regional Conference, Chapman University, Orange, CA. 2008
“By the Book: Alchemy and the Laboratory Manual from al-Razi to Libavius, 920-1597.” Paper presented at the Southwestern Social Science Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV. 2008
“By the Book.” Intervalles: La Revue électronique du CIPA, Interdisciplinary Transcriptions from The Centre Interdisciplinaire de Poétique Appliquée (CIPA), Université de Liège, Belgique (online). 2008
COMPUTER SKILLS
Proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint
Blog: History’s Edge gailmtaylor.com
LANGUAGES
English—native language
French—Speak, read, write at advanced intermediate level
German—Speak, read, write at advanced intermediate level
MEMBERSHIPS
Phi Alpha Theta (History Honors Society)
American History Association
World History Association
PROFESSIONAL ACCREDITATION
Clinical Laboratory Scientist, State of California (CLS)
American Society of Clinical Pathologists, national certification in Medical Technology (ASCP)
Specialist in Blood Bank, national certification, (SBB)
Dear Mrs. Taylor,
I would like to make a date with you. Would it be convenient to you to meet me on next Friday, 11h? I will meet you at the entrance of the Zeughaus.
Kind regards
Petra Feuerstein-Herz