social scientist, project manager, engineer
Hi, I'm Steve, and I'm looking for my next role. For over twenty years my work has been about making the world a better place through producing useful things, researching, and teaching.
Since graduating Tufts with my BSME I've been making stuff, from custom bikes to e-books, for a long time. At netLibrary I oversaw about 65 e-book editors producing what was then a cutting-edge product - so new that the form and production process could change faster than our work-in-progress. There I learned how to adapt our approach and communicate with team leads and editors so we could maintain our focus through the changes.
Later at Protogenic, I managed rapid-prototype projects ranging from quick-turnaround SLAs (stereolithographs) to RTV molding and short-run production. I dove into product knowledge, expanded my role with estimation and site visits to better serve my clients. I found success by focusing on project outcomes and continuously closing the gaps between client needs, production resources, and our business goals, to achive positive outcomes for all stakeholders.
After a few years of prototype projects, I got interested in why some things got made and others didn't. Beyond economic explanations, I wanted to understand the social and political reasons for making this instead of that. So with the same enthusiasm I'd brought to product knowledge and stakeholder communication, I became a social scientist. First focusing on critical security and then on political theory and international relations. I built a diverse tookit of social research methods that unlocks a wide range of inputs. I learned to sift and synthesize that into new ideas and present it to specialists at international conferences. I also learned to condense and teach that knowledge to non-experts in face-to-face and online settings. My 10+ years of teaching and research have been devoted to giving people more tools for understanding and acting on what's before them.
I'd love to help you make stuff or know stuff, especially if these areas:
You can reach me at storr (at) hey (dot) com. I'll be adding examples soon to better illustrate what I do, so please check back soon!