CURRICULUM VITAE
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Department of Biological Sciences Office: 401- 874-9020
120 Flagg Road FAX: 401- 874-4256
University of Rhode Island Email: cwilga@uri.edu
Kingston, RI 02881-0816 Web page:www.uri.edu/cels/bio/wilga
EDUCATION:
1999 Postdoctoral Fellow, Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard Univ., MA,
1997 NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Univ. California, Irvine.
1997 Ph.D. Biological Sciences University of South Florida.
1992 B.Sc. Biological Science, Summa Cum Laude with Honors, University of South Florida.
1990 A.A. Biology, Summa Cum Laude, Valedictorian, University of Alaska Kodiak.
· Functional morphology and evolutionary biology of organisms.
· Comparative anatomy and physiology.
· Feeding mechanics and locomotion.
· Predator- prey interactions.
COURSES:
Fall: Human Anatomy (2000-2005), Vertebrate Biology (2006-present) and a grad course alternating Functional Morphology, Functional Biology and Ecology of Fishes, and Elasmobranch Biology.
Spring: Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy and a grad seminar alternating Ecomorphology, Evolution, Morphology and Mechanics, Ichthyology, Methods in Functional Morphology.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
2011-Present Professor of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston
2009- Present Research Associate, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University.
2005- 2011 Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston
2000- 2005 Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston
2002- Present Associate Faculty, Shoals Marine Laboratory, Cornell University and University of New Hampshire
1999-2000 Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University, Cambridge.
1997-1999 NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, Irvine.
1992-1997 Dissertation Research, University of South Florida, NRC-FF Predoctoral Fellow.
1995-1996 Coordinator, Human Physiology. Teaching Assistant: Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, Animal Physiology, Human Physiology, Biometry. USF.
1991-1993 NSF Research Assistant, Independent Research, University of South Florida.
1989 Undergraduate Independent Research, University of Alaska, Kodiak.
1989 Laboratory Assistant, University of Alaska, Kodiak.
EXTERNAL GRANTS:
2008 NSF REU. Muscle Activation during Feeding and Ventilation in Elasmobranchs. $6000.
2007 NSF REU. Suction Generation during Feeding and Ventilation in Elasmobranchs. $6000.
2006 NSF CAA. Coordination of Ventilation and Feeding In Sharks. $174, 825.
2005 NSF REU. The effects of suction generation in little skates, Raja erinacea. $6,000.
2004 NSF MRI. A flow tank and laser for quantification of fluid environments. $195,000. PI Christopher Sanford, Hofstra University, Co-PI’s: Cheryl Wilga; J. Williams, Hofstra.
2003 NSF. Fluid mechanics of suction and ram feeding in elasmobranchs, $394,926.
2003 NSF MRI.A volumetric imaging camera for reconstruction of macroscopic flows in organismal biology, $186,000. PI’s: George Lauder and Andy Biewener, Harvard University; Co-PI’s: Sharon Schwartz, Brown University; Cheryl Wilga, URI.
2003 NSF MUE. A water flume for studies of organismal interactions inflowing water, $104,000. PI Cheryl Wilga: Co-PI’s: Emily Carrington and Graham Forrester.
2002 Champlin Funds . Fluid Flow Instrumentation. PI- Peter Cornillon Physical Oceanography GSO. I am one of many co-PIs. $101,640.
2001 NSF SRG. Functional Morphology of Feeding in Sharks, $48,000.
2001 Rutgers University and NMFS. Predator-prey interactions between bluefish and shortfin mako. $89,886. Co-PI’s: Francis Juanes, UMass; Bradley Wetherbee, URI.
1999 Harvard Postdoctoral Fellow. $30,000.
1997 NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship. $80,000.
1993 Friday Harbor Labs Marine Science Fund. $973.
1993 NRC Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship. $56,000.
1990-95 Miscellaneous Grants- In-Aid of Research Award. $8680.
INTERNAL GRANTS:
2000 URI Foundation. $3763, to develop a website lab manual for BIO304.
2000 URI Alumni Association Faculty Development Fund. $500.
2000 URI-CAS $500 for travel to an invited international symposium.
2000 Hope & Heritage Fund. $200 for travel to an invited international symposium.
2000 URI Foundation. $4000 towards building a flow tank.
2000 Competitive Lab Fees Fund, $12,000, to revise Human Anatomy BIO121
2001 Competitive Lab Fees Fund, $10,000, to update Chordate Anatomy BIO204
1992 University of South Florida Graduate Fellowships. $6,000
1998 University of Alaska Kodiak Scholarship. $3000
PUBLICATIONS (#undergraduate, *graduate, $postdoc):
Motta, P.J. and C.D. Wilga. 1995. Anatomy of the feeding apparatus of the lemon shark, Negaprion brevirostris. J. Morphol., 226:309-329. Undergraduate research.
Wilga, C.D. 1997. Evolution Of Feeding Mechanisms In Elasmobranchs: A Functional Morphological Approach. PhD. Dissertation, University of South Florida.
Wilga, C.D. and P.J. Motta. 1998. The feeding mechanism of the Atlantic guitarfish Rhinobatos lentiginosus: Modulation of kinematic and motor activity. J. Exp. Biol., 201: 3167-3183.
Wilga, C.D. and P.J. Motta. 1998. Conservation and variation in the feeding mechanism of the spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias. J. Exp. Biol., 201:1345-1358.
Wilga, C.D. and G.V. Lauder. 1999. Locomotion in sturgeon: Function of the pectoral fins. J. Exp. Biol., 202: 2413-2432.
Motta, P.J. and C.D. Wilga. 1999. Anatomy of the feeding apparatus of the nurse shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum. J. Morphol., 241:33-60. Undergraduate research.
Wilga, C.D., P.C. Wainwright, and P.J. Motta. 2000. Evolution of jaw depression mechanics in aquatic vertebrates: Insights from Chondrichthyes. Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 71:165-185.
Wilga, C.D. and P.J. Motta. 2000. Durophagy in sharks: feeding mechanics of hammerhead sharks, Sphyrna tiburo. J. Exp. Biol., 203: 2781-2796.
Wilga, C.D. and G.V. Lauder. 2000. Three-dimensional kinematics and wake structure of the pectoral fins during locomotion in the leopard shark, Triakis semifasciata. J. Exp. Biol., 203: 2261-2278.
Wilga, C.D. and G.V. Lauder. 2001. Fluid dynamics and pectoral fin function in the bamboo shark, Chiloscyllium plagiosum. J. Morphol., 249:195-209.
Motta, P.J. and C.D. Wilga. 2001. Advances in the study of feeding mechanisms, mechanics, and behaviors of sharks. In The Behavior and Sensory Biology of Elasmobranch Fishes. An Anthology in memory of Donald Richard Nelson (S. Gruber and T. Tricas, eds). Developments in Environmental Biology of Fishes. 20:131-156.
Wilga, C.D. and G.V. Lauder. 2002. Function of the heterocercal tail in sharks: quantitative wake dynamics during steady horizontal swimming and vertical maneuvering. J. Exp. Biol., 205: 2365-2374.
Wilga, C.D. 2002. A functional analysis of jaw suspension in elasmobranchs. Biol. J. Linn. Soc., 75: 483-502.
Wilga, C.D., R.E. Hueter, P.C. Wainwright and P.J. Motta. 2002. Evolution of upper jaw protrusion mechanisms in elasmobranchs. Am. Zool., 41:1248-1257.
Lauder, G. V., E. G. Drucker, J. Nauen and C. D. Wilga. 2003. Experimental hydrodynamics and evolution: caudal fin locomotion in fishes. In Vertebrate Biomechanics and Evolution I: Theory and Aquatic Animals (eds. V.L. Bels, A. Casinos, J.P. Gasc). BIOS Scientific Publishers Ltd: Oxford. Contains new data.
Wilga, C.D. and G.V. Lauder. 2004. Hydrodynamic function of the shark’s tail. Nature, 430: 850.
Wilga, C.D. and G.V. Lauder. 2004. Locomotion in Sharks, Skates and Rays. In Biology of Sharks and their Relatives (eds. J.C. Carrier, J. Musick, and M. Heithaus). CRC Press: Boca Raton. Contains new data. Selected by the American Library Association for a Choice Award 2005.
Wilga, C.D. 2005. Morphology and evolution of the jaw suspension in lamniform sharks. Journal of Morph. 265: 102-119.
Dean*, M.N., Wilga, C.D. and Summers, A.P. 2005. Eating without hands or tongue - specialization, elaboration and the evolution of prey processing mechanisms in cartilaginous fishes. Biology Letters. 1(3): 357-361.
Nauwelaerts$, S., Wilga, C.D., Sanford C.P. and G.V. Lauder. 2007. Substrate passively improves suction feeding in benthic sharks. J.Roy. Soc. Int. 2:341-345.
Ramsay*, J.B. and C.D. Wilga. 2007. Morphology and mechanics of the teeth and jaws of white-spotted bamboo sharks (Chiloscyllium plagiosum). Journal of Morphology. 268: 664-682.
Wilga, C.D., Motta, P.J., Sanford, C.P. 2007. Evolution and ecology of feeding in elasmobranchs. Int. Comp. Biol. 47: 55-69.
Aronson, R.B., S. Thatje, A. Clarke, L.S. Peck, D.B. Blake, C.D. Wilga and B.A. Seibel. 2007. Climate change and invasibility of the Antarctic benthos. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics. 38: 129-154.
Wilga, C.D. Evolutionary Divergence in the Feeding Mechanism of Fishes. 2008. Acta Geologica Polonica. 58: 113-120.
Gerry*, S.P., J.R. Ramsay*, M. Dean*, and C.D. Wilga. 2008. Evolution of Asynchronous Motor Activity in Paired Muscles: Effects of Ecology, Morphology and Phylogeny. Int. Comp. Biol.,48:272-282.
Wilga, C.D. and C.P. Sanford. 2008. Suction Generation in White Spotted Bamboo Sharks Chiloscyllium plagiosum. J. Exp. Biol. 211:3128-3138.
Nauwelaerts$, S., Wilga, C.D., G.V. Lauder and C.P. Sanford. 2008. Fluid Dynamics of Feeding Behavior in white spotted bamboo sharks. J. Exp. Biol., 211: 3095-3102.
Wood*, A.D., B.M. Wetherbee, F. Juanes, N.E. Kohler, and C. Wilga. 2009. Recalculated diet and daily ration of the shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus), with a focus on quantifying predation on bluefish (Pomatomus saltraatrix) in the northwest Atlantic Ocean. Fish. Bull. 107:76-88.
Wilga, C.D. 2010. Hyoid and pharyngeal arch function during ventilation and feeding in elasmobranchs: Conservation and modification in function. J. Appl. Ichthyol. 26:162-166.
Gerry*, S.P., A.P. Summers, C.D. Wilga, and M.N. *Dean. 2010. Pairwise modulation of jaw muscle activity in two species of elasmobranchs. J. Zool. 281:282-292.
Wilga, C.A.D. 2010. Reviewed work: Fish Locomotion: An etho-ecological perspective by P. Domenici, and B.G. Kapoor. Quart. Rev. Biol. 85: 515-516. .
Wilga, C.D., A.A. Stoehr#, D.C. Duquette#, and Rebecca M. Allen#. 2011. Biomechanics and Ecology of Feeding in Elasmobranchs. Env. Biol. Fish. In press.
Maia, A.M.R., C.D. Wilga, and G.V. Lauder. Locomotion in Sharks, Skates and Rays. 2011. In Biology of Sharks and their Relatives (eds. J.C. Carrier, J. Musick, and M. Heithaus). 2nd edition. CRC Press: Boca Raton. In press.
Wilga, C.D., A. Maia*, S. Nauwelaerts$, and G.V. Lauder. Prey Handling Using Whole Body Fluid Dynamics in Batoids.
Other Publications by Graduate Students supported by my research program.
Anthony D. Wood. 2005. Using bone measurements to estimate the original sizes of bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix) from digested remains. Fish. Bull. 103:461-466.
Nauwelaerts, S., Ramsay, J.B. and P. Aerts. 2007. Morphological correlates of aquatic and terrestrial locomotion in a semi-aquatic frog, Rana esculenta: no evidence for a design conflict. Journal of Anatomy. 210:304-317
Dean, M.N., Ramsay, J.B. and J.T. Schaefer. 2008. Tooth reorientation affects tooth function during prey processing and tooth ontogeny in the lesser electric ray, Narcine brasiliensis. Zoology. 111:123-134.
Konow, N. and Gerry, S. P. 2008. Electromyography interpretation and limitations in functional analyses of musculoskeletal systems. Integ. Comp. Biol. 48: 241-245.
Gerry, S.P and A.J. Scott. 2009. Shark scavenging behavior in the presence of competition. Current Zoology. 56: 100-108.
PUBLISHED INTERVIEWS (Peer reviewed):
Wilga, C.D. and G.V. Lauder. 2001. New theory emerges on how sharks swim. Interview by Nancy Rowell. Biophotonics International. July/August, 22-23
Wilga, C.D. and G.V. Lauder. 2002. Resolving Forces. Published Interview by Kathryn Phillips Journal of Experimental Biology. 205:160
Ramsay, J.B. and C.D. Wilga. 2004. Shark Flexes Its Teeth for Tough Meals. Published interview by Elizabeth Pennisi. Science. 303:950.
Ramsay, J.B. and C.D. Wilga. 2006. When the shark bites. Published interview by Adam Summers. Natural History. 3/06. p. 30-31.
TELEVISION PROGRAMS:
Locomotion in Vertebrates. 2000. British Broadcasting Service. Video production featuring my research on shark locomotion with George Lauder and Harvard University.
Eating Machines. 2001. Canadian Discovery Channel Television Broadcast Feature. Program premiered on November 30, 2001. Television segment featuring my research on feeding in sharks at the University of Rhode Island.
Shark Swimming Strokes. 2001. Canadian Discovery Channel Television Broadcast Feature Program premiered on December 3. Television segment featured my research on swimming in sharks at the University of Rhode Island.
Sharks And Shipwrecks In Southern New England. 2003. Timelines Television Broadcast Program. NBC. Program premiered on August 28th. Television segment featured my research on feeding in sharks at the University of Rhode Island.
Jaws. Episode #3 In History Channel series "Evolve". Program premiered on August 12th 2008. Television segment featuring my research on feeding in sharks at the University of Rhode Island. This episode airs about every other week (Feb. 12th most recently) since the premiere and is also on youtube.com (2 and 3 of 5 parts). The episode is rated 5 of 5 stars with 1,127 views as of 3-20-09 on youtube.com.
Discovery Channel. Consultant on shark episode for a new series on “What if there were no…”
National Geographic. Series: Inside Nature’s Giants. Episode: Raw Anatomy: Inside the Great White Shark. I served as a consultant on how sharks feed, why some sharks are suction feeders while some are bite feeders. Contact person is Alex Tate from Windfall Films who produces science documentaries.
Swimming in Sharks. Anabela Maia's research featured on the Canadian Discovery Channel: http://watch.discoverychannel.ca/daily-planet/january-2011/daily-planet---january-26-2011/#clip414180.
Feeding Mechanics in Batoids. Jason Ramsay's research featured on the Canadian Discovery Channel: http://watch.discoverychannel.ca/daily-planet/february-2011/daily-planet---february-07-2011/#clip414582.
INVITED CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS:
Wilga, C.D. 1994. Functional morphology of the feeding mechanism in sharks. NSF Ford Foundation Fellows Conference, Irvine, CA
Wilga, C.D. University of Washington Friday Harbor Laboratories 1995.
Wilga, C.D, P.C. Wainwright, and P.J. Motta. 1998. Evolutionary innovations in the feeding mechanism of elasmobranchs. Symposium: Feeding Biology of Elasmobranch Fishes, American Elasmobranch Society, Guelf, Ontario.
Wilga, C.D. and G.V. Lauder. 1998. Locomotion in sturgeon: effects of speed on body angle and pectoral fin position. Symposium: Mechanisms of metabolism and locomotion in fishes. Southern California Academy of Sciences, California State Polytechnic Univ., Pomona.
Wilga, C.D. Scripps Institute of Oceanography 1998.
Wilga, C.D. 1999. Functional Morphology and Evolution of Feeding and Locomotion in Fishes. St. Lawrence University, Canton, New York.
Wilga, C.D. 1999. Functional Morphology and Evolution of Feeding and Locomotion in Fishes. East Tennessee State University, Johnson City.
Wilga, C.D. 1999. Functional Morphology and Evolution of Feeding and Locomotion in Fishes. University of Alaska, Anchorage.
Wilga, C.D. 1999. Functional Morphology and Evolution of Feeding and Locomotion in Fishes. University of Rhode Island, Kingston.
Wilga, C.D. Brown University 2001. Fluid Dynamics of Locomotion in Sharks.
Wilga, C.D. Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island 2001. Fluid Dynamics of Locomotion in Sharks.
Wilga, C.D. 2001. Evolutionary Novelties in the Feeding Mechanisms of Elasmobranchs. Symposium: Biomechanics of Feeding. International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology. Jena, Germany.
Wilga, C.D., R.E. Hueter, P.C. Wainwright and P.J. Motta. 2001. Function and evolution of upper jaw protrusion mechanisms in elasmobranchs. Symposium: Evolution of feeding motor patterns in vertebrates. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Chicago, Illinois.
Wilga, C.D. University of Massachusetts, Amherst 2002. Fluid Dynamics of Feeding and Swimming in Sharks.
Wilga, C.D. Roger Williams University 2003. Fluid Dynamics of Feeding and Swimming in Sharks.
Wilga, C.D. 2005. Fluid Dynamics of Feeding and Swimming in Sharks. Visiting Scholars Program. Saint Josephs University Biological Sciences Signature Program.
Wilga, C.D. 2006. Evolution of the Jaw Suspension in Elasmobranchs. Evolutionary Biology. University of Chicago, IL.
Wilga, C.D., P.J. Motta and C.P. Sanford. 2007. Evolution of Suction Feeding in Elasmobranchs. In symposium on The evolution of feeding mechanisms in vertebrates organized by Higham, T. and P. Wainwright. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. Phoenix, AZ.
Wilga, C.D. 2007. Suction Generation in Elasmobranchs. Physiology and Neurobiology. University of Connecticut.
Wilga, C.D. 2007. Feeding Mechanisms in Sharks. Organismal and Evolutionary Biology. Harvard University.
Gerry, S.P., Ramsay, J.B., Wilga, C.D. 2008. Asynchrony in paired muscle motor activity. Symposium: Electromyography Interpretation And Limitations In Functional Analyses Of Musculoskeletal Systems. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, San Antonio, Texas.
Wilga, C.D., B.S. Seibel, L. Peck. None Like it Cold: Physiological Constraints on Predators in Antarctica. American Association for the Advancement of Science, Boston, MA. Feb. 2008. This presentation and symposium is based on our Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics publication and generated much public interested (74 news briefs - newspapers, radio and online).
Wilga, C.D. 2008. Fluid Dynamics of swimming in sharks. Organismal and Evolutionary Biology. Harvard University.
Wilga, C.D. 2008. Evolutionary Divergence in the Suction Feeding Mechanism of Fishes. Invited Meeting on Evolution and Diversity of Chondrichthyans, Warsaw, Poland, 28 July – 2 August 2008.
Wilga, C.D. April 2009. Hyoid and pharyngeal arch function during ventilation and feeding in elasmobranchs. Interdisciplinary approaches in fish skeletal biology. Taviora, Algarve, Portugal.
Maia, A., C.D. Wilga, and S. Nauwelaerts. July 2009. Prey capture by body suction in batoids. Wilga. Symposium on "Functional Morphology of Cartilaginous Fishes", American Elasmobranch Society. Portland, OR.
Ramsay, J.B., Wilga, C.D. 2009. Hyoid Anatomy and Hypobranchial Muscle Function During Feeding in White-Spotted Bamboo Sharks. Symposium on "Functional Morphology of Cartilaginous Fishes", American Elasmobranch Society. Portland, OR.
Wilga, C.D., A.A. Stoehr#, D.C. Duquette#, and Rebecca M. Allen#. Biomechanics and Ecology of Feeding in Elasmobranchs. Symposium on Feeding Ecology of Chondrichthyes. American Elasmobranch Society, Providence RI.
Wilga, C.D. Twenty Years of Shark Research Championed by Karel. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists annual meeting. Karel Liem Symposium. Providence RI.
Ramsay, J.B., Wilga, C.D. 2010. Function of the jaw adductor muscles during suction and biting in bamboo sharks. Karel Liem Symposium. Providence RI.
CONTRIBUTED PAPERS (#undergraduate, * graduate, $postdoc):
Wilga, C.D. 1994. Ram feeding in the bonnethead shark, Sphyrna tiburo. American Elasmobranch Society, Los Angeles, CA.
Motta, P.J., R.E. Hueter, T.C. Tricas, A.P. Summers, and C.D. Wilga. 1994. Feeding mechanics of the lemon shark, Negaprion brevirostris: A morphological, kinematic and electromyographic analysis. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, LA.
Wilga, C.D. 1995. Kinematics of the feeding behavior in the Atlantic guitarfish Rhinobatos lentiginosus. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Edmonton, Alberta.
Wilga, C.D. 1995. Modulation in the feeding mechanism of the spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias. American Society of Zoologists, Washington D.C.
Wilga, C.D. and P.J. Motta. 1996. Comparative functional morphology of upper jaw protrusion in squaliform and carcharhiniform sharks: A story of evolutionary and functional shifts. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, New Orleans, LO.
Motta, P.J. and C.D. Wilga. 1996. Comparative functional morphology of the suspensoria of squaloid and carcharhinoid sharks. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, New Orleans, LO.
Wilga, C.D. 1997. The feeding mechanism in Atlantic guitarfish: Functional consequences of morphological complexity. American Society of Zoologists. Albuquerque, NM.
Wilga, C.D. and G.V. Lauder. 1998. Flow visualization and kinematics of the body and pectoral fin during swimming in sturgeon. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Guelf, Ontario.
Wilga, C.D.
1998.
A functional analysis of jaw suspension and upper jaw protrusion
in elasmobranchs. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Boston, MA.
Wilga, C.D. and G.V. Lauder. 1999. Function of the pectoral fins during swimming in sharks. SICB Vertebrate Morphology Northeast Regional Meeting. Brown University, RI.
Wilga, C.D. and G.V. Lauder. 1999. Hydrodynamics of the pectoral fins during swimming in sturgeon and sharks. Society for Experimental Biology. Edinburgh, Scotland.
Wilga, C.D. and G.V. Lauder. 1999. Hydrodynamics of the pectoral fins during swimming in leopard sharks. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, CO.
Wilga, C.D. and G.V. Lauder. 2000. Function of the pectoral fins during locomotion in bamboo sharks Chiloscyllium plagiosum. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, GA.
Wilga, C.D. and G.V. Lauder. 2001. . Function of the heterocercal tail in sharks: quantitative wake dynamics during steady horizontal swimming and vertical maneuvering. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, IL.
Wilga, C.D. and G.V. Lauder. 2002. Visualization of the vortex wake during locomotion in spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias. NER Division of Vertebrate Morphology. Harvard University, MA.
Wilga, C.D. 2002. Functional Morphology of Upper Jaw Protrusion in Lamnid sharks. NER Division of Vertebrate Morphology. Harvard University, MA.
Wood*, A.D., B. Wetherbee, and C. Wilga, 2002. Predator prey interaction between mako sharks, Isurus oxyrhincus, and bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix. American Fisheries Society. Baltimore, MD.
Ramsay#, J. and C.D. Wilga. 2002. Morphology of the jaw musculature in spotted bamboo sharks. Poster presentation. Annual Coastal Fellows Symposium, University of Rhode Island.
Wood*, A.D., B. Wetherbee, N. Kohler, F. Juanes, and C. Wilga. 2003. Predator-Prey Interaction between the Shortfin Mako, Isurus Oxyrinchus, and Bluefish, Pomatomus Saltatrix. American Fisheries Society. Quebec City, CA.
Wilga, C.D. and G.V. Lauder, 2003. Functional ecology of the pectoral fins in bamboo sharks. Benthic ecology conference, Groton, CT.
Ramsay#, J. and C. Wilga. 2003. Ecomorphology of the jaws in bamboo sharks: adaptations for predation on hard and soft bodied prey
. Poster Presentation. Benthic ecology conference, Groton, CT.
Dolce#, J. and C. Wilga. 2003. Functional ecology of ventilation in benthic and pelagic sharks. Poster Presentation. Benthic Ecology Conference, Groton, CT.
Wilga, C.D. 2003. Evolution of the Jaw Suspension in Lamniform Sharks. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Toronto, Canada.
Wilga, C.D. and G.V. Lauder. 2003. Locomotor hydrodynamics in dogfish (Squalus acanthias): function of the heterocercal tail and pectoral fins. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Toronto, Canada.
Ramsay#, J. and C.D. Wilga. 2003. Jaw mechanics in bamboo sharks. Poster presentation. Annual Coastal Fellows Symposium, University of Rhode Island.
Wright#, J. and C.D. Wilga. 2003. Prey selection by skates. Poster presentation. Annual Coastal Fellows Symposium, University of Rhode Island.
Wilga, C.D. and C.P. Sanford. 2004. Mechanics of Suction Feeding In Bamboo Sharks. International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology. Boca Raton, FL.
Wilga, C.D. and C.P. Sanford. 2004. Suction Generation In Bamboo Sharks, Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, New Orleans, LA.
Ramsay*, J.R. and C.D. Wilga, 2004. Dual Function Shark Teeth, Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, New Orleans, LA.
Nauwelaerts$, S., C.D. Wilga, C.P. Sanford, and G.V. Lauder. 2005. Substrate Increases Suction Feeding Effectiveness In Bamboo Sharks. Division of Vertebrate Morphologists, Harvard University, Boston.
Nauwelaerts$, S. and C.D. Wilga. 2005. Internal flow characteristics during suction feeding in elasmobranchs. Division of Vertebrate Morphologists, Harvard University, Boston.
Ramsay*, J.B. and C.D. Wilga. 2005. Dental Biomechanics in White-spotted Bamboo Sharks (Chiloscyllium plagiosum): A Novel Mechanism for Varying Tooth Function, American Elasmobranch Society, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Tampa, FL.
Sanford, C.P. and C.D. Wilga. 2005. Mechanics Of Suction Generation During Feeding In Bamboo Sharks, American Elasmobranch Society, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Tampa, FL.
Sanford, C.P. and C.D. Wilga. 2005. The Effects of Suction Generation on Prey Capture In Bamboo Sharks, American Elasmobranch Society, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Tampa, FL.
Wilga, C.D. and C.P. Sanford. 2005. The Effects of Suction Generation on Prey Capture In Bamboo Sharks, Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, San Diego, CA.
Durie*, C.J. and C.D. Wilga, 2005. Modulation of prey-capture in ram, suction, and biting centrarchid species, Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, San Diego, CA.
Garcia#, L.F., C.A. Klenk#, J.P. Balaban# and C.D. Wilga 2005. Feeding behavior in white-spotted bamboo sharks, Chiloscyllium plagiosum. Poster presentation. Annual Coastal Fellows Symposium, University of Rhode Island.
Garcia#, L.F., C.A. Klenk#, J.P. Balaban# and C.D. Wilga 2005. Feeding behavior in little skates, Raja erinacea. Poster presentation. Annual Coastal Fellows Symposium, University of Rhode Island.
Ramsay*, J.R. and C.D. Wilga. 2006. Jaw and hyoid depression mechanisms during suction feeding in white-spotted bamboo sharks, Chiloscyllium plagiosum. Division of Vertebrate Morphologists, Brown University, Providence.
Gerry*, S.P., M.N. Dean* and C.D. Wilga. 2006. Bilateral jaw muscle activity in Squalus acanthias. Division of Vertebrate Morphologists, Brown University, Providence.
Maia*, A. and C.D. Wilga. 2006. Functional morphology of the median and paired fins in sharks. Division of Vertebrate Morphologists, Brown University, Providence.
Nauwelaerts$, S., C.D. Wilga, C.P. Sanford and G.V. Lauder. 2006. Fluid dynamics of suction feeding in bamboo sharks. American Elasmobranch Society, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. New Orleans, LA.
Ramsay*, J. B. and C.D. Wilga. 2006. Musculoskeletal mechanics of the feeding apparatus in white-spotted bamboo sharks Chiloscyllium plagiosum. American Elasmobranch Society, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. New Orleans, LA.
Gerry*, S. P., M.N. Dean*, and C.D. Wilga. 2006. Bilateral jaw muscle activity in spiny dogfish. American Elasmobranch Society, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. New Orleans, LA.
Dolce*, J. L. and C.D. Wilga. 2006. Gill slit morphology among extant sharks. American Elasmobranch Society, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. New Orleans, LA.
Nauwelaerts$, S., C.D. Wilga, C.P. Sanford, and G.V. Lauder. 2006. Substrate Increases Suction Feeding Effectiveness In Bamboo Sharks. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Tampa, FL.
Gerry*, S.P., Dean*, M.N., Wilga, C.D. 2006. Bilateral jaw muscle activity in elasmobranchs. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Tampa, FL.
Dolce*, J.L., Wilga, C.D. 2006. Gill Slit Kinematics in Suction and Ram Ventilating Sharks. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Tampa, FL.
Karch#, A.P., J.L. Dolce* and C.D. Wilga. 2006. Gill Slit Kinematics During Ventilation and Feeding in Bamboo Sharks. Poster presentation. Annual Coastal Fellows Symposium, University of Rhode Island.
Duquette#, D.C.; Wilga, C.D. 2006. Mechanics of suction generation during feeding in Little skates. Poster presentation. Annual Coastal Fellows Symposium, University of Rhode Island. First prize for Best Poster Award, $500 scholarship award.
Karch#, A.P., J.L. Dolce* and C.D. Wilga. 2007. Gill Slit Kinematics During Ventilation and Feeding in Bamboo Sharks. Poster presentation. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology annual meeting, Phoenix, AZ.
Duquette#, D.C.; Wilga, C.D. 2007. Mechanics of suction generation during feeding in Little skates. Poster presentation. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology annual meeting, Phoenix, AZ.
Dolce*, J.L. and C.D. Wilga. 2007. Taxonomic Significance of Gill Slit Morphology in Extant Sharks. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology annual meeting, Phoenix, AZ.
Gerry*, S.P., M.N. Dean*, C.D. Wilga, and A.P. Summers. 2007. Bilateral jaw muscle activity in two species of elasmobranchs. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology annual meeting, Phoenix, AZ.
Wilga, C.D. 2007. A brief history of suction feeding. NER Division of Vertebrate Morphologists, University of Rhode Island, Kingston.
Gerry*, S.P. and C.D. Wilga. 2007.Time to Eat! NER Division of Vertebrate Morphologists, University of Rhode Island, Kingston.
Dolce*, J.L. and C.D. Wilga. 2007.Ventilation Mechanics in Resting and Swimming Spiny Dogfish. NER Division of Vertebrate Morphologists, University of Rhode Island, Kingston.
Allen#, R.M. and C.D. Wilga. 2008. Suction and bite processing mechanics during feeding in spiny dogfish. Coastal Fellows Symposium URI.
Stoehr#, A.. and C.D. Wilga. 2008. Prey processing mechanics during feeding in little skates, Leucoraja erinacea. Coastal Fellows Symposium URI.
Wilga, C.D. 2007. Evolutionary Divergence in the Suction Feeding Mechanism of Fishes. International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology. Paris, France.
Szczepanski*, J..A. and C..D. Wilga. 2007. Fluid dynamics and kinematics of feeding in the little skate, Raja erinacea. International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology. Paris, France.
Gerry*, S.P., J.B. Ramsay* and C.D. Wilga. 2007. Evolution of asynchronous jaw muscle activity in elasmobranchs. International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology. Paris, France.
Wilga, C.D. 2008. Evolutionary Divergence in the Suction Feeding Mechanism of Fishes. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, San Antonio, Texas.
Dolce, J. and C. Wilga. 2008. Ventilation Mechanics in Resting and Swimming Spiny Dogfish. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, San Antonio, Texas.
Gerry*, SP and CD Wilga. 2008. Feeding behavior of a generalist and specialist shark. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, San Antonio, Texas.
Ramsay, J.B., Wilga, C.D. 2008. Adductor muscle function during suction and biting in bamboo sharks. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, San Antonio, Texas.
Allen#, R.M. and C.D. Wilga. 2008. Suction and bite processing mechanics during feeding in spiny dogfish. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, San Antonio, Texas.
Stoehr#, A. and C.D. Wilga. 2008. Prey processing mechanics during feeding in little skates, Leucoraja erinacea. Benthic Ecology meeting 2008, Providence, RI.
Maia*, A. and C. Wilga. 2008. 3D Dorsal Fin Function in Spiny Dogfish during Steady Swimming. American Elasmobranch Society. Montreal, Canada.
Wilga, C. D. 2009. Hyoid and Pharyngeal Arch Function During Ventilation And Feeding In Elasmobranchs. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Boston, MA.
Scott#, A.J.; S.P. Gerry*, J.B. Ramsay* and C.D. Wilga. 2009. Coordination of Muscle Activity between Ventilation and Feeding in Spiny Dogfish.. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Boston, MA.
Stoehr#, A.S. and C.D. Wilga. 2009. Prey Processing in Elasmobranchs. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Boston, MA.
Ramsay*, J.B. and C.D. Wilga. 2009. Jaw depressor function during feeding in little skates, Leucoraja erinacea. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Boston, MA.
Maia*, A, K Arbonies# and C.D. Wilga. 2010. Escape responses in juvenile little skates, Leucoraja erinacea. Society of Experimental Biology (SEB) General Annual Meeting, June Prague Cech Republic.
Maia*, A. and C. Wilga. 2010. Comparative Anatomy of Bamboo Shark and Spiny Dogfish Dorsal Fins. American Elasmobranch Society, Providence RI.
Maia*, A. and C. Wilga. 2010. Escape response of juvenile little skates, Leucoraja erinacea. Society for Experimental Biology. Prague, Czech Republic.
Maia*, A. and C. Wilga. 2010. Dorsal fin muscle activity during maneuvers in bamboo sharks and spiny dogfish. International Society of Vertebrate Morpology. Punta de Este, Uruguay.
Maia*, A. and C. Wilga. 2010. Functional Morphology of Dorsal Fins in Two Shark Species. American Society of Biomechanics. Providence, RI.
Stoehr#, A., C.D. Wilga, and R.M. Allen. 2010. Prey Processing in Elasmobranchs. American Elasmobranch Society, Providence RI.
Maynard#, A., J. Dolce*, C.D. Wilga. 2010. Biomechanics of Ventilation in Smoothhounds, Mustelus canis, and Spinydogfish, Squalus acanthias. American Elasmobranch Society, Providence RI.
Dautrich#, J., A. Maynard#., A. Maia*, C.D. Wilga. 2010. Turning Ability in Juvenile Spiny Dogfish, Squalus acanthias. American Elasmobranch Society, Providence RI.
Contributed papers by Graduate Students supported by my research program..
Gerry, S.P. and M.N. Dean. 2005. Force Transmission of the adductor mandibulae complex across the jaw symphysis in sharks. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Tampa, FL.
Gerry, S.P. and M.N. Dean. 2005. Symphyseal Force Transmission in the jaws of Squalus acanthias. Poster Presentation. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, San Diego, CA.
Gerry, S.P. 2008. A Comparison of Feeding Mechanics in a Generalist and a Specialist Shark Species. American Elasmobranch Society. Montreal, Canada.
Dickson, J., A. Maia, and P. Domenici. 2008. Three Dimensional Escape Response in the White-spotted Ratfish, Hydrolagus colliei. American Elasmobranch Society. Montreal, Canada.
Gerry, S.P. 2008. A comparison of feeding mechanics in a trophic generalist and a specialist shark species. Ecological and Evolutionary Ethology of Fishes. Boston, MA.
Gerry, S.P and A.J. Scott. 2009. Prey selection by two species of sharks. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Boston, MA.
Maia, A. 2009. Escape responses early in life: are young of the year spiny dogfish doing well? Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Boston, MA.
Dickson, J., A. Maia, and P. Domenici. 2009. Three dimensional escape response of white spotted ratfish, Hydrolagus colliei. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Boston, MA.
GRADUATE STUDENTS and POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW:
Sandra Nauwelaerts. Ph.D. 2005-2006. Fluid dynamics of feeding in sharks.
Shannon Gerry, Ph.D. 2008. Generalist and specialist feeding behavior in elasmobranchs: Nolan Graduate Scholarship; Senior Marine Biologist search committee; mentored two undergraduates, one coauthored publication; guest lecturer for human anatomy; URI Sigma Xi Best Dissertation Award; URI Award for Excellence in Doctoral Research in the Area of Science, Technology, and Mathematics. Currently a postdoctoral fellow at Wellesley College with Dr. Ellerby.
Jocelyne Dolce, M.S. 2009. Patterns of ventilation during feeding in ram and suction feeding sharks: 1st place poster at URI Graduate Symposium; Provost Search Committee; Graduate Assistants Union departmental reprehensive, secretary and president; invited speaker at the center for biotechnology and life sciences groundbreaking ceremony; outreach demonstrations at Paul Cuffee School. Currently faculty instructor in biological sciences at Wellesley College.
Jason Ramsay, Ph.D. Candidate. Expected graduation date Fall 2011. Jaw and muscle biomechanics of suction and ram feeding in elasmobranchs: published interviews in Science and Natural History; guest lecturer for comparative vertebrate anatomy, vertebrate biology, environmental physiology of fishes, and human anatomy; outreach demonstrations at Paul Cuffee School and Mystic Aquarium; Canadian Discovery Channel episode on shark feeding; four publications by end of 6th year. URI Graduate Fellowship 2010-2011 (full support in her last year, 12 were given out University wide); has been offered several postdoctoral positions already.
Anabela Maia, Ph.D. Candidate. Expected graduation date Summer 2011.Functional morphology of hte dorsal fins in sharks during steady swimming and maneuvering. Fulbright Scholar; Guest lecturer Ocean Engineering Design and Functional Biology and Ecology of Fishes; Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation Doctoral Grant (similar to the NSF Predocotral Fellowship except for 4 years); mentored eight undergraduates, two coauthored publications; has eight publications after her 4th graduate year; outreach demonstrations at Paul Cuffee School and Mystic Aquarium; Canadian Discovery Channel episode on shark swimming; URI Graduate Fellowship 2010-2011 (full support in her last year, 12 were given out University wide).
Stacey Sakai, M.S. student. Jaw suspension strain in sharks. Expected graduation date 2011. Outreach demonstrations at Paul Cuffee School and Mystic Aquarium.
Jordan Balaban, Ph.D. student. Expected graduation date 2015. Started Fall 2010.
OTHER GRADUATE ADVISING:
Erin Rechisky, Fisheries Science, M.S., Completed, 2001, Advisor: Bengston
Angelo DiBiasio, Mech. Engineering, M.S., Completed, 2001, Advisor: Zhang
Al Scappaticci, Biological Sciences, Ph.D., Completed, 2003, Advisor: Kass-Simon
Gretchen Moeser, Biological Sciences, M.S., Completed, 2004, Advisor: Carrington
Aga Dymkowski, Biological Sciences, M.S., Completed, 2005, Advisor: Seibel
Michael Boller, Biological Sciences, Ph.D., Completed, 2005, Advisor: Carrington
Jennifer Miksis, Oceanography, Ph.D., Completed, 2005, Advisor: Donaghay
Tony Wood, Oceanography, Ph.D., Completed, 2007, Advisor: Collie
Drayton Smith, St. Josephs U/ Biology, M.S., Completed, 2008, Advisor: Grogan
Elizabeth DeCelles, Natural Resource Sciences, M.S., Completed, 2010, Advisor: Paton
Aura Fajardo, Biological Sciences, Ph.D., Expected, 2010, Advisor: Bullock
Lloyd Trueblood, Biological Sciences, Ph.D., Expected, 2010, Advisor: Seibel
Cyrena Riley, Université du Québec à Rimouski / Biology, Ph.D., Expected, 2011, Advisor: Cloutier
Linday Marshall, University of Tasmania / Zoology, Ph.D., Expected, 2010, Advisor: White
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH PROJECTS: (50 in total. 39 are women and 42 from underrepresented groups; 29 are working in their B.S. field and 21 are in graduate or other professional schools that I know of). Summer students were paid through the coastal fellows program, other students, including the summer students, were enrolled in an undergraduate research course for credit.
Jessica Powell. Fall 2000. Prey capture success in bamboo sharks. Honors thesis. B.S. 2001.URI M.Sc. 2004.
Elizabeth Little. Fall 2001. Reproduction in sharks. B.A. 2006.
Elizabeth Kordowski. Fall 2001. Identification of whales in the northeast Atlantic. B.S. 2002. Currently Executive Director for the RI Lobstermen's Association.
Amber (Bifolk) Fisher. Fall and Spring 2001. Upper jaw protrusion in bamboo sharks. The effects of venting on snappers and groupers in the Gulf of Mexico. Funded. Research Award. Presentations. Publication. B.S. 2002. Currently staff research Associate at UC. Berkeley.
Jason Ramsay. Summer and Fall 2002, Spring and Summer 2003. Skeletal morphology of the feeding apparatus in bamboo sharks. Research Award, Funding, Presentation, and Publication. B.S. 2004. Currently Ph.D. candidate URI.
Jocelyne Dolce. Fall 2002. Spring 2002, Spring and Summer 2003. Patterns of ventilation in ram feeding sharks. Research Award, Funding, Presentation. B.S. 2003. M.Sc. URI 2009. Currently Faculty Instructor and Laboratory Specialist at Wellesley College.
Mary-Elizabeth Miller. Spring 2002. Chordate anatomy laboratory web manual. Research Award, Funding. B.S. 2002. Currently graduate student and research assistant at Cornell Univ.
Katherine Kendrick. Fall 2002. Methods in functional morphology. B.S. 2005.
Sarah Bonito. Spring 2003. Morphology of the lateral musculature in spiny dogfish. Research Award. B.S. 2003Currently a Phlebotomist in RI.
Brian Morey. Spring 2003. Morphology of the tail musculature in spiny dogfish. B.S. 3002.
Sy Harris. Spring 2003. Documentary on feeding and respiration in sharks. Funding. B.A. 2006.
Nadia Archambault. Spring 2003. Functional morphology of plantar fascitis. Research Award. B.S. 2008. Doctor of Pharmacy 2008.
Eric Meehan. Spring 2003. Functional morphology of plantar fascitis. B.S. 2003. Doctor of Podiatric Medicine 2007. Currently a podiatrist at South County Foot and Ankle, RI.
Jessica Wellington. Fall 2003. Suction generation in hatchling bamboo sharks. Research Award. B.S. 2004. B.A. 2004. Currently in Veterinary School at Tufts University.
Jeremy Wright. Spring 2003. Prey selection by skates. Research Award. Funding. Poster Award. Presidents Award in Marine Biology (top student). B.S. 2004. Currently a Ph.D. candidate at the U. Michigan.
Stacey Getto. Fall 2004. Reproductive anatomy in vertebrates. B.S. 2005. Attended B.U. School of Public Health. Maternal and Child Health Program; Center Manager Isis Maternity.
Cynthia (Smith) Anderson. Fall 2004. Lesson plans for high school labs. M.A. Education, Secondary Education URI, 2006. Currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Lazaro Garcia. Fall 2004 and 2005. Prey selection by skates. Suction feeding in skates. Research Award. Funding. B.S. 2006.
Maura Allard. Fall 2004. Bioacoustics in manatees. Funding. B.S. 2006.
Kristine Kalapos. Spring 2004. Suction generation in hatchling sharks. Funding. B.S. 2004.
Samantha Kelly. Fall 2005. Population ecology of manatees. B.S. 2006. Currently on an internship training seals for the U.S. Navy in San Diego.
Heather Smith. Fall 2005. Anatomy of the brachial plexus. B.S. 2006.
Alexis Klepacki. Fall 2006 and Summer 2006. Ontogeny of mammalian heart structure. Intern at Westerly Hospital as aa General Surgery Student Shadower. Research Award. B.S. URI. 2006. M.Sc. PA. 2008. Currently a Physician’s Assistant Baystate Medical Center. MA.
Courtney Klenk. Fall 2005. Suction feeding in skates. Research Award. B.S. 2007. Doctor of Physical Therapy 2010, Westbrook College of Health Professions, University of New England.
Jordan Balaban . Fall 2005 and Spring 2006. Suction feeding in skates. Anatomy of the brachial plexus. Research Award. B.S. 2006. Research Assistant at NY Dept. Health, NY Psychiatric Institute Columbia University, and Center for Alcohol and Addition studies at Brown University. Currently a Ph.D. student at URI in my lab.
Juliette Nash. Fall 2005. Cetacean communication. B.A. 2006.
Dominic Moccia. Spring 2006. Anatomy of the brachial plexus. Research Award. B.S. 2006. Currently in the M.B.A. program at URI.
Katherine Devin. Spring 2006. Anatomy of the hepatic system. Research Award. B.S. 2006, B.A. 2006.
Danielle Duquette . Summer 2006. Spring 2007. Mechanics of suction generation during feeding in little skates. Research Award. Funding. Presentation. Poster Award. Publication. B.S. 2007. Currently a M.Sc. student at UNH.
Amanda Karch. Summer 2006. Spring 2007. Gill slit kinematics during ventilation and feeding in bamboo sharks. Research Award. Funding. Presentation. B.S. 2007.
Ashley Stoehr . Summer 2007-Spring 10 . Prey processing mechanics in little skates. Research Award. Funding. Presentation. 3 Publications. Presidents Award in Marine Biology and Political Science. B.S. 2010. B.A. 2010. Currently a Ph.D. Student at UM Dartmouth.
Rebecca Allen. Summer 2007. Fall 2007. Suction and bite processing mechanics during feeding in spiny dogfish. Research Award. Funding. Presentation. Poster Award. 2 Publications. B.S. 2008. Currently in Medical School at Ross University.
Corey Eddy. Fall 2007. Hammerhead populations. B.S. 2008. Currently a Ph.D. Student at UM Dartmouth.
Alexandra Widmer. Spring 2008. Growth rate in newborn spiny dogfish. B.S. 2010.
Andrea Scott. Summer 2008. Fall 2008. Muscle activity during ventilation and feeding in dogfish. Research Award. Funding. Presentation. Poster Award. Publication. Presidents Award in Marine Biology. B.S. 2009. Currently working at CT DEP.
Ashley Heinze. Fall 2008+09. Swimming behavior in dogfish. Research Award. B.S. 2010. Currently a M.Sc. student at College of the Atlantic.
Lynn Ficarra. Fall 2008 and 2010. Ventilation Mechanics in elasmobranchs.
Bonnie Witt. Fall 2008. Spring 2009. Swimming behavior in dogfish.
Ananda Fraser. Fall 2008. Research Technician. Presidents Award in Marine Biology and Marine Affairs. B.S. 2010. B.S. 2010. Currently a M.Sc. student in the MESM program for Environmental Policy and Management.
Jennifer Dautrich. Spring and Fall 2009. Routine turning behavior in yearling spiny dogfish. Research Award. Presentation. Publication. B.S. 2010. Currently a M.Sc. student at Lehigh U.
Amy Maynard. Fall. Summer + Spring 2009. Routine turning behavior in yearling spiny dogfish. Ventilation Mechanics in Sharks. Research Award. Funding. Presentation. Poster Award. 2 Publications. B.S. 2010. Currently a Research Assistant for Dr. Forrester at URI.
Christopher Cilfone. Fall 2009. Feeding Mechanics in Spiny Dogfish. B.S. 2010. Naturalist/Deckhand. Dolphin Jet Boat Tours and Harv and Marv's Alaska Whale Watching. Juneau. AK.
Callie Crawford. Fall 2009 and Spring 2010. Feeding Behavior in newborn spiny dogfish. B.S. 2010.
Stephanie Gildea. Fall 2009. Feeding Mechanics in Spiny Dogfish. B.S. 2010.
Kimberly Arbonies. Spring 2010. Swimming behavior in sharks.
Louis Marchetti. Spring 2010. Anatomy Dissection Manual.
Brittany McGee. Spring 2010. Swimming behavior in sharks.
Peter Lewis. Spring 2010. Pectoral fin function in dogfish. B.S. 2010. Currently working for MA DEP.
Stephanie Schofield. Spring 2010. Kinematics of the pectorals fins of spiny dogfish during maneuvers.
Haley Filo. Summer and Fall 2010. Muscle strain in dogfish during feeding.
Dave Nelson. Fall 2010. Functional morphology of the pectoral fins in sharks.
K-12 STUDENT INTERNS:
Jay Rodrigues, 8th grader from Alperin Schechter Day School conducted his high school science project in my lab during the spring 2003 on feeding dominance between male and female bamboo sharks.
Ryan Iovino. Governors Award Winner of the R.I. Science Fair Competition at the middle school level, chose, from many state and government institutions, to intern in my laboratory for one week in the summer of 2004.
Ryan Iovino, 9th grader conducted his project in my lab during the Spring 2005 on feeding behavior in bamboo sharks. Shannon Gerry, graduate student, supervised.
Laura Cunningham. Governors Award Winner of the R.I. Science Fair Competition, senior level competition. Chose, from many state and government institutions, to intern in my laboratory for one week in the summer of 2006.
Alana Mercurio. Freshman at Scituate High School conducted her science fair project in my lab during the Fall 2007 on determining differences in drag on various swimsuit textures and styles. One of my graduate students, Anabela Maia served as the primary mentor for her project.
DEPARTMENTAL SERVICE:
Marine Biology Advisor. URI Meet the University, Centennial scholar days, each semester, every year.
Letters of recommendation (338 from 2005-2010) were written for undergraduate and graduate students applying for internships, study abroad, graduate and medical schools, podiatry school, physical therapy, career positions, grants and fellowships.
Faculty advisor, URI Internship Program, 2001, 2004, 2006
Budget Committee, Biological Sciences 2000-2001
Undergraduate Committee member, Biological Sciences, 2001- 2002.
Chair Undergraduate Committee, Biological Sciences, 2004-2006. This involved evaluating new course proposals, student petitions, and degree programs.
Search Committee member, Biological Sciences - Marine Physiologist, 2002.
Search Committee Chair for Senior Marine Biologist. CELS, F 2005 and Spring 2006. This search resulted in the hire of Dr. Jacqueline Webb our Marine Biology Program Coordinator. Dr. Webb and done a fantastic job of recruiting and advertising our program. Most importantly, she has devised an advising system that really works and our students are consistently high achievers.
Director of Graduate Programs, Biological Sciences, 2007 to present. This involves reviewing prospective graduate applications (40-50 each year), informing the faculty of prospective applicant interests and possible suitability for their labs, and periodically distributing updated information on acceptances and declines. We generated criteria for allocating TA’s to prospective students. This consists of about half of my time. The graduate committee also signs petitions, plans of study, proposal approvals, requests for and results of qualifying and comprehensive exams, and defense, nominations for graduation, thesis and dissertation forms, and other official documents. We review new course proposals, delete outdated courses, and applications for the best TA award and graduate fellowships and makes recommendations to the faculty. We also revised and updated the departments graduate student guideline handbook (14 pages). We collate data on prospective applicants and current students for reporting to the NSF-NIH survey of graduate students and postdoctorates in science and engineering and the graduate degree program profile and reviews. We update information on our current graduate students through the annual status reports.
Consultant for renovating classroom in the Greenhouse building to be used by anatomy courses from summer 2008 until the move to CBLS. Spring 2008.
COLLEGE SERVICE:
Ad-hoc Space Committee to establish guidelines for occupation of CBLS building. Spring 2008. The committee was charged to develop a process by which recommendations on the allocation of office space and research laboratory space in the Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences could be made. We met six times over the fall 2007 and spring 2008 semesters. The CELS Ad Hoc Space Committee generated a document and application form for the proposed process for allocating teaching and research facilities in CBLS.
Coordinated the design and move of two teaching laboratories, the museum collection room, and the research aquarium room in CBLS in addition to my lab and office. This involved designing the teaching labs for optimum use and storage of teaching materials for CBLS235 vertebrate biology and CBLS 325 comparative vertebrate anatomy. The museum room involved coordinating our extensive collections with that of NRS, 54 cabinets of specimens were arranged taxonomically for optimum use of space and accessibility. The aquarium room involved dismantling the aquarium room in BISC and reassembling them in the new CBLS room. This took a large amount of my time in the Fall 2008 and Spring 2009.
Unofficial facilitator for talks on the proposed Integrative and Evolutionary Biology graduate group as a result of the charge to reorganize our graduate programs. I organized and led several very productive discussions of the program with interested faculty. I kept notes of our discussions and generated a report of suggested course and credit structures in two meetings for review by the interested faculty. This also involved meeting with the facilitators of the other three groups several times to discuss and formulate an academic plan for the CELS Biological and Environmental Science umbrella masters and doctoral degree programs.
Director of Graduate Programs, Integrative and Evolutionary Biology, College of the Environment and Lift Sciences. 2010 to present. This involves reviewing prospective graduate applications, informing the faculty of prospective applicant interests and possible suitability for their labs, recommending teaching assistantships, and periodically distributing updated information on acceptances and declines. The graduate committee also signs petitions, plans of study, proposal approvals, requests for and results of qualifying and comprehensive exams, and defense, nominations for graduation, thesis and dissertation forms, and other official documents. We review new course proposals, delete outdated courses, and makes recommendations to the faculty. We collate data on prospective applicants and current students for reporting to the NSF-NIH survey of graduate students and postdoctorates in science and engineering and the graduate degree program profile and reviews. We update information on our current graduate students through the annual status reports.
Provosts Diversity Task Force. The Task Force promoted a broad understanding and appreciation of diversity issues - engendering in ourselves and the faculty, staff, and students of the university the wisdom to listen to and respect voices and ideas different from our own.
University College Advisor, 2000 - 2002.
Reviewed a fish course for the URI Semester Abroad Program Bermuda Biological Station for research with Graham Forrester in 2002. This involved an on site visit with BBS.
Open house in my laboratory for Morton Irvine Smith, of the Joan Irvine Smith & Athalie R. Clarke Foundation, to speak with my undergraduate students during his 2002 visit. The Smiths made a generous donation to the University after the URI visit.
Search Committee, CELS and GSO 2003- Marine Research Associate III. This search resulted in the hire of Ed Baker, Manager of Seawater Facilities at the Center of Excellence in Marine Life Sciences.
Seawater Oversight Committee 2005-2008, Marine Life Research Facilities, GSO-URI. The committee is charged with the task of increasing the safety, reliability, efficiency, and productivity of the facilities using flow-through seawater at the Narragansett Bay Campus. We collect and convey information about the use of the facilities with the goal of improving their condition and facilitating their productive use. We plan upgrades, assign space, and assess fees.
Invited speaker for Advance workshop lunch on “Publishing a Paper: Secrets Revealed”. Feb. 17, 2005 with Karen Wishner and Lisa DiPippo.
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) 2005-2007, Review protocol proposals, inspect animal care facilities, and meet once a month to discuss proposals with PI.
President's Commission on the Status of Faculty, Staff and Students of Color at URI, Student sub-committee. Meetings average every other week. Two important goals of the Commission is to report on the status of people of color at URI and to make recommendations to the President on policy and program initiatives that will positively impact the quality of life and success of students, staff and faculty.
Faulty mentor for Dr. Kathleen Donohue (Spring 2008, tenured Spring 2010) in Biological Oceanography and Walt Besio (Fall 2008, tenured Fall 2011) in Biomedical Engineering faculty members.
Faculty participant in Instructional Development Program’s Workshops on Teaching and Learning for the new graduate student teaching assistants in Sept. 2008 and 2010. The program was ranked 8.7 on a 10 points scale.
STATE SERVICE:
Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education subcommittee member of the Interinstitutional Academic Technology Committee 2004-2006. We organized a Spring 2006 Technology Conference for Monday, May 1, 2006 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Sheraton Airport Hotel in Warwick Rhode Island entailed “Rethinking Technology in the PK-16 Classroom: The Power and the Limitations” Featuring Dr. Jamie McKenzie and Dr. Michael F. Young for an audience targeting Education professors, Arts and Sciences professors, and PK-12 teachers. Sponsored by RITER*, the RI Office of Higher Education, and the Community College of RI.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE:
Letters of recommendation (58 from 2005-2010) were written for colleagues seeking academic positions, promotion and tenure, sabbatical or university funds.
Tenure and promotion external reviewer for the University of Chicago (2004), Hofstra University (2004), University of Connecticut (2005) and St. Josephs University (2006).
National Research Council. External reviewer for the “Assessment of Research Doctoral Programs” (Fall 2006). This involved answering questions about various programs.
National Science Foundation. Committee of Visitors Panel (Fall 2005) charged with evaluating the Division of Integrative Organismal Biology at NSF on June 8 through 10, 2005. NSF relies on the judgment of external experts to maintain high standards of program management, to provide advice for continuous improvement of NSF performance, and to ensure openness to the research and education community served by the Foundation. Committee of Visitor (COV) reviews provide NSF with external expert judgments in two areas: (1) assessments of the quality and integrity of program operations and program-level technical and managerial matters pertaining to proposal decisions; and (2) comments on how the outputs and outcomes generated by awardees have contributed to the attainment of NSF’s mission and strategic outcome goals. The panel produced a 19 page document providing persuasive and cogent assessments and recommendations to an already well-recognized unit within the Biological Sciences Directorate.
Nova Southeastern University. External Consultant for Academic Review of the B.S. Marine Biology program. 2007. This involved: 1) reviewing the Internal Review Committee report (42 pages), 2) visiting the NSU campus and 3) writing a six page report to President Ferrero on the program. By the way, we are doing nearly everything right! We could do better on advising (taken care of with the hire of Dr. Webb) and we certainly could have a better faculty to student ratio.
National Science Foundation External Site Visit panel member for the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) at the University of California Santa Barbara (Spring 2009). The 13 member site review team was charged to evaluate the NCEAS program at the midpoint of its final interval of support through a cooperative agreement with the NSF. The review team charge was to examine five issues: 1) Scientific and educational activities and impacts of the Center; 2) Information management activities and the quality of its cyber-infrastructure; 3) Effectiveness of its education and outreach activities, with special focus on diversity issues; 4) Administration and management, including its partnerships and ability to leverage support; 5) If there might be continued need for targeted support of ecological analysis and synthesis by NSF/BIO. During the three days of the review, the panel met with all of the senior staff of NCEAS, including the Acting Director and Associate Director, with the Chancellor, Vice Chancellor and VP for Research of UCSB, with the NCEAS IT and Ecoinformatics team, with about a dozen NCEAS-supported post-doctoral researchers, and with the rest of the NCEAS staff. We also conducted phone interviews with 16 scientists chosen by the team and NSF because their collective NCEAS experiences spanned the full range of NCEAS activities. We generated a 15 page document as a result of these activities.
Manuscripts regularly reviewed for: Acta Geologica Polonica, Biol. J. of the Linnaean Society, Biology Letters, Environmental Biology of Fishes, Functional Ecology, J. of Marine Biology, J. Exp. Marine Biology and Ecology, J. of Zoology, J. of Applied Ichthyology, J. of Biosciences, J. of Experimental Biology, J. of Experimental Zoology, J. of Fish Biology, J. of MorphologyJ. Royal Soc. Interface, Marine Biology, Mar. Freshwater Behav. Physiol, Naturwissenschaften (Natural Science), Quarterly Review of Biology, Scientia Marina, Various Book Chapters 1, Zoologischer Anzeiger, and Zoology.
National Evolutionary Synthesis Center Advisory Board Member. The board meets twice yearly to review and advise NESCent Directors on funding proposals (~50 total each visit, 7-12 per panel member) for postdoctoral fellowships, sabbatical fellowships, 80working groups, and catalysis meetings. We are also charged with advising and overseeing the broad picture of NESCent's plans for synthesis. Along with the Directors, this board represents NESCent to the broader evolutionary community, as well as ensuring that the interests of their respective sub-disciplines are represented in NESCent's activities. The membership of this board is determined in consultation with NSF's Division of Integrative and Organismal Biology and NESCent's Cognizant Program Officers.
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Panel reviewer in the Microbiology, Physiology, and Neurosciences panel (each Fall from 2002-2005). Each year the panel reviews ~1000 proposals with each panel member reviewing ~100 proposals.
National Science Foundation. Animal Sensation and Movement (ASM) panel member (Fall of 2004, 2005, 2006) Division of Integrative Organismal Biology (IOB, formerly IBN). Each panel reviews ~90 proposals, each panel member reviews ~18 proposals.
National Science Foundation. Animal Behavior panel member, Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants. Spring 2007 and 2008 Panels. Each panel reviews ~75 proposals, each panel member reviews ~18 proposals.
Raney Award grant from the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Chair (2005) and member (2003, 2004). Each panel reviews ~42 proposals, each panel member reviews all proposals.
Other Grant Proposal Reviews: American Elasmobranch Society, Richard B. Salomon Faculty Research Award from Brown University, MIT SeaGrant.
National Science Foundation - ad-hoc reviewer of 18 proposals from Biological Oceanography, Environmental and Structural Systems, Functional and Regulatory Systems, Integrative Organismal Systems, Processes Structure and Integrity.
American Elasmobranch Society. Student Research Award committee member and Travel Award committee member. 2000-2002.
Textbooks and course materials reviewed for: Harcourt Brace College Publishers, Vertebrate Dissection; Prentice Hall, Human Anatomy by Martini/Timmons/McKinley; Wadsworth Publishing Company, Fishes: A Field and Laboratory Manual on Their Structure, Identification, and Natural History.
Departmental Seminars at the following universities: University of Washington Friday Harbor Laboratories (Summer 1995), Scripps Institute of Oceanography (Spring 1998), University of Rhode Island (Spring 1999), University of Alaska, Anchorage (Spring 1999), St. Lawrence University (Spring 1999), East Tennessee University (Spring 1999), Brown University (Spring 2001), Graduate School of Oceanography (Fall 2001), University of Massachusetts, Amherst (Spring 2002), Roger Williams University (Fall 2003), University of Rhode Island, Kingston (2004), St. Josephs Univeristy (2005), University of Chicago (2006), University of Connecticut (2007), Harvard University (2007, 2008).
American Institute of Biological Science Invited Visiting Scholar in the Biology Department at St. Josephs University (Fall 2005). This consisted of visiting St. Josephs University for three days and participating in several activities. I met with several labs to discuss research methods, gave a research seminar, met the faculty to discuss research and graduate programs over a lunch, two dinners, and several faculty lab visits, visited two classes and a seminar in which two of my publications were discussed and meeting with the graduate students to discuss graduate programs.
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY SERVICE:
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
· Committee Chair for the 2005 Raney Award grant program.
· Committee Member for the 2003 + 2004 Raney Award grant program.
· Graduate Student Participation 1996,
· Graduate Student Workshop 1995
· Graduate Student Travel Awards.
American Elasmobranch Society.
International Society of Vertebrate Morphologists
Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
Society for Experimental Biology
Sigma Xi.
OUTREACH:
Public seminar given for the Coast Weeks Program. A series of public seminars and events sponsored by the R.I. Coastal Resources Management Council and the R.I. Sea Grant Program. Sept. 26, 2003.
Facilitator between URI and the Paul Cuffee School – A Maritime Charter School for Providence Children. I am taking on this position starting this Fall 09. Stan Cobb has done in the past. I will find speakers and science demonstrations from URI on various topics at the request of teachers at the middle school. I have been working with the school for the past two years. One result of these efforts involve BIO graduate students giving a cod dissection demonstration several times to two 7th grade classes in 2007, 2008 and one is scheduled in Nov. for 2009 (Anabela Maia 3x, Jocelyne Dolce, 1x, and Juleen Dickson 2x). I gave a talk on “Shark Mythbusters” to the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade classes in June 2009. I will take a more active roll now that Stan is retiring from this position as facilitator and will be finding speakers for various topics and demonstrations adaptations. For example, this year PC school would like speakers on adaptation, evolution , and ocean currents (two URI faculty have already volunteered for this) and a demonstration of dissecting a shark and a mudpuppy (Jason Ramsay, BIO graduate student volunteered for this). Working with the PC school students is a lot of fun, they are very interested and enthusiastic about everything we do and are not afraid to ask questions. I always enjoy my trips there and feel like I am introducing the students to potential careers in science that they did not know existed. http://www.paulcuffeeschool.org/.
Paul Cuffee Maritime Charter School talks and demonstrations to middle school classes:
· Cod Dissection: Two graduate students were organized to demonstrate dissection of a cod to three 6th grade classes during their lesson on fish and fisheries of New England. Three demonstrations were done on several days: April 1st 2008, October 27th 2009, and
· Shark Mythbusters question and answer section: June 10th 2009. Three discussions given separately to a 7th, 8th, and 9th grade class.
· Guest Speakers: I coordinated the visit of two URI faculty to give talks to the 6th grade classes, one spoke on molecular evolution and one on biological oceanography in the fall of 2009.
· Shark Dissection: One graduate student was recruited to demonstrate a shark and mudpuppy dissection to three 6th grade classes during their lesson on evolution on February 11th 2010.
· Science Lesson Plans: Lance Comeau, the 7th grade science teacher contacted me to collaborate on a lesson plan on the physics of swimming. We met for several hours to come up with a plan, then fine tuned it by email over the next few weeks. The lesson plan started with several lessons at the Paul Cuffee School by Lance early in January, followed by a demonstration shark and skate dissection at the Paul Cuffee School on Jan 25th 2010 by myself and one of my graduate students with a lesson that involved asking questions about shape, buoyancy, drag and swimming speed to understand how shape and buoyancy affect drag and swimming speed. In the next step, the students made fish of different shapes based on the cruising, maneuvering, and acceleration specialist body morphologies using clay surrounding small glass vials filled with various object to adjust buoyancy. Finally, the students came to URI to “swim” their fish in my flow tank and measured the drag at different speeds by attaching their fish model to a spring scale submerged in the tank. The three classes were split into four groups: those testing their models in the flow tank; those getting a talking and demonstration tour of the animals in the GSO aquarium facilities; those getting a demonstration of the new Inner Space Center which is focused on undersea exploration; and those working on plotting results from the flow tank tests. This was a lot of fun for myself as well as the students, was immensely successful and we plan to do this every year.
Mystic Aquarium: Spring break week presentations. Organized four graduate and two senior undergraduate students in my lab to give a shark talk based on the “Shark Mythbusters” talk on six days during the K-12 spring break – April 14th to April 20th. This was so successful that they want us to do this each year.
Public seminar given at the Peacedale Library on sharks. February 25, 2010.
Popular Press: WPRO Public Radio, ABC Television news and online, Australian Biomechanics Reference List, Biomechanics Archives, Brown University Resource list, Canadian Discovery Channel Television program and online, Ciencia Hoje online (Brazilian Science today), Deepwave online, Discovery Channel Television program and online (Twice), Dive News online, Get to know URI, Hamburger Abendblatt (evening news) online, Harvard Gazette, Harvard University online, IPFW Ichthyology reading list, NAGARE (Japanese science), National Geographic Today Evening NewCast, National Living on Earth NPR Program, New Channel 10 Television program and online, New Scientist Magazine online, NHASACHVM (Portuguese Science), Providence Journal (my students as well as myself), QuadAngles, Rolling Hills Research (Engineering Technology), Science Blog online, Science Daily online, ScienCentral online, The Hindu online, The Pacer (my students as well as myself), University of California Biomechanics links, URI News Bureau (my students as well as myself), Vassar College Biomechanics Reference List, Welt der Wunder (German Science), Wildlife Online (UK science), Wild Madagascar Online, Wissenshaft online (German Science), Complexity Digest, Zur nachsten Webseite, Lexikona., International Associate of Aquatic and Marine Science Libraries and Information Center Newsletter, CafeDuWeb, Ozeane, Vietel Corporation, kaus Jost. BBC Website, National Geographic News, Nature News, The Telegraph, Discovery Channel, Live Science, Yahoo News, Yahoo New UK, The Times of London, The Independent (London), The Scotsman, UK Press Association, Washington Post, Today Online, New Scientist, All Headline News, Science Centric, Bulgaria, AZ Centra, Physorg, Short News (Germany), UPI, Top News, India, ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corp), Politiken, Denmark, Lichtensteiner Vaterland, NewKerlala.com (India, Perth Now (Australia), Adelaide Now (Australia), Herald Sun (Australia), Courier Mail (Australia), The Mercury (Tasmania), MercoPress (Uruguay), El Clarín (Argentina), Tehran Times, Thaindian Times, Javno (Croatia), RedOrbit (Texas), Times Colonist (Canada), Irish Independent, Brisbane Times, The Citizen (South Africa), Sydney Morning Herald, MongaBay.com, Boston Globe, Kazinform (Kasakhstan), Zee News (India), Daily India.com, Deccan Herald, The Cheers (Estonia), Inquirer (Philippines), Daily Times (Pakistan), Fishupdate, AFP, Agence France-Presse, Channel News Asia, Discover, University of Southampton (UK), News (Australia), The Age (Australia), France 24, Big Pond News (Australia), Tatap, AHN News, EcoEarth, Newslinker, Haveeru (Maldives), NDTB (India), Net India, News wise, Pakistan Business News, South Asian Media Net, Hindu News, Tribune de Geneve, University of Rhode Island, Technology BB, Science Daily, The Australian, Boston Globe, Providence Journal, The Good 5¢ Cigar (URI), BBC Radio 4, Leading Edge Radio, youtube.com.