B.A. - 1972 Indiana University, Major: Zoology
M.S. - 1974 Indiana University, Major: Zoology
Ph.D. - 1982 Indiana University, Major: Biology
Post doctorate - 1982-1987-  Laboratory of Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin, Madison

Research and Professional Experience

1974-76             Genetic Assistant, Dept. Medical Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine

1982-83             Postdoctoral Fellow, Medical Genetics Training Grant, University of Wisconsin   

1983-85             Postdoctoral Research Assistant, University of Wisconsin

1985-87             Assistant Scientist, University of Wisconsin

1987-91             Assistant Member, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

1991-1997         Associate Member, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

1994-1997         Affiliate Member, Department of Pharmacology. University of Washington 

1995-1997         Research Professor, Department of Chemistry, Seattle University

1997-2002               Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

2002-present   Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Field of Study

Genetics and cell biology in the study of biological rhythms and cellular behavior

Research Interests
My previous research involved the role of calcium and calmodulin in the control of cellular behavior and regulated exocytosis in the ciliated protozoan Paramecium tetraurelia. Paramecium is used as a model system for the investigation of cellular processes in excitable cells. This research included the study of the calcium-binding protein calmodulin and it's role in the regulation of exocytosis. Genetic and cell biological studies have shown that calmodulin and the calmodulin-dep. protein phosphatase calcineurin are involved in the modulation of this process.

Recent studies by a graduate student in the laboratory (Chris Miller) have demonstrated the involvement of light in the behavioral response of Paramecium. Paramecium responds to a photo stimulus by changing the direction of the ciliary beat, an action that is correlated with the generation of an action potential. This response has been studied in several behavioral mutants of Paramecium tetraurelia and have allowed us to genetically dissect the pathway leading to the photoresponse of the cells. Genetic and cell biological studies are being conducted to further elucidate the cellular nature of this behavioral response.

Research at the moment is concentrated on the role of biological rhythms in the control of cellular processes in Paramecium. Several students in the laboratory have recently demonstrated that circadian and ultradian rhythms play a part in the ability of cells to respond to stimuli. For example, Paramecium displays periodic changes in the frequency of behavioral responses, with an average periodicity of 50 minutes. This is an example of an ultradian rhythm. Importantly, we have shown that this periodicity is disrupted by low concentrations of LiCl, and that exogenous inositol reverses the effect. This has lead to the inositol depletion hypothesis as a means to explain these results.

Current research initiated by a graduate student (Joe Tran) has shown that the toxicity of cells to cadmium changes with the time of day. Paramecium grown on a 14:10 hour light:dark cycle are far more susceptible to cadmium toxicity in the late evening and early morning than at other times of the day. We have been able to isolate mutants that shown an alteration in the circadian periodicity in regards to cadmium sensitivity and these are being analyzed at the current time. Furthermore, the genes involved in the circadian response are being cloned based on homology to genes in other organisms. A graduate student in the laboratory (Fran Adams) has developed the RNA interference technology which will allow us to inhibit the expression of a variety of genes to look at their roles in circadian rhythms.