Barry A. Trimmer
Professor, Henry Bromfield Pearson Professor of Natural Sciences
Director, Neuromechanics and Biomimetic Devices Laboratory
Neurobiology

Curriculum Vitae

Primary Area of Research
Central processing of sensory information by receptors, second messengers and synaptic networks in an insect model system. The neural control of soft-bodied locomotion. Design and development of Biomimetic devices.

Academic Appointments

• 2005 Henry Bromfield Pearson Professor of Natural Sciences
• 2004 Professor of Biology
• 2003 Adjunct professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University School of Engineering.
• 1998 Secondary appointments in the Departments of Neuroscience, and Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, in the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Science, Tufts University School of Medicine.
• 1996-2003 Director of the Graduate program in Biology
• 1996 Associate Professor of Biology.
• 1995 spring Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Research-Semester Fellowship
• 1991-1995 Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow.
• 1990-1996 Assistant Professor of Biology, Tufts University.

Education

• 1988-1990 Postdoctoral Research Associate in Neurosciences, University of Oregon, Institute of Neuroscience.
• 1987-1988 Postgraduate Research Fellow in Neurobiology, University of California, Berkeley, Department of Entomology.
• 1985-1986 Research Fellow in Neurobiology. Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology.
• 1983-1985 Harkness Fellow, Harvard Medical School. Department of Neurobiology.
• 1983-1984 Nuffield Foundation Research Fellowship, University of Cambridge, Department of Zoology.
• 1979-1983 Ph.D. University of Cambridge, England. Research advisor, Professor Sir Michael J. Berridge.
• 1976-1979 B.A. Zoology: University of Cambridge, England. Honors 1st class.

Professional Society Memberships

• American Association for the Advancement of Science
• American Association of University Professors
• International Brain Research Organization
• International Society for Neuroethology
• Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology
• Society for Neuroscience

Current and Recent Research Funding

• Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) M3: Maximum mobility and manipulation. “BioComponent Robot Systems” Co PI David Kaplan. Current.
• National Science Foundation "Neuromechanics of soft-bodied locomotion."PI. Current.
• National Science Foundation "Biomechanics high-resolution multi-material printing system." Co-PI with Robert White and Robert Peattie. Current.
• National Science Foundation, "Neuromechanics of soft-bodied locomotion". 9/01/07- 8/31/10 IOS-IBN. Completed.
• Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), "Chemical Robots: morphing soft material robots for covert access" 02/14/08 – 02/13/10 Co PI David Kaplan. Completed.
• National Science Foundation, "Multidisciplinary Research Opportunity for Women (MRO-W) program" 09/01/08-08/15/09. Co-PI with Soha Hassoun. Completed.
• APS General User Proposal GUP-9009, "How caterpillars locomote, characterized by hemolymph and internal tissue dynamics". User access to the X-ray synchrotron source at Argonne National Laboratory, March 29-April 1, 2008 and July 9-11, 2008 with William Woods and W.K Lee. Completed.
• W.M Keck Foundation Science and Engineering Program. "Biomimetic Technologies for Soft-bodied robots". Co-PI with Dr. Kaplan (Biomed. Eng.). 2006-2008. Completed.

Teaching

• Neurobiology (Biology 134). A comprehensive overview of the primary areas in basic neuroscience for upper-division undergraduate and graduate credit.
• Experiments in Physiology (Biology 49). An 11 week lab course, which is taught by three faculty members and a teaching assistant.
• Advanced Neurobiology Special Topics A seminar course for graduate students specializing in Neuroscience. Topics are explored using recent primary literature
• Design of Medical Devices (Electrical Engineering 100). I give 1-2 lectures in this course each year.
• Advanced Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology (Pharmacology 231, Sackler School). I give two (2 hr) lectures in this course including a laboratory demonstration.
• Undergraduate Independent Research. I have sponsored and advised 90
  individual student projects for credit in my laboratory since 1991.

Postdoctoral Scholars Sponsored (dates, current positions and affiliations)

• Dr. David Fickbohm (1995-1997). Life science faculty, Santa Monica College, CA
• Dr. Sanjive Qazi (1991-2000). Biology Department, Gustavus Adolphus College, St Peter MN
• Dr. Jim Belanger (1998-2000). Associate Professor, Biology Dept. West Virginia University.
• Dr. Margaret Bloch-Qazi (1999-2000). Associate Professor, Gustavus Adolphus College, St Peter MN.
• Dr. Jonathan Issberner (August 2000-2005). Research associate University of St. Andrews.
• Dr. John Rieffel (February 2008-2009). Assistant Professor, Comp. Sci., Union College
• Dr. William Woods (November 2004-2010). Research Assistant Professor Tufts
• Dr. Ethan Golden (July 2008-present) Postdoctoral associate in my lab
  

Thesis Advisor for Ph.D. and MS Candidates

• Dr. Alice Wang (1992 - 1998)
• Dr. Ricardo Zayas (1997- 2002) Assistant Professor, San Diego State University
• Dr. Anke Vermehren (1998-2003) Postdoctoral associate, Cell and Developmental Biology, Oregon Health Sciences University.
• Ms. Jessica Bosc (Spring 2002 - 2004, research MS in Biology)
• Mr. Russell Benuck (Fall 2003 - 2004, research Masters in Biomedical Engineering)
• Mr. Daniel Hake (Graduated 2006, Masters in Mechanical Engineering)
• Ms. Nina Mallozzi (defended May 2007, MS in Biology)
• Ms. Meghan Kate (defended 2009, MS in Biomedical Engineering)
• Dr. Michael Simon (2004 - 2010)
• Dr. Huai-Ti, Lin (2006 - 2011) Postdoctoral Fellow in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University

Current Graduate Students

• Ms. Linnea van Griethuijsen (Ph.D. candidate in Biology, matriculated 2006)
• Ms. Cinzia Metallo (Ph.D. candidate, Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, matriculated 2007)
• Michael Doire (M.S. candidate, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University School of Engineering, matriculated 2010)
• Emily Pitcairn (PhD candidate in Biology, matriculated 2011)
• Fallon Schuler (PhD candidate in Biology, matriculated 2011)

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