Barry A. Trimmer
Professor, Henry Bromfield Pearson Professor of Natural Sciences
Director, Tufts 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, Pending and Recent Research Funding

• Neuromechanics of soft-bodied locomotion. 9/01/07 - 8/31/10 IBN.
• National Science Foundation Central and peripheral actions of nitric oxide. 4/01/04- 3/31/07
• National Science Foundation Coordination and control of movements in a hydrostatic insect. 7/01/01- 6/30/04
• National Science Foundation Range and specificity of NO/cGMP signaling in the CNS 9/01/2000-2/28/2003
• NCRR Shared Instrumentation Grant. "Instrumentation grant for Confocal/2-photon Microscope" I am one of 10 named collaborators on this grant, the PI is Dr. F. Rob. Jackson, Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine.

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 73 individual student projects for credit in my laboratory since 1991.

Postdoctoral Scholars Sponsored (dates, current positions and affiliations)

• Dr. William Woods (2004-present). Research Associate
• Dr. Jonathan Issberner (August 2000-2005). Research Associate, St. Andrews, Scotland.
• Dr. Sanjive Qazi (1991-2000). Senior Scientist, Parker Hughes Cancer Institute, St Paul MN.
• Dr. Jim Belanger (1998-2000). Assistant Professor, Biology Dept. Louisiana State University
• Dr. Margaret Bloch-Qazi (1999-2000). Assistant Professor, Gustavus Adolphus College, St Peter MN.
• Dr. David Fickbohm (1995-1997). Life science faculty, Santa Monica College, CA.

Thesis Advisor for Ph.D. and MS Candidates

• Mr. Michael Simon (2004-present, Ph.D. candidate)
• Mr. Daniel Hake (2004-present, MS candidate in Mechanical Engineering, co-advised with Prof. Chris Rogers)
• Mr. Russell Benuck (Fall 2003-present, research Masters in Biomedical Engineering
• Ms. Jessica Bosc (Spring 2002- present, research MS)
• Dr. Anke Vermehren (1998- defended Sept 2003, Ph.D.)
• Dr. Ricardo Zayas (1997-defended October 2002, Ph.D.)
• Dr. Alice Wang (1992- defended December 1998, Ph.D.)

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