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Office Hours:
Spring 2008:
Tuesdays: 9:30-11:00am;
Wednesdays: 8:30-11:00am
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Tom Root
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Neuroscience Program Director and Professor of Biology
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McCardell Bicentennial Hall 351
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Phone: (802) 443 - 5434
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Email: troot@middlebury.edu
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Degrees, Specializations & Interests:
Degrees:
Ph.D. University of Wyoming 1979 (Zoology & Physiology)
M.S. University of Wyoming 1976 (Zoology and Physiology)
B.S. University of Detroit 1974 (Biology)
Specialization: Neurobiology
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NEUROSCIENCE PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Current Research Interests:
Neurobiology, specifically the neural control of locomotion, feeding, escape & other simple behaviors, sensory and motor systems of arachnids, insects and crustaceans, and the anatomy and physiology. Also the predatory behavior of arachnids like scorpions, spiders, tarantulas, sun spiders and whip scorpions.
Recent and Important Publications:
Root, T.M. 1990. Scorpion Neurobiology. In: Biology of the Scorpionida, Gary Polis (Editor). Princeton University Press. pp. 341-413, 4 plates, 27 Figures.
Maier, L., T. M. Root, and E.-A. Seyfarth. 1987. Heterogeneity of spider leg muscle: Histochemistry and electrophysiology of identified fibers in the claw levator. J. Comp. Physiol. B. 157:285-294.Teufel, E.J., S.C. Folta and T.M. Root. 1988. The role of scorpion trichobothria in wind and prey detection. Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. Toronto. November 15, 1988.
Root, T.M. 1985. The central and peripheral control of scorpion locomotion. IN: Neurobiology of Arachnids. Springer-Verlag. CH. XVII.
Recent Grants:
Characterization of Tarsal Sensilla of the scorpion Pandinus imperator Vermont Genetics Network. May, 2004.
Several grants co-authored with Jim Andrews , including those from The Lintilhac Foundation, US Forest Service, and the VT Dept. of Fish & Wildlife.