Jennifer Basil

Education:

Ph.D., University of Massachusetts - Amherst - 1993 (Zoology)

M.Sc., University of Massachusetts - Amherst - 1990 (Zoology)

B.S. (magna cum laude), SUNY-Albany - 1986 (Biology and Chemistry; Medieval and Renaissance Culture)

Certificate of Apprenticeship, New York State School of Performing Arts - 1982 (Theatre -- Circle Reperatory Company, New York)

Areas of Expertise:

Animal learning and memory, evolution of brain and behavioral complexity, sensory ecology, and neural basis of behavior -- using primarily invertebrate models.

Doctoral Rotation Projects:

Learning and memory in cephalopods and crustaceans; phylogenetic and ecological approaches; Pavlovian conditioning; spatial learning and memory, neuroanatomical study, neurophysiology.

Books and Publications

Barord, G.J. and J. Basil. "Nautilus Culture and Care." Cephalopod Culture. Ed. P. Eglesias. Springer. In press. (Books and Publications: Forthcoming Publications) 2013

Basil, J. and R. Crook. "Cognition: Evolution of Behavioral and Neural Complexity: Lessons From the Living Fossil, Chambered Nautilus." Cambridge University Press. (Books and Publications: Chapter) 2013

Crook, R. and J. Basil. "Flexible Spatial Orientation and Navigational Strategies." Chambered Nautilus. Ethology 119: 77-85. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2013

Barord, G., C. Ju, L. Travis, T. Vargas and J. Basil. "A Successful Medical Treatment for Mucodegeneration in Chambered Nautilus, a Previously Fatal Condition in This Living Fossil." Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2012

Basil, J. and F. Grasso. "Perspectives on the Evolution of Complex Brains and Behaviors in Cephalopods." Brain Behaviour and Evolution. In press. (Books and Publications: Forthcoming Publications) 2012

Basil, J., G. Barord, C. Ju, L. Travis and T. Vargas. "A Synthetic Approach to the Study of Behavior in Chambered Nautilus." VIE ET MILIEU: Life and Environment 61.4. Part of the series "Behaviour in Cephalopods: Underlying Mechanisms and Methodological Approaches." Eds. Michael Kuba, Tamar Gutnick and Sigurd V. Boletzky. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2012

"Chambered Nautilus." World Book Encyclopedia. (Books and Publications: Other Article) 2011

Zartarian, M. and J. Basil. "Environmentally Relevant Levels of Ethinyl Estradiol Increase Speed of Learning and Length of Retention in an Associative Task in 3-spined Sticklebacks." Aquatic Toxicology. (Books and Publications: Forthcoming Publications) 2011

Curator, "Nautilus Biology," Scholarpedia. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2010

Crook, R. and J. Basil. "Memory of Visual and Topographical Features Suggests Spatial Learning in the Ancient Cephalopod Nautilus Pompilius." Journal of Comparative Psychology 123: 164-74. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2009

Grasso, F. and J. Basil. "The Evolution of Flexible Behavioral Repertoires in Cephalopod Molluscs." Brain, Behavior and Evolution 74.3: 231-45. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2009

Crook, R. and J. Basil. "A Biphasic Memory Curve in the Chambered Nautilus, Nautilus pompilius L. (Cephalopoda: Nautiloidea)." Journal of Experimental Biology 211: 1992-98. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2008

Crook, R. and J. Basil. "A Role for Nautilus in Studies of the Evolution of Brain and Behavior." Communicative & Integrative Biology 1.1: 1-3. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2008

Crook, R. and J. Basil. "Living Fossil Memories." Journal of Experimental Biology 211: iii. (Books and Publications: Other Article) 2008

Crook, R. and J. Basil. "Nautilus Provides Insights into the Evolution of the Cephalopod Brain." Society for Neuroscience Abstr. (Books and Publications: Abstract) 2008

Soucier, C.P. and J. Basil. "Detection of Underwater Vibrations by the Chambered Nautilus, Nautilus pompilius." American Journal of Malacology: 1-17. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2008

Basil, J., I. Bahctinova, K. Kuroiwa, N. Lee, M. Preis and C. Soucier. "The Role that Tentacles and Rhinophores Play in Odor-Mediated Behavior in Chambered Nautilus." Freshwater and Marine Behavior and Physiology 38.3: 209-21. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2005

--"Robot Lobsers." USA Today. November.

--"Learning in Ptarmigans." Nature News. September 2001. (Books and Publications: Other Article) 2003

Grasso, F. and J. Basil. "How Lobsters, Crayfishes, and Crabs Find Important Sources of Odor: Current Perspectives and Future Directions." Current Opinion in Neurobiology 12.6: 721-27. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2003

Basil, J., W. Lazenby, L. Nakanuku and R. Hanlon. "Female Nautilus Are Attracted to the Odor of Male Conspecifics." Bulletin of Marine Science 70: 217-25. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2002

Voigt, R., J. Basil and J. Atema. "American Lobsters Track and Locate Distant 'Leaky' Odor Sources." Chemical Senses 24. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2002

Grasso, F. and J. Basil. "Antennule Morphology and Olfactory Sampling Strategy: Lessons from the Lobster." American Zoologist 40.6: 1032. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2001

Basil, J.A. and D.C. Sandeman. "Australian Freshwater Crayfish Detect Small Spatial Changes in Their Habitat Using Only Tactile Cues." Ethology 106: 247-59. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2000

Basil, J.A., S. Sheikh, R. Hanlon and J. Atema. "Three-Dimensional Odor Tracking by Nautilus." Journal of Experimental Biology 203.9: 1409-14. Cover article. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2000

Grasso, F., J. Basil and J. Atema. "Toward the Convergence: Robot and Lobster Perspectives of Tracking Odors to Their Source in the Turbulent Marine Environment." BioMimetic Robots ISIC/CIRA/ISA-98. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 1999

Awards, Honors and Fellowships

"Can the Chambered Nautilus Detect Sound?" Grass Foundation (pending). $10,000. (Grants and Fellowships) 2013

BSF: USA-Israel Binational Science Foundation, for "Functional Mapping of Learning-induced Activity in the CNS of Nautilus, a Plesiomorphic Cephalopod. Binyamin Hochner, co-PI. November. $200,000. (Grants and Fellowships) 2012

Listed in The Princeton Review's America's 300 Best Professors. (Awards and Honors) 2012

Grant proposal reviewer, Integrative and Organismic Biology, National Science Foundation. (Grants and Fellowships) 2011

NSF proposal, for "Developing a STEM-based Research Program for an Early College STEM High School." Jennifer Basil, Ted Raphan, Kathleen Axen, Sofia Perdikaris and Manuel Pons, co-principal investigators. CCLI Phase 2. January. (Grants and Fellowships) 2011

Program panelist, National Science Foundation. (Grants and Fellowships) 2011

Award for Awesomeness, ad hoc awesomeness committee for Brooklyn College student researchers. (Awards and Honors) 2010

Founders Award Competition, Evolution of Behavioral Complexity in Cephalopod Molluscs. Animal Behavior Meetings, William and Mary College. Williamsburg, Va. (Awards and Honors) 2010

Grant reviewer, National Science Foundation. (Grants and Fellowships) 2010

NSF Proposal, for "Evolution of Complex Behavior: Characterization of Learning and Memory in Nautilus Pompilius." Jennifer Basil, John Chamberlain (Brooklyn College) and Roger Hanlon (Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Mass.), co-principal investigators. $696,132. Pending. (Grants and Fellowships) 2009

PSC-CUNY Award, for "Timing of Learning and Memory Formation in Chambered Nautilus." $4,600. (Grants and Fellowships) 2009

"Evolution of Complex Behavior: Characterization of Learning and Memory in Nautilus Pompilius." NSF Proposal. Submitted July. $596,132. (Grants and Fellowships) 2008

Genesis Best Undergraduate Research Award, runner up. Animal Behavior Society Meeting. Burlington, Vt. (Awards and Honors) 2008

National Science Foundation, for "Developing a STEM Curriculum for Early College Programs: A High School to College Continuum." Co-principal investigators: Chaya Gurwitz, Sophia P. Perdikaris, Theodore Raphan and Elizabeth I. Sklar. (Brooklyn College, $149,917, 25% indirect cost, two years, 8% effort, requested release time). 2007-09. (Grants and Fellowships) 2008

"Developing a STEM Curriculum for Early College Programs: A High School to College Continuum." Co-principal investigators: Chaya Gurwitz, Sophia P. Perdikaris, Theodore Raphan and Elizabeth I Sklar. National Science Foundation (2007-09). (Brooklyn College, $149,917, 25% indirect cost, two years, 8% effort, requested release time). (Grants and Fellowships) 2007

"The Ability of Chambered Nautilus to Detect Underwater Sound." Submitted to Grass Foundation. $10,000. (Grants and Fellowships) 2007

Best Biology Professor, NBSSO. (Awards and Honors) 2006

Genesis Award for Best Undergraduate Research. Animal Behavor Society Meeting. Utah, August. (Awards and Honors) 2006

Kanwal Gulzar, Honors Researcher: Winner: Genesis Award for Best Undergraduate Research, Animal Behavor Society Meeting. Utah, August. (Awards and Honors) 2006

Winner, Best Overall Professor Faculty Award. Brooklyn College. (Awards and Honors) 2006

Best Biology Professor, Broeklundian, Brooklyn College. (Awards and Honors) 2005

Best Biology Professor, Broeklundian Brooklyn College. (Awards and Honors) 2004

Best Biology Professor, NBSSO. (Awards and Honors) 2003

Best Biology Professor, NBSSO. (Awards and Honors) 2002

Best Biology Professor, Chemistry Society. (Awards and Honors) 2001

Best Biology Professor, NBSSO. (Awards and Honors) 2001

Research Activities

Friday Harbor Marine Laboratory site visit, January. 2010

--Evolutionary Biology of the Chambered Nautilus: 1) Behavioral and neural correlates of learning and memory in Nautilus, 2) Function of the chemosensory appendages of Nautilus in foraging, 3) Use of odor in identifying conspecifics and mates, 4) Biomechanics of the radula in feeding in Nautilus.

--Tactile Learning and Memory in Crustaceans: 1) Metric versus topological coding of space in freshwater crayfish, 2) Duration of memory for tactile information in freshwater crayfish, 3) Structure of memory for tactile information in freshwater crayfish.

--Comparative Olfactory Biology of Spiny Lobster: 1) Comparative morphology of antennules of five species of Spiny Lobster (American Museum of Natural History; Smithsonian), 2) Comparative orientation behavior of five species of spiny lobster.

--Aquatic Toxicology: 1) Effects of environmental contaminants (Endocrine disrupting compounds) on the behavior of local fishes (four-spined sticklebacks). 2008

Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums

"Comparative Perspectives on the Evolution of Complex Brains and Behaviors in Cephalopod." Comparative Cognition Conference, session in honor of Alan C. Kamil. Melbourne, Fla., March 9. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2013

"Perspectives on the Evolution of Brain Complexity in Cephalopod Molluscs." Neuroscience Department, Downstate Medical Center. Feb. 13. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2013

"The Role of Convergence in the Evolution of Large Brains." CABI Conference. April. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2013

"Living Fossil Memories." Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Inter-university Marine Institute. Eilat, Israel, June 27. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2012

"Living Fossil Memories." Ben Gurion University of the Negev. Eilat, Israel. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2012

"Nautilus." Meeting for an European Proposal of a Consortium for Genome Sequencing of Octopus vulgaris. Naples, Italy, April 23-25. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2012

"Nautilus." Meeting for an European Proposal of a Consortium for Genome sequencing of Octopus vulgaris. Naples, Italy, April. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2012

"Nautilus." Meeting of Technical Experts to Develop Guidelines on Care and Welfare of Cephalopods in Research. Naples, Italy, April 19-23. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2012

"Nautilus." Meeting of Technical Experts to Develop Guidelines on Care and Welfare of Cephalopods in Research. Naples, Italy, April. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2012

"Neural Substrate of Learning: Ancient Possibilities." Silberman Institute for Life Sciences, Hebrew University. Jerusalem, July. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2012

"Neural Substrate of Learning: Ancient Possibilities?" Silberman Institute for Life Sciences, Hebrew University. Jerusalem, July. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2012

Basil, J. and F. Grasso. "Perspectives on the Evolution of Complex Brains and Behaviors in Cephalopods." JB Johnson Club, Society for Neuroscience Meetings. New Orleans, October. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Contributed Talk) 2012

Grasso, F., M. Evans, J. Basil and A. Prescott. "Toward a Fusion Model of Feature and Spatial Tactile Memory in the Crayfish Cherax Destructor." Living Machines. Barcelona, Spain. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2012

Program Committee for the Living Machines, 2012 Conference in Barcelona, Spain, July 9-12. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2012

Volz, S., J. Basil and F. Grasso. "Crayfish Inspired Representation of Space via Haptic Memory in Simulated Robotic Agents." Living Machines. Barcelona, Spain.
(Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2012

"Complex Learning and Memory in the Plesiomorphic Cephalopod, Nautilus pompilius" seminar. University of Connecticut, Hartford. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2011

"Dynamic Switching Among Navigational Tactics in a Living Fossil." University of Caen. Caen France. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2011

"Evolution of Brain Complexity." Psychology Department, University of Sheffield. Sheffield, England. November. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2011

"The Evolution of Flexible Behavioral Repertoires Using Cephalopod Molluscs as a Model System" seminar. Dalhousie University. Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2011

Basil, J., R. Crook and F. Grasso. "Where Do Complex Brains Come From? The Evolution of Flexible Behavioral Repertoires Using Cephalopod Molluscs as a Model System." Society for Comparative and Integrative Biology Conference. Seattle, January. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2010

Basil,J., R. Crook and F. Grasso. "The Evolution of Flexible Behavioral Repertoires Using Cephalopod Molluscs as a Model System." Founders Award Session, Animal Behavior Society. Virginia, July. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Contributed Talk) 2010

Symposium co-chairperson, "Learning in a Living Fossil." Complexity in Invertebrate Behavior Symposium. Society for Neuroethology. Salamanca, Spain, August. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2010

"Learning in a Living Fossil, Experimental Approaches." Invertebrate Neuroscience Meetings. San Juan, Puerto Rico, February 13. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2009

Crook, R. and J. Basil. "Characteristics of Spatial Memory in Chambered Nautilus." Society for Neuroscience Meetings. Chicago, October. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2009

Volz, S., J. Basil and F. Grasso. "A Computational Model of Haptic Spatial Learning in Cherax Destructor." Society for Neuroscience Meetings. Chicago. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2009

"Evolution of Olfaction in Cephalopods." Department of Geology, City University of New York, April. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2008

Crook, R. and J. Basil. "Nautilus Provides Insights into the Evolution of the Cephalopod Brain." Society for Neuroscience Meetings, Washington D.C., November. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2008

Gurwitz, C., J. Basil, S. Perdikaris and T. Raphan. "Developing a STEM Curriculum for Early College Programs: A High School to College Continuum." The Sixth International Conference on Education and Information Systems, Technologies and Applications. June. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2008

"Olfaction in Ancient Seas: Evolution of Olfaction in Cephalopod Mollusks." NSF National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (Evolution of Chemosensation Working Group). Durham, N.C., June. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2007

"The Sensory Ecology of the Chambered Nautilus." Queens College. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2007

Basil, J. and C. Soucier. "Detection of Underwater Vibration in the Chambered Nautilus." American Malacological Society. Seattle, July. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2007

Crook, R. and J. Basil. "Long-Term Spatial Memory in the Chambered Nautilus." Animal Behavior Society Meeting. Vermont, July. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2007

Kuroiwa, K. and J. Basil. "EDCs Have Long-Term Effects on Predation Risk in 4-Spined Sticklebacks." Animal Behavior Society Meeting. Vermont, July. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2007

Kuroiwa, K. and J. Basil. "Effects on Activity of Exposure to Endocrine Disrupting Compound Ethinyl Estradiol in 4-Spined Sticklebacks." Society for Aquatic Toxicology, November. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2007

"Navigating in a Complex World: Animal Models for Human Problems." Institute for Behavioral Analysis, University of Guadalajara, Mexico. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2006

Basil, J. and C. Soucier. "Detection of Underwater Vibration in the Chambered Nautilus." American Malacological Society. Seattle, July. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2006

Basil, J. and C. Soucier. "The Function of the Statocyst in the Chambered Nautilus." International Ethological Congress, Invited Cephalopod Symposium. Budapest, Hungary. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2006

Basil, J., Inna Arbit, Zunaira Ashraf, Rina Basin, Moses Feaster, Kanwal Gulzar, Kevin Kleiner, Lina Lukina and Inna Soybelman. "Working and Reference Components to Spatial Memory in Freshwater Crayfish." International Behavioural Ecology Meeting. Tours, France, July. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Contributed Talk) 2006

Crook, R. and J. Basil. "Classical Conditioning Indicates Short- and Long-Term Memory Stores in Chambered Nautilus." Animal Behavior Society Meeting. Utah, August. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Contributed Talk) 2006

Gulzar, K., Adewale Adenuga, Inna Arbit, Sofia Ashraf, Zunaira Ashraf, Rina Basin, Miriam Eichenbaum, Moses Feaster,Crystal Goodseit, Kevin Kleiner, Jane Lam, Lina Lukina, Inna Soybelman and J. Basil. "Working and Reference Components to Spatial Memory in Freshwater Crayfish." Animal Behavor Society Meeting. Utah, August. Winner: Genesis Award Competition for Best Undergraduate Research. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2006

Kuroiwa, K. and J. Basil. "Long-Term Behavioral Effects of Exposure to Endocrine Disrupting Compound Ethinyl Estradiol in 4-Spined Sticklebacks." Animal Behavior Society Meeting. Utah, August. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Contributed Talk) 2006

Kuroiwa, K. and J. Basil. "Long-Term Behavioral Effects of Exposure to Endocrine Disrupting Compound Ethinyl Estradiol in 4-Spined Sticklebacks." Society for Aquatic Toxicology. November. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2006

Basil, J. and C. Soucier. "The Function of the Statocyst in the Chambered Nautilus." International Ethological Congress, Invited Cephalopod Symposium, Budapest, Hungary, August. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2005

Basil, J. and C. Soucier. "The Function of the Statocyst in the Chambered Nautilus." International Ethological Congress, Invited Cephalopod Symposium. Budapest, Hungary, August. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2005

"Crunchy Cognition and Squishy Sentience." Brooklyn College Cognitive Science Colloquium, March. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Contributed Talk) 2004

"Navigating in a Complex World: Animal Models for Human Problems." Institute for Behavioral Analysis, University of Guadalajara. Guadalajara, Mexico, June. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Contributed Talk) 2004

Feaster, M.M., M.S. Barach, K. Gulzar, Z. Romney, O. Semchemkova, I.V. Soybelman, H. Taslima, A. Zaheer and J. Basil. "Working and Reference Components of Memory in Freshwater Crayfish." International Animal Behavior Society Meetings, Genesis Award Competition. Oaxaca, Mexico, June. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Contributed Talk) 2004

"Ecology and Behavior of the Chambered Nautilus." Biology Department and Women in Science Organization, Amherst College. Amherst, Mass., December. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2003

"Latent Learning and Tactile Exploration in Crayfish." Biology Department, Hofstra University. Hempstead, New York, March. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2003

Bard, S., A. Bermeo, M. Feaster, K. Gates, N. Horchner, K. Service, Y. Voloshchuk and J. Basil. "Freshwater Crayfish Learn and Remember Metric Features of Their Environment." Animal Behavior Society Meetings, Boise State University. Boise, Idaho, July. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2003

Dunehy, A., M. Martineau, D. Klein, J. Basil and F. Grasso. "Patterns of Foraging and Communal Nest Use Among Naturalized Monk Parrots in Brooklyn." Animal Behavior Society Meetings, Boise State University. Boise, Idaho, July. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Contributed Talk) 2003

"Chemical Ecology of the Chambered Nautilus." Neurobiology and Behavior Department, Cornell University. Ithaca, N.Y., March. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2002

Basil, J., I. Bahctinova, K. Kuroiwa, N. Lee, M. Preis and C. Soucier. "Sensory Biology of the Chambered Nautilus." Animal Behavior Society Meetings, Founders Award Competition, Indiana Univeristy. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Contributed Talk) 2002

Voigt, R., J. Basil and J. Atema. "American Lobsters Track and Locate Distant "Leaky" Odor Sources." Association for the Chemoreception Sciences. Sarasota, Fla., April. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Contributed Talk) 2002

Basil, J., N. Belova and A. Neymark. "Tactile Aspects of Environmental Mapping in the Freshwater Crayfish, Procambarus clarkii." Animal Behavior Society Meetings, Oregon State University. July. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Contributed Talk) 2001

Dale, J., S. Schreiber, B. Talon, B. and J. Basil. "Laser Pointer Use by Professional Scientists at National Meetings: The Showier the Animal, the Showier the Pointing." Animal Behavior Society Meetings, Moorehouse University. Atlanta, August. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Contributed Talk) 2001

Grasso, F. and J. Basil. "Antennue Morphology and Olfactory Sampling: Comparative Lessons from the Lobster." Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. Chicago, January. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Contributed Talk) 2001

"Invertebrate Sensory Information Processing, Implications for Biologically Inspired Autonomous Systems" official facilitator. ISIP/NASA converence on robotics, National Academy of Sciences. Woods Hole, Mass., April. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2000

Professional Leadership

Acting chairperson, CUNY Ph.D. Program in Evolution, Ecology and Behavior. (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2012

"The Code." Chambered Nautilus and its shell's perfect logarithmic spiral -- ancient architecture, ancient brains. Segment on BBC, April. (Professional Leadership: Public Service) 2011

Member, Biology Appointments Committee, 2010-present. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2011

Member, Neuroscience Concentration Committee. (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2011

Member, Biology and Pre-Health Advisory Committee, Brooklyn College. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2009

Member, Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Search Committee. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2009

Member, Zicklin Microbiology Chair Search. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2009

Academic Disciplinary Committee (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2008

Chairperson, Admissions Ph.D. Program in Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2008

Chairperson, Curriculum Committee, Biology Department. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2008

Chairperson, First exams, Ph.D. Program in Evolution, Ecology and Behavior. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2008

Deputy chairperson, Biology Department. (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2008

Education Committee, Animal Behavior Society, 2006-present. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2008

Member, Biology Appointments Committee, 1999-2008. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2008

Member, EEB Steering Committee, Ph.D. Program in Evolution, Ecology and Behavior. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2008

Phi Beta Kappa, Admissions Committee, 2005-present. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2008

PSC-CUNY Research Awards Review Committee. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2008

STAR High School Advisory Committee, 2006-present. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2008

Academic Disciplinary Committee, 2007-present. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2007

Alliance for Minority Participation in Research, 2001-present. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2007

Appointments Committee, 2001-07. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2007

Associate director, AREAC Marine Facility, Brooklyn College. (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2007

Diversity Committee, Animal Behavior Society, 2002-present. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2007

Faculty Day Committee, 2003-present. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2007

Mentor, Intel/Westinghouse Competition, 1999-present. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2007

Minority Access to Research Careers, 2004-present. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2007

Neuroscience Search Committee, Biology/Psychology, 2006-07. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2007

Website Committee, 1999-present. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2007

Grade Appeals Committee, 2000-06. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2006

Chairwoman, Policy Committee, Animal Behavior Society, 2003-04. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2004

Chairwoman, Policy Committee, Animal Behavior Society, 2003-04. (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2004

Structural Biologist Search Committee, 2003-04. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2004

Session leader, "Learning and Cognition," ABS Meetings, July. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2003

Seminar Committee, 2001-02. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2002

Session leader, "Learning," Animal Behavior Meetings, July. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2001

Facilitator, NASA workshop on robotics, April. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2000

Pedagogical Achievements

Basil, J. and C. Braun and P. Moller (Hunter College), co-instructors, Ph.D. course in animal behavior, 2008-present. 2011

Undergraduate: BIO 15: Urban Field Botany; BIO 45.1: Zoology; BIO 45.1: Laboratory Studies of Zoology; BIO 73: Research for Undergraduates (I-V); BIO 83: Honors Research for Undergraduates (I-V); BIO 85: Honors Colloquium. Graduate: BIO 793.01: Cognitive Ethology; BIO 793.02: Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences; BIO 793.02: Evolution of Intelligent Behavior; BIO 793.03: Advanced Animal Behavior; BIO 792: Guided Readings (master's, doctoral); BIO 794.03: Animal Behavior II (co-instructor); BIO 799.1/799.2: Master's Thesis; BIO 900: Doctoral Dissertation. 2007

Winner, Best Overall Professor Faculty Award. Brooklyn College. 2006

Mentor, semi-finalists in Intel Westinghouse Competition (Alysia Neymark and Nadezhda Belova), "Visual and Olfactory Spatial Processing in Procambarus clarkii." Recipients of full scholarships to MIT for their work. 2000

Community Activities

Mentor, high-school researchers, Midwood and Erasmus high schools, Brooklyn. 2008

Other Professional Activities

Member, Animal Behaviour Society, American Ornithological Union, American Society of Zoologists, Association for Chemoreception Sciences, Crustacean Society, International Society for the Study of Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Neuroethology, Malacological Society, Society for Neuroscience. 2008