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- Detailed Information
Jennifer Basil
Professor
Biology
Location: 200 Ingersoll Hall Extension
Phone: 718.951.5396
Fax: 718.951.4659
Email:
Jennifer Basil is currently the Vice Director of the Brooklyn College Cancer Center (2020-).
After receiving her Ph.D., for which she performed a comparative study of the cognitive and neural correlates of spatial memory in food-storing birds, Jennifer Basil moved to the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Mass. As a Post-Doc there, she focused upon the sensory and navigation behavior in a variety of crustaceans. Dr. Basil received prestigious Grass Fellowship to study the behavior of cephalopods. She then became senior research associate at the MBL, examining the sensory biology and cognition of the Chambered Nautilus. Her laboratory's area of focus is the evolution of complex brains and behavior using the comparative approach, and she uses cephalopod molluscs as her model system. Focus: Animal learning and memory, evolution of brain and behavioral complexity, sensory ecology, and neural basis of behavior -- using primarily invertebrate models.
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, using invertebrate models. Conservation biology. Honors include: Princeton Review Best Professors, TOW Distinguished Teaching Award, Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society, Grass Fellowship at Woods Hole MBL, Invited Professor at University of New South Wales (Australia), Faculty Best Professor Award, New York State Regents Scholar, Distinction in Medieval and Renaissance Culture Studies, and Faculty "Awesomeness Award."
Books and Publications
Biographic Article by Kate Evans on our work
https://www.biographic.com/downward-spiral/ (Books and Publications: Article (Other)) 2022
Lewandowski, N. and J. Basil. Mating in Nautiluses: Preference for opposite-sex odor over same-sex odor in a choice test, in revision, Int. J. Ethology. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2020 (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2022
Ashfaq, M., Lewandowski, N. and J. Basil. Endogenous circadian rhythms in activity in the Chambered Nautilus. In revision. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2021
Barord, G. J., Beydoun, M., Bruce, S., Li, V., Ward, P. D., & Basil, J. (2021).COVER ARTICLE. Foraging and scavenging in nautilus (Nautilus sp.) L.(Cl. Cephalopoda). Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology, 54(5-6), 241-261. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2021
Barord, G., Ju, Cheng Hui, *Derman, R., *Vargas, T, and J. Basil. Dual memory streams in Chambered Nautilus: Beacon homing overshadows route learning in a spatial task. In revision. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2021
Lewandowski, N. and J. Basil. Mating in Oval Squids: Habitat preference for courtship displays, in preparation. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2021
Basil, J. and R Crook. (2017) Learning and Memory in the Living Fossil, the Chambered Nautilus. In, Physiology of Molluscs, A.S. Saleuddin and S. T. Mukai, eds. Apple Academic Press. (Books and Publications: Book Chapter) 2017
Fiorito, G., Affuso, A., Anderson, D. B., Basil, J., Bonnaud, L., Botta, G.... (2015) & Guidelines for the Care and Welfare of Cephalopods in Research -A consensus based on an initiative by CephRes, FELASA and the Boyd Group. Laboratory Animals 49 (2 Suppl):1-90 · September 2015 (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2015
Shomrat, T., Turchetti-Maia, A. L., Stern-Mentch, N., Basil, J. A., & Hochner, B. (2016). The vertical lobe of cephalopods: an attractive brain structure for understanding the evolution of advanced learning and memory systems. Journal of Comparative Physiology A, 201(9), 947-956. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2015
Barord, G. J. and J. Basil (2014) Nautilus Culture and Care. In, Cephalopod Culture, P. Eglesias, Ed, Springer. (Books and Publications: Book Chapter) 2014
Fiorito, G., Affuso, A., Anderson, D. B., Basil, J., Bonnaud, L., Botta, G.... & (2014) Cephalopods in neuroscience: regulations, research and the 3Rs. Invertebrate Neuroscience, 14 (1): 13-36. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2014
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: Book Chapter) 2013
Crook, R. and J. Basil (2013) Flexible spatial orientation and navigational strategies in Chambered Nautilus. Ethology 119: 77-85. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2013
Crook, R. and J. Basil. "Flexible Spatial Orientation and Navigational Strategies." Chambered Nautilus. Ethology 119: 77-85. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2013
J. Basil and R. Crook (2013) Book Chapter: Nautilus, in Cephalopod Cognition. Cambridge University Press. (Books and Publications: Book Chapter) 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: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2012
Basil, J. and F. Grasso. "Perspectives on the Evolution of Complex Brains and Behaviors in Cephalopods." Brain Behaviour and Evolution. (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: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2012
"Chambered Nautilus." World Book Encyclopedia. (Books and Publications: Article (Other)) 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: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 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: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 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: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 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: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 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: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2008
Crook, R. and J. Basil. "Living Fossil Memories." Journal of Experimental Biology 211: iii. (Books and Publications: Article (Other)) 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
J. Exp. Biology. https://jeb.biologists.org/content/211/12/iii
(Books and Publications: Article (Other)) 2008
New Scientist: https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14033-simple-minded-nautilus-reveals-flash-of-memory/
(Books and Publications: Article (Other)) 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: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 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: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2005
--"Robot Lobsers." USA Today. November.
--"Learning in Ptarmigans." Nature News. September 2001. (Books and Publications: Article (Other)) 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: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 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: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2002
Voigt, R., J. Basil and J. Atema. "American Lobsters Track and Locate Distant 'Leaky' Odor Sources." Chemical Senses 24. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2002
Grasso, F. and J. Basil. "Antennule Morphology and Olfactory Sampling Strategy: Lessons from the Lobster." American Zoologist 40.6: 1032. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 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: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 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: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 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: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 1999
Awards, Honors and Fellowships
Co-PI:
American Cancer Society:
Diversity in Cancer Research Institutional Development Grant (DICR IDG) titled "Supporting Cancer Research at Brooklyn College Cancer Center, a Highly Diverse Institution."
$2.6 million over four years. (Grants and Fellowships) 2023
Co-PI: Gray Foundation Grant: Brooklyn College Cancer Center Operation Support. January-December 2023. $100,000. (Awards and Honors) (Grants and Fellowships) 2023
Ambassador, American Cancer Society: ResearcHERs campaign. (Awards and Honors) 2022
National Science Foundation (Funded, Aug 2021):RCN-UBE Incubator
Title: The STEM Career Exploration Laboratory Network
PI: Anjana Saxena, Co-PI: Zhongqi Cheng (EES); Alam Nur-E-Kamal (NYC Tech),Jennifer Basil (Biology), Diana Samaroo (MEC)
(Grants and Fellowships) 2021
Claire Tow Award for Distinguished Teaching (Awards and Honors) 2019
GRANT FUNDING: Binational Israel-USA Foundation (Oct 2012-2017) "Functional mapping of learning-induced activity in the CNS of Nautilus, an ancient cephalopod" PI (Dr Binyamin Hochner, CoPI). $180,000. (Grants and Fellowships) 2016
"Can the Chambered Nautilus Detect Sound?" Grass Foundation (pending). $10,000. (Grants and Fellowships) 2013
Princeton Review: 300 Top Professors in the United States, 2012 (Awards and Honors) 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
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION: Program panelist, Integrative Organismic Systems. (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
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
WINNER Genesis Award for Best Undergraduate Research, Kanwal Gulzar, Honors Researcher: 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
NSF-sponsored Workshop on Bioinspiration and Biodiversity in Brunei. Invited workshop participant. 2023
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
Community Health Needs Assessment Leadership Performance: Memorial Sloan Kettering; May 19, 2022 (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2022
Health Disparities and Women of Color Panel Discussion, co-hosted with BC Black Student Union. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2022
Second Brooklyn Colorectal Cancer Symposium, March 2022, Outreach: Debunking Myths About Colorectal Cancer. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2022
Invited Talk, CUNY Ph.D Program in Cognitive and Comparative Psychology: "Cephalopods as an experimental model for the role of convergence in the evolution of large brains and complex behavior." Bucknell University, Nov 5, 2021. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2021
First Brooklyn Colorectal Cancer Symposium, March 2021, Outreach: Stomping out Colorectal Cancer. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2021
Invited Talk, CUNY Ph.D Program in Cognitive and Comparative Psychology: "Cephalopods as an experimental model for the role of convergence in the evolution of large brains and complex behavior." April 30, 2021 (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2021
7 PRESENTATIONS (2015-2019)
Lewandowski, Ashfaq, Syed, Quais, Basil (2019) Mating Behaviors in a Variety of Cephalopods. Animal Behavior, 2019.
*Lewandowski, Ashfaq, Syed, Quais, Basil (2018) Factors enhancing the likelihood of mating in Nautilid and Coleoid Cephalopods. Animal Behavior, 2018.
*Lewandowski, Ashfaq, Syed, Quais, Basil (2018) Female mate choice in Chambered Nautilus. Comparative Cognition, 2018
*Ashfaq, Lewandowski, Cohen, Syed, Basil (2017) Circadian rhythms in the social activity of Chambered Nautilus. Comparative Cognition, April 2017
*Lewandowski, Ashfaq, Cohen, and Basil (2016) "Endogenous daily rhythms in activity in Chambered Nautilus". Comparative Cognition, March, 2016
Basil,J., Grasso F., and B. Hochner (2016) What complex invertebrates can teach us about the evolution of brain complexity.
Basil, Barord, Derman*, Ju, Li* and Vargas* (2015) "Beacon versus route learning in Chambered Nautilus". Comparative Cognition, March, 2015
(Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2018
3 INVITED PRESENTATIONS: April 2017 *Lewandowski, Ashfaq, Cohen, and Basil (2016) "Endogenous daily rhythms in activity in Chambered Nautilus". Comparative Cognition, March, 2016
Basil,J., Grasso F., and B. Hochner (2016) What complex invertebrates can teach us about the evolution of brain complexity.
Basil, Barord, Derman*, Ju, Li* and Vargas* (2015) "Beacon versus route learning in Chambered Nautilus". Comparative Cognition, March, 2015 (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2016
Basil, J. Comparative perspectives on the evolution of complex brains and behaviors in Cephalopod. Comparative Cognition Conference, Keynote session in honor of Alan C. Kamil, Melbourne Florida, March 9, 2014.
(Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2014
"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
Basil, J. Perspectives on the evolution of brain complexity in Cephalopod Molluscs. Downstate Medical Center, Neuroscience Department, February 13, 2013. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2013
C. McEntee, J.Basil and K.Axen. Application of Improvisation Theory to Teaching. Roundtable. Brooklyn College Faculty Day (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2013 (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
Vice-Director, Brooklyn College Cancer Center, BCCC-CURE (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2023
Associate Director for Community Outreach and Education, Brooklyn College (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2022
Supervisory Committee: Haitian Studies Institute, Brooklyn College, NY
(Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2022
Symposium: Second Annual Brooklyn Breast Cancer Symposium (BCCC-CURE with Downstate Medical Center), Oct 2022 (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2022
Associate Director for Community Outreach and Education, Brooklyn College Cancer Center. (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2021
Policy Council, Subcommittee on Faculty/Student Relations. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2021
Strategic Enrollment Committee (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2021
Associate Director for Community Outreach and Education, Brooklyn College Cancer Center (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2022 (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2020
2016-2019: Chair, Biology Department, Brooklyn College (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2019
2016-2019: Chair, Biology Department, Brooklyn College (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2018
2016-2019: Chair, Biology Department, Brooklyn College (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2017
2016-2019: Chair, Biology Department, Brooklyn College (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2016
EXPERT SCIENTIST, USFWS, Committee to list Nautilus pompilius to the Convention for the International Trade of Endangered Species. Nautilus LISTED 2016. (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2016
Full Professor, City University of NY, Brooklyn College (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2015
Co-organizer: International Meeting for Behavioral Ecology. (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2014
Acting chairperson, CUNY Ph.D. Program in Evolution, Ecology and Behavior. (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2012
BBC: "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
Claire Tow Award for Distinguished Teaching 2019
Princeton Review: 300 Top Professors in the United States, 2012 2013
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
Co-Organizer, Brooklyn College Cancer Center and Student Union Wellness Fair, Brooklyn College, May 2023. 2023
BCCC-CURE Symposium: Q and A for BC Staff: conversations that save lives. 2023
Member: NY State HPV Coalition. 2023
Co-Organizer, Brooklyn College Cancer Center Wellness Fair, Brooklyn College, April 28, 2022. 2022
Invited participants (BCCC-CURE): STRIDES. Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, Oct 2022, Brooklyn NY 2022
Mentor, high-school researchers, Midwood and Erasmus high schools, Brooklyn. 2008
Other Professional Activities
College Wide Committee: POLICY COMMITTEE, Member 2023
College Wide Committee:
COMMITTEE ON COLLEGE INTEGRITY AND ACADEMIC FREEDOM, Member 2021
Associate Director, Outreach. Brooklyn College Cancer Center. 2020
2016-2019: Chair, Biology Department, Brooklyn College 2019
2016-2019: Chair, Biology Department, Brooklyn College 2018
National Science Foundation, Proposal Reviewer 2018
PodCast and Video: Experimentals, Nautilus. https://vimeo.com/274927928 2018
Popular Science: Nautilus will make you rethink intelligence. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UYFCiV0r4c 2018
Radio Show: "You're the Expert". https://theexpertshow.com/blog/2018/6/12/more-about-jennifer-basil-and-the-chambered-nautilus 2018
2016-2019: Chair, Biology Department, Brooklyn College 2017
National Science Foundation, Proposal Reviewer 2017
JOURNAL REVIEWER: 1998-present
Animal Behavior (1993-present)
Animal Learning (2010-present)
J. Comp. Physiol (2010-present)
Animal Cognition (2010 - present)
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology (2006-present)
Biological Bulletin (1993-present)
Cognition (2006-present)
Comparative Cognition (2007-present)
Ethology (1999-present)
Journal of Experimental Biology (1995-present)
Marine and Freshwater Behavior and Physiology (1997-present)
Marine Biology (2003-present)
PNAS (2010-present)
P. Roy. Soc. Lond (2010-present)
Robotica (2006-present)
2016
2016-2019: Chair, Biology Department, Brooklyn College 2016
National Science Foundation, Proposal Reviewer 2016
NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO, Science Fridays, June 2015, "Cephalopod Week!" 2015
National Science Foundation, Proposal Reviewer 2015
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION: Panelist-Integrative and Organismic Biology 2015
Nature's Talk Show: Radio interview. http://naturestalkshow.com/2015/01/nautilus-hour-dr-jennifer-basil/ 2015
Podcast Guest, Deep Sea Radio, "Chambered Nautilus learning and memory". 2015
https://curiosityseeds.wordpress.com/2014/03/28/nautilus-rising-a-living-fossils-unexpected-renaissance/ 2014
National Science Foundation, Proposal Reviewer 2014
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, Proposal Reviewer 2013
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION: Panelist-Integrative and Organismic Biology 2013
National Science Foundation, Proposal Reviewer 2012
National Science Foundation, Proposal Reviewer 2011
NSF Panelist-Integrative and Organismic Biology 2011
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