Gary B. Gillis
Assistant Professor
ggillis@mtholyoke.edu
413-538-3319
Office: Clapp 120
Website
CV
EDUCATION
B.A., B.S., History, Biology, Pacific Lutheran University, 1990
Ph.D., Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Univ. of California, Irvine 1997
POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING
Dept. of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 1998-2002
RESEARCH INTERESTS
1. Biomechanics and neuromuscular control of vertebrate locomotion
2. Design and function of the musculoskeletal system
3. Aquatic-to-terrestrial transitions
4. Evolution of vertebrate feeding mechanisms
COURSES
Biology 160 Integrated Introduction to Biology and Chemistry Fall
Biology 321 Biomechanics Spring (Odd Years)
Biology 335 Mammalian Anatomy Spring (Even Years)
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Gillis, G.B. Accepted. The role of hindlimb flexor muscles during swimming in the toad, Bufo marinus. Zoology.

Gillis, G.B., Flynn, J.P., McGuigan, P. and A.A. Biewener. 2005. Patterns of strain and activation in the thigh muscles of goats across gaits during level locomotion. J. Exp. Biol. 2005 208: 4599-4611.

Gillis, G.B. and A.A. Biewener. 2003. The importance of functional plasticity in the design and control of the vertebrate musculoskeletal system. In Vertebrate Biomechanics and Evolution (ed. V.L. Bels, J.P. Gasc, and A. Casinos). Bios Scientific Publishers Ltd., Oxford.

Gillis, G.B. and A.A. Biewener. 2002. Effects of surface grade on proximal hindlimb muscle strain and activation during rat locomotion. J. Appl. Physiol. 93:1731-1743.

Gillis, G.B. and R.W. Blob. 2001. How muscles accommodate movement in different physical environments: aquatic versus terrestrial locomotion. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A. 131:61-75.

Gillis, G.B. and A.A. Biewener. 2001. Hindlimb muscle function in relation to speed and gait: in vivo patterns of strain and activation in a hip and knee extensor of the rat (Rattus norvegicus). J. Exp. Biol. 204:2717-2731.

Gillis, G.B. and A.A. Biewener. 2000. Hindlimb extensor muscle function during jumping and swimming in the toad (Bufo marinus). J. Exp. Biol. 203:3547-3563

Gillis, G.B. 1998. Neuromuscular control of anguilliform locomotion: patterns of red and white muscle activity during swimming in the American eel (Anguilla rostrata). J. Exp. Biol. 201:3245-3256.

Gillis, G.B. 1997. Anguilliform locomotion in an elongate salamander (Siren intermedia): effects of speed on axial undulatory movements. J. exp. Biol. 200:767-784.

Lauder, G.V. and G.B. Gillis. 1997. Origin of the amniote feeding mechanism: experimental analyses of outgroup clades. In Amniote Origins: Completing the Transition to Land (ed. S. Sumida and K. Martin), pp. 169-206. Academic Press, San Diego.

Gillis, G.B. 1996. Undulatory locomotion in elongate aquatic vertebrates: anguilliform swimming since Sir James Gray. American Zoologist 36:656-665.

Last Modified: September 10, 2006

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