Gary B. Gillis, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Biological Sciences

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., *Bonvini , L.A. and D.J. Irschick. 2009. Losing stability: the impact of caudal autotomy on jumping in the arboreal lizard Anolis carolinensis. J. Exp. Biol. 212:604-609.

Gillis, G.B. 2007. The role of hindlimb flexor muscles during swimming in the toad, Bufo marinus. Zoology 110:28-40.

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.