ROBYN CROOK
CURRICULUM VITAE
BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT, BROOKLYN COLLEGE, NY, 11210
PHONE: 718.951.5000 x2670
rcrook@gc.cuny.edu, robyn_crook@hotmail.com
PERSONAL DETAILS
Current Position: Adjunct Scientist and Lecturer, City University of New York, USA.
Citizenship: Australia
EDUCATION
2004 – 2008 Doctor of Philosophy (Biology, EEB)
Graduate Center, City University of New York, NY, USA
Dissertation “Behavioural correlates of learning and memory in Chambered Nautilus.”
Advisor: Dr. Jennifer Basil
1998 – 2003 Bachelor of Science (Zoology, Marine Biology) Honours, 1st Class
University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Thesis “Multimodal individual recognition in the crayfish, Cherax destructor”
Advisor: Dr. David Macmillan
PUBLICATIONS
Crook, R., and Basil, J. A. (In prep). Use of multiple visual cues suggests Nautilus pompilius uses geocentred, not egocentred, strategies for navigation.
Kuroiwa, K., Crook, R. and Basil, J. (In prep). Ontogenetic and experience-dependent changes in bold/shy-axis behaviours of juvenile crayfish, Procambarus clarkii. Behav. Proc.
Crook, R., Hanlon, R. T. and Basil, J. A. (In review). Memory of visual and topographical features suggests spatial learning in the ancient cephalopod nautilus. J. Comp. Psych.
Crook, R. J., and Basil, J. A. (2008) A role for nautilus in studies of the evolution of brain and behaviour. Comm. Int. Bio. 1(1) pp. 60-61
Crook, R. and Basil, J. A. (2008). A bi-phasic memory curve in Chambered Nautilus, Nautilus pompilius L. (Cephalopoda: Nautiloidea). J. Exp. Bio. 211, pp. 1992-1998
Crook, R., Patullo, B. W., Macmillan, D. L. (2004). Multimodal individual recognition in the freshwater crayfish Cherax destructor.” Mar. Fresh. Behav. Physiol. 37(4), pp. 271-285
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Crook, R., and Basil, J. (2008) Abstract: Finding the limits of cognition in a primitive brain: behaviour of Nautilus suggests an ancient origin for cephalopod intelligence. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting 2008.
Crook, R. (2008) Abstract: Memory of complex arrays of visual cues during navigation in Nautilus. Abstracts of the 45th Annual Meeting of the Animal Behaviour Society.
Crook, R. and Basil, J. A. (2007). Abstract: Spatial learning and navigational strategy in Chambered Nautilus. Abstracts of the 44th Annual Meeting of the Animal Behaviour Society.
Crook, R. and Basil, J. A. (2006). Abstract: Classical conditioning indicates temporally separated short and long-term memory stores in Nautilus. Abstracts of the 43rd Annual Meeting of the Animal Behaviour Society.
Crook, R. J., Patullo, B. W. and Macmillan, D. L. (2004). Abstract: Recognition and aggressive behaviour in freshwater crayfish, Cherax destructor. Abstracts of the International Society for Neuroethology triennual conference.
ILLUSTRATIONS and PHOTOGRAPHS
Soucier, C. P. and Basil, J. A. (2008) Chambered Nautilus (Nautilus pomplilius pompilius) responds to underwater vibrations. Amer. Malac. Bull. 24 pp. 3-11
King, N. and Dunlop, C. “Cephalopods: Octopuses and Cuttlefish for the Home Aquarium” TFH Publishing.
INVITED TALK
Marine Resources Centre, MBL, USA. (2007) Earliest memories: What can nautilus teach us about the evolution of the brain?
SCIENTIFIC PRESS
‘Paleobiology: Remember This’ Nature Research Highlights Nature 453 p. 826 June 11, 2008
‘Cephalopod Intelligence’ American Paleontologist, Fall, 2008
‘Simple minded nautilus reveals flash of memory’ Interview and video report. New Scientist Magazine June 2, 2008
‘Living Fossil Memories’ Inside JEB J. Exp. Bio. 211 p. 12. June 2, 2008
‘Beautiful, near brainless and smart’ Born Animal Discovery Channel News. June, 2008
‘Living fossils have long- and short-term memories despite lacking brain structures of modern cephalopods’ ScienceDaily, June 1, 2008
TEACHING
2008 Teaching Assistant. Biology 78201 ‘Biostatistics’. CUNY Graduate Centre, N.Y.
2004-2008 Laboratory Instructor. Biology CC 3.21 ‘Modern Life and Biology’. Brooklyn College, NY
2002 Assistant Laboratory Instructor. Zoology 654-201 ‘Invertebrate Zoology’. University of Melbourne, Australia
2002 Assistant Laboratory Instructor. Zoology 612-202 ‘Vertebrate Zoology’. University of Melbourne, Australia
OTHER RESEARCH
2008 Research Assistant, MBL, Mass, USA
Neurophysiological bases of memory in Nautilus. P.I.: Dr. Binyamin Hochner
2007 Grass Fellowship for Neuroscience. MBL, Mass., USA.
Three-dimensional spatial learning and use of visual cues during navigation in N. pompilius.
2006 Research Technician. Brooklyn College, N.Y., USA
Three-dimensional wake-tracking and visual hunting behaviour in catfish Ictalurus nebulosus. P.I: Dr. Frank Grasso
2006 Research Technician. Brooklyn College, N.Y./MBL, Mass.
Arm and sucker use in octopus during object manipulation: DARPA biomimetic robotics.
P.I.s Dr. Frank Grasso and Dr. Roger Hanlon
FELLOWSHIPS and AWARDS
2008 University Fellowship, Graduate Centre, CUNY, N.Y.
2007 Grass Fellowship for Neuroscience, Marine Biological Laboratories, Mass.
2006 Sue Rosenberg Zalk award for student travel, Graduate Centre, CUNY, N.Y.
2006 Graduate Teaching Fellowship in Biology, Brooklyn College, N.Y.
2005 Alfred Alberts Award for Biochemistry, Brooklyn College, N.Y.
2004 Science Fellowship for commencing students, City University of New York, N.Y.
2003 First Class Honours, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
2008 Judge, Science day competition for undergraduate research, Brooklyn College.
2007-2008 Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Subprogram (CUNY Graduate program in Biology) student representative.
2005-2008 Member, Animal Behavior Society
Member, American Malacological Society
OTHER SKILLS
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Marine and freshwater animal husbandry and maintenance, in open and closed seawater/pond systems. -
Construction, maintenance and repair of equipment and animal housing systems: carpentry, plumbing, glazing, mould-making, fibreglassing and MIG welding. -
Scientific illustration and animation.
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Statistical analysis (SAS, SPSS, Systat, R) and behavioural analysis software platforms (Metamorph, Ethovision).
Last updated: June 30, 2008
