Curriculum Vitae
Department of Biology
Vassar College
124 Raymond Ave. Box 731
Poughkeepsie, NY 12604
http://web.mac.com/porterme/Biomechanics
EDUCATION
2007 PhDEcology and Evolutionary Biology, UC Irvine
2002 MS Biology, Northern Arizona University
2000 BS Biology, Northern Arizona University
POSITIONS
September, 2009 - Present Faculty Research Associate, Vassar College
January, 2008 - August, 2009 Postdoctoral Researcher and Visiting Assistant Professor, Vassar College
GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS
Received
2009. Computational and Experimental Biomechanics: Modeling the Non-linear Viscoelastic Behavior of the Vertebral Column of Swimming Elasmobranchs. National Science Foundation, RUI Program. Total $400,000. John Long is Principal Investigator, with coPIs Marianne Porter (Vassar College) and Robert Root (Mathematics, Lafayette College) September 2009 to September 2012.
2007. American Elasmobranch Society Student Research Award. $1000
2007. Holcomb Marine Biology Scholarship, School of Biological Sciences, UC Irvine. $600
2007. GAANN Fellowship from UC, Irvine. $2000
2007. Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology Grant in Aid of Research. $1000
2005. Wainwright Fellowship Friday Harbor Laboratories, University of Washington $2,000
2005. Field Museum Visiting Student Scholarship with Mark Westneat. $602
2004. Friday Harbor with University of Washington financial aid for summer courses. $1300
2003. American Elasmobranch Society Student Travel Award. $200
2002. Honorary Member American Association for the Advancement of Science
2001. Best Student Paper at Arizona Nevada Academy of Sciences 45th Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV April
2004-2007. Student support of meeting attendance. Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology
2003-2007. University of California, Irvine, School of Biological Sciences Travel Award
Not Funded
2008. National Science Foundation. Submitted July to Integrative Organismal Systems.
2008. National Institute of Health, National Research Service Award. Submitted December.
2007. National Science Foundation, Biology Post–Doctoral funding in Bioinformatics. November.
PUBLICATIONS
Undergraduate Collaborators are underlined
Porter, M.E. and J.H. Long Jr. Vertebrae in Compression: Mechanical Behavior of Arches and Centra of the Gray Smooth-hound (Mustelus californicus). Journal of Morphology. In Press.
Krishnamurthy, P., F. Khorrami, J.R. de Leeuw, M.E. Porter, K. Livingston, and J.H. Long Jr. A multi-body approach for 6DOF modeling of biomimetic autonomous underwater vehicles with simulation and experimental results. IEEE Controls Applications Conference (MSC2009). Accepted April 8, 2009.
Porter, M.E., C.M. Roque, and J.H. Long Jr. 2009. Turning maneuvers in sharks: predicting body curvature from vertebral morphology. Journal of Morphology. 270: 954-965.
Porter, M.E., T.J. Koob, and A.P. Summers. 2007. The contribution of mineral to the material properties of vertebral cartilage from the smooth-hound shark Mustelus californicus. The Journal of Experimental Biology. 210: 3319-3327. Featured article in Inside JEB.
Porter, M.E., J.L. Beltrán, T.J. Koob, and A.P. Summers. 2006. Material properties and biochemical composition of mineralized vertebral cartilage in seven elasmobranch species (Chondrichthyes). The Journal of Experimental Biology. 209:2920-2928.
Mueller, R.C., C.M. Scudder, M.E. Porter, M.E., R.T. Trotter III, C.A. Gehring, and T.G. Whitham. 2005. Differential tree mortality in response to severe drought: evidence for long term vegetation shifts. Journal of Ecology. 93:1085-1093.
Porter, M.E. and M.J.C. Kearsley. 2001. The response of Tamarix to experimental flows in Grand Canyon. Hydrology and Water Resources in Arizona and the Southwest. 31:45-50.
Submitted
Krishnamurthy, P., F. Khorrami, J.R. de Leeuw, M.E. Porter, K. Livingston, and J.H. Long Jr. An electric ray inspired biomimetic autonomous underwater vehicle. IEEE Control Systems. Submitted September 22, 2009.
In Preparation
Porter, M.E., C.M. Roque, and J.H. Long Jr. Turning velocity in sharks depends on the shape and bending curvature of the body. In preparation for The Journal of Experimental Biology.
Porter, M.E., J.H. Long Jr. Dynamic mechanics of cartilaginous vertebral columns from Squalus acanthias: exploring non-linear viscoelastic properties in vertebrate skeletal systems. In preparation for The Journal of Experimental Biology. Manuscript available upon request.
PUBLISHED ABSTRACTS
Undergraduate Collaborators are underlined
Porter, M.E. and John H Long, Jr. 2009. Cartilaginous vertebral columns: mechanical responses to external loads and internal joint pressurization. Integrative and Comparative Biology.
Rosenblum, H.G.*; Gutierrez, A; Roberts, S; Hirokawa J; Porter, M; Long, J.H. 2009. Character evolution in robotic fish. Integrative and Comparative Biology.
Rebecca, Vito W*; Porter, M.E.; Long, John H, Jr; Root, Robert G. 2009. Comparative harmonic analysis of the swimming of an electric ray (Narcine brasiliensis) and a biomimetic robot. Integrative and Comparative Biology.
Porter, M.E., C.M. Roque, and A.P. Summers. 2008. Spines of swimming sharks: linking kinematics and morphology. Integrative and Comparative Biology. 47 (supplement 1): page.
Porter, M.E., C.L. Gowan, L. Nagel, D. Carrier, and A.P. Summers. 2007. Applications of rapid prototyping to functional morphology and biomechanics. Paper presented at International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology. Paris, France. Journal of Morphology. 268(12): page.
Porter, M.E. 2007. Material and structure: the influence of the mineral componenet on the mechanical properties of elasmobranch vertebrae. Poster presented at International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology. Paris, France. Journal of Morphology. 268(12): 78.
Porter, M.E., T.J. Koob, and A.P. Summers. 2006. Structural properties of shark vertebrae: the functional contribution of mineral in mineralized cartilage. Integrative and Comparative Biology. 46 (supplement 1):112.
Porter, M.E., T.J. Koob, and A.P. Summers. 2006. Structural and material properties of shark cartilage. The Physiologist. 49(6).
Porter, M.E. and S. Kasbati. 2005 Life without spiracles: the contribution of spiracles to shark ventilation. Integrative and Comparative Biology. 45(6): 1180.
Beltrán, J.L., S.M. Kajiura, T.J. Koob, M.E. Porter, and A.P. Summers. 2005. The diversity of elasmobranch cartilage. Integrative and Comparative Biology. 45(6): 1110.
Porter, M.E., Dean, M.N. & Summers, A.P. (2004) The role of spiracles during respiration in swimming dogfish. Integrative and Comparative Biology. 44(6): 737.
Porter, M.E. and A.P. Summers. 2003. Biochemical and structural properties of the cartilaginous vertebral column. Integrative and Comparative Biology. 43(6): 828.
Gilbert, M.R., J.L. Beltran, M.E. Porter, A.P. Summers. 2003. Biochemistry and material properties of cartilage from fours species of shark. Integrative and Comparative Biology. 43(6): 951.
Porter, M.E. and M.J.C. Kearsley. 2002. Near-shore vegetation responses to experimental flows in Grand Canyon. American Zoologist. 41(6): 1559.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Instructor
Bio Sci 136, Human Anatomy (3, five week summer sessions at UC, Irvine)
Bio Sci 281, Comparative and Functional Anatomy of Vertebrates (1 semester at Vassar College)
Bio Sci 106, Introduction to Biological Investigations (1 semester at Vassar College)
Teaching Assistant at UC, Irvine
Bio Sci 112 Physiology Lab (2 quarters)
100LW Intro lab and writing course (4 quarters)
Bio Sci 94 Intro Ecology (4 quarters)
Bio Sci 189 Environmental Ethics (1 quarter)
Bio Sci 109 Human Physiology (2 quarters)
Bio Sci 190 Marine Ecology (1 quarter)
Bio Sci 11 Marine Biology (1 quarter)
Teaching Assistant at Northern Arizona University
Bio 100 Undergraduate lab for non-majors (1 semester)
Guest Lecturer
2008. Lecture: Form and Function. Course: Comparative Anatomy. Adelphi University, NY.
2006. Lectures (2): Bending Mechanics and Material Properties. Course: Comparative Biomechanics. UC, Irvine, CA.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
Current
Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology
Society of Vertebrate Morphology
American Elasmobranch Society
American Society of Ichthyology and Herpetology
American Physiological Society
Past
Ecological Society of America
SOCIETY, UNIVERSITY, AND LOCAL SERVICE
Vassar College Robot Competition. Judge. Annual race. 2009.
Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology. Session Moderator. Annual Meeting. 2009.
American Elasmobranch Society. Session Moderator, Annual Meeting, 2008.
Dutchess County Science Fair. Judge. March, 2008.
Irvine Unified School District Science Fair Judge. March 2004, 2006, 2007
Costa Mesa High School Ask and Scientist Afternoon Participant. January 200
Irvine Unified School District Ask a Scientist Night Participant. 2004, 2006, 2007
James Irvine Intermediate School Career Exploration Day Speaker. March 2004
PEER REVIEWMarine Biology
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Jan 2008-PresentVassar College Poughkeepsie, NY
Postdoctoral Research with Dr. John H. Long
I am working on the dynamic mechanics of cartilaginous vertebral columns and the integration of mechanics into robotic systems. My responsibilities include grant writing and preparation, experimental design, and data collections. I will also be responsible for mentoring Fish Fellows, undergraduate researchers in the biomechanics and robotics laboratory. I am generally interested in skeletal mechanics of all vertebrates and ventilation mechanics during exercise in swimming sharks. I am interested in exploring new areas of research, systems upon which to experiment, and opportunities to collaborate with other scientists.
2002-2007 University of California Irvine, CA
PhD Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Student
My dissertation research focused on the material, structural, and biochemical properties of the cartilaginous skeleton of sharks, skates, and rays. Specifically, I described the cartilage of the main body axis, the vertebral column. I investigated the mechanics and functional significance of cartilaginous skeletons.
2000-2002 Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff, AZ
Master’s Biology Student
My thesis research focused on the responses (establishment and survivorship) of near-shore vegetation along Colorado River in Grand Canyon to a summer low steady flow and a summer of power plant regulated water flow out of Glen Canyon Dam.
1999–2000Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff, AZ
Undergraduate Researcher
I examined the effects of a one hundred year record drought in Northern Arizona on the dendrochronological records of pinyon pine (Pinus edulis) populations in three treatments, high mortality site survivor, dead trees, and control site trees.
1998-1999Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff, AZ
Undergraduate Researcher
My goal was to determine the female ovipositioning preferences of Dioryctria albovittella, a stem and cone-boring moth, on resistant and susceptible pinyon pine (Pinus edulis).
1998-1999Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff, AZ
Research Assistant
I worked on the experimental design, data collection, and analysis of a dendrochronology project examining the effects of a keystone herbivore, a stem and cone-boring moth (Dioryctria albovittella) on juvenile pinyon pine trees.
FIELD EXPERIENCE
Jan 2006. Materials testing and biochemistry. Tampa Shiner’s Children’s Hospital. Tom Koob. Tampa, FL. Tested vertebral centra with a range mineral content on the hydraulic material’s tester. X-rayed specimens and developed films.
July, 2005. Ventilation mechanics in Squalus acanthias. Friday Harbor Laboratory, University of Washington. Friday Harbor, WA. This research focused on manipulating ventilation by occluding the spiracle in comparing that to ventilation in controlled conditions.
March 27- April 3, 2004. Field Experience La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico. With Adam Summers, Jose Castro, Justin Scheafer, and Mason Dean. Attended two fishing camps looking for fresh elasmobranch specimen with students from Cicimar University in La Paz.
Jan 2003. Materials testing. Tampa Shriner’s Children’s Hospital. Tom Koob. Tampa, FL. Tested six spp. of shark and one spp. of ray on a hydraulic materials tester. Tested plain vertebrae and de-mineralized vertebrae.
June-August 2002. Pinus edulis photosynthetic rates in Sunset Crater Wilderness Area. Rebecca Mueller. Northern Arizona University. Flagstaff, AZ. Worked on pre-dawn water potentials of pinyon during the 2002 drought, the worst drought in recorded history for the area.
June 2002. Vegetation Analysis. Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center and Northern Arizona University. Mike Kearsley. Flagstaff, AZ. Worked on field trip to set up transects for whole canyon vegetational analysis. Transects were random and were to be set up for long term monitoring.
March 2001. Kanab Amber Snail Surveys. Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center and Arizona Game and Fish. Jeff Sorenson. Grand Canyon, AZ. Surveys of the endangered Kanab Amber Snail. I worked as both data recorder and snail surveyor.
PRESENTATIONS
Undergraduate Collaborators are underlined
Invited presentations
Porter, M.E. April 2009. Dynamic mechanics of cartilaginous and biomimetic vertebral columns. Morphology Group. Brown University. Providence, R.I. April 14, 2009.
Porter, M.E. February 2009. Response of cartilaginous skeletons to load: motion, material, morphology, and mechanics. Palm Beach Atlantic University. West Palm Beach, FL.
Porter, M.E. Febebruary 2009. Response of cartilaginous skeletons to load: motion, material, morphology, and mechanics. Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA.
Porter, M.E. February 2009. Comparative and functional anatomy of the vertebral column. Western New England College. Springfield, MA.
Porter, M.E. January 2009. Response of cartilaginous skeletons to load: motion, material, morphology, and mechanics. Union College. Schenectady, NY.
Porter, M.E. November 2008. Response of cartilaginous skeletons to load: motion, material, morphology, and mechanics. The College of New Jersey. Ewing, NJ.
Porter, M.E. November 2008. Response of cartilaginous skeletons to load: motion, material, morphology, and mechanics. University of Arkansas, Little Rock. Little Rock, AR.
Porter, M.E., C.L. Gowan, L. Nagle, D. Carrier, A.P. Summers. July 2007. Uses of Rapid Prototypes in functional morphology and biomechanics. International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology. Paris, France.
Porter, M.E. and M.J.C. Kearsley. 2001. Tamarix responses to varying flow regimes on the Colorado River through Grand Canyon. Research on the Colorado Plateau Conference.
Contributed papers at regional, national and international meetings
Porter, M.E. and John H Long, Jr. 2009. Cartilaginous vertebral columns: mechanical responses to external loads and internal joint pressurization. Boston, MA. ORAL PRESENTATION.
Rosenblum, H.G.*; Gutierrez, A; Roberts, S; Hirokawa J; Porter, M; Long, J.H. 2009. Character evolution in robotic fish. Boston, MA. POSTER.
Rebecca, Vito W*; Porter, M.E.; Long, John H, Jr; Root, Robert G. 2009. Comparative harmonic analysis of the swimming of an electric ray (Narcine brasiliensis) and a biomimetic robot. Boston, MA. POSTER.
Porter, M.E. 2008. Turning maneuvers in swimming sharks: linking vertebral morphology and swimming kinematics. American Elasmobranch Society. Montreal, Quebec, ORAL PRESENTATION.
Porter, M.E., C.M. Roque, and A.P. Summers. 2008. Spines of swimming sharks: linking kinematics and morphology. Integrative and Comparative Biology. San Antonio, TX. ORAL PRESENTATION
M.E. Porter, C.L. Gowan, L. Nagel, D. Carrier, and A.P. Summers. 2007. Applications of rapid prototyping to functional morphology and biomechanics. International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology. Paris, France. ORAL PRESENTATION
Porter, M.E. 2007. Structural properties of shark vertebrae: the functional contribution of mineral in mineralized cartilage. International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology. Paris, France. POSTER
Porter, M.E., T.J. Koob, and A.P. Summers. 2007. Structural properties of shark vertebrae: the functional contribution of mineral in mineralized cartilage. Integrative and Comparative Biology. Phoenix, AZ. ORAL PRESENTAION
Porter, M.E., T.J. Koob, and A.P. Summers. 2006. Structural and material properties of shark cartilage. American Physiological Society. Virginia Beach, VA. POSTER
Porter, M.E. and S. Kasbati. 2005 Life without spiracles: the contribution of spiracles to shark ventilation. Integrative and Comparative Biology. Orlando, FL. POSTER
Beltrán, J.L., S.M. Kajiura, T.J. Koob, M.E. Porter, and A.P. Summers. 2005. The diversity of elasmobranch cartilage. Integrative and Comparative Biology. Orlando, FL. POSTER
Porter, M.E., M.N. Dean, and A.P. Summers. 2005. Why have a hole in your head: the function of spiracles in sharks. American Elasmobranch Society. Tampa, FL. ORAL PRESENTATION
Kasbati, SL, AP Summers, M.E. Porter, JT Schaefer. 2005. Sharks: the skin-ny. Joint Ichthyology and Herpetology and American Elasmobranch Society Meeting. Tampa, FL. ORAL PRESENTATION
Beltrán, J.L., M.E. Porter, and A.P. Summers. 2005. What makes and breaks cartilaginous jaws: the biomechanics and biochemistry of shark jaw cartilage. Joint Meeting of Ichthyologist and Herpetologists. Tampa, Florida. ORAL PRESENTATION
Porter, M.E., Dean, M.N. & Summers, A.P. (2004) The role of spiracles during respiration in swimming dogfish. Integrative and Comparative Biology. San Diego, CA. POSTER
Porter, M.E., J.L. Beltrán, M.R. Gilbert, and A.P. Summers. 2004. Comparative material and biochemical properties of elasmobranch cartilage. American Elasmobranch Society. Norman, OK. POSTER
Beltrán, J.L., M.R. Gilbert, M.E. Porter, and A.P. Summers. 2004. Shark cartilage: biochemistry and material properties. American Association for the Advancement of Science. Seattle, Washington. POSTER
Porter, M.E. and A.P. Summers. 2003. Biochemical and structural properties of the cartilaginous vertebral column. Integrative and Comparative Biology. New Orleans, LA. ORAL PRESENTATION
Gilbert, M.R., J.L. Beltran, M.E. Porter, A.P. Summers. 2003. Biochemistry and material properties of cartilage from fours species of shark. Integrative and Comparative Biology. New Orleans, LA. POSTER
Porter, M.E. and A.P. Summers. 2003. Like a rock: the material properties and bio chemistry of the cartilaginous skeleton. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Manaus, Brazil. ORAL PRESENTATION
Porter, M.E. and M.J.C. Kearsley. 2002. Near-shore vegetation responses to experimental flows in Grand Canyon. Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting. Anahiem, CA. ORAL PRESENTATION
Porter, M.E. and M.J.C. Kearsley. 2002. Responses of riparian vegetation to two contrasting managed flow regimes of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, AZ. Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America. Tucson, AZ. ORAL PRESENTATION.
Porter, M.E. and M.J.C. Kearsley. 2002. Responses of riparian vegetation to two contrasting managed flow regimes of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, AZ. Annual Meeting of the Aquatic Plant Management Society. Keystone, CO. ORAL PRESENTATION
Porter, M.E. and M.J.C. Kearsley. Near-shore vegetation responses to two flow regimes in Grand Canyon. 46th Annual Meeting of the Arizona Nevada Academy of Sciences. Glendale, AZ. ORAL PRESENTATION.
Porter, M.E. and M.J.C. Kearsley. 2002. Near-shore vegetation responses to two different flow regimes in Grand Canyon: A need for multi-year management plans. Annual Meeting of the Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology. ORAL PRESENTATION.
Porter, M.E. and M.J.C. Kearsley. 2001. Near-shore vegetation responses to different flow regimes on the Colorado River. Research on the Colorado Plateau Conference. ORAL PRESENTATION.
Porter, M.E. and MJ.C. Kearsley. 2001. Near-shore vegetation responses to low summer steady flows on the Colorado River. Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America. ORAL PRESENTATION.
Porter, M.E. and M.J.C. Kearsley. 2001. The response of Tamarix to experimental flows in Grand Canyon. Arizona Nevada Academy of Sciences 45th Annual Meeting. Las Vegas, NV. ORAL PRESENTATION.