I arrived at Kenyon in 1997 after graduate and postdoctoral training at Yale University. In collaboration with Kenyon students and faculty colleagues, I study salt transport in animals using a variety of approaches ranging from whole animal studies through molecular techniques. We are currently exploring regulation of calcium transport in the freshwater crayfish Procambarus clarkii and the effect of body size on the physiology of the tobacco hawkmoth, Manduca sexta. I teach Comparative Animal Physiology, Integrative Animal Biology, and Biology of Exercise as well as introductory lecture and lab classes. A focus of my teaching is helping students to critically read primary research articles.

Areas of Expertise

Animal physiology, salt and water balance physiology

Education

Ph.D. Yale University
B.S. Lafayette College

Selected Publications

Gillen, C.M., Y. Gao, M.M. Niehaus-Sauter*, M.R. Wylde*, and M.G. Wheatly. Elongation factor 1Bgamma (eEF1Bgamma) expression during the molting cycle and cold acclimation in the crayfish Procambarus clarkii. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part B. 150: 170-176, 2008.

Gillen, C.M. Reading primary literature: a practical guide to evaluating research articles in Biology. Benjamin Cummings, San Francisco, 44 pages, 2007.

Wheatly, M.G., Y. Gao, and C.M. Gillen. Paradox of epithelial cell calcium homeostasis during vectorial transfer in crayfish kidney. General and Comparative Endocrinology. 152: 267-272, 2007.

Gao Y., C.M. Gillen, and M.G. Wheatly. Molecular characterization of the sarcoplasmic calcium-binding protein (SCP) from crayfish Procambarus clarkii. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part B, 144: 478-487, 2006.

Gillen, C.M.; Somple, M.*; Heilman, N.R.*; Watson, N.*; Blair, C.R.*; Stulberg, M.*; Thombre, R.*; Gillen, K.; Itagaki, H. The cation chloride cotransporter, masBSC, is widely distributed in Manduca sexta. Journal of Insect Physiology 52: 661-668, 2006.

Gillen, C.M.. Criticism and interpretation: teaching the persuasive aspects of research articles. CBE: Life Sciences Education 5: 34-38, 2006.

Gillen C.M., J.R. Vaughan, and B.R . Lye*. An online tutorial for helping non-science majors read primary research literature in biology. Advances Physiology Education 28: 95-99, 2004.

(* denotes Kenyon student)

Courses Taught

Biology of Exercise (non-majors lecture)
Introduction to Experimental Biology I and II (introductory lab)
From Cell to Organism (introductory lecture)
Integrative Animal Biology (upper level lecture)
Experimental Animal Biology (upper level lab)
Comparative Animal Physiology (upper level lecture)
Experimental Animal Physiology (upper level lab)
Communication and Information (senior seminar)

Links

CV
Research interests
Teaching interests
Materials for reading primary literature