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

Yeoh*, A.J., K. Davis*, A.V. Vela-Mendoza*, B.A. Hartlaub and C.M. Gillen. Effect of Body Size on Expression of Manduca sexta Midgut Genes. Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological Genetics and Physiology 317: 141-151, 2012.

White*, A.J., M.J. Northcutt*, S.E. Rohrback*, R.O. Carpenter*, M.M. Niehaus-Sauter*, Y. Gao, M.G. Wheatly, and C.M. Gillen. Characterization of sarcoplasmic calcium binding protein (SCP) variants from freshwater crayfish Procambarus clarkii. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B 160: 8-14, 2011.

Gillen, C.M. "The Data Suggest": Writing in the Sciences. In: Graff, G. and Birkenstein C. They Say/I Say: The Moves that Matter in Academic Writing. 2^nd Ed. Norton, New York, 2010.

Gao, Y., C.M. Gillen, D.R. Whalen, F.M. Vigo, A.E. Golshani and M.G. Wheatly. Expression of genes encoding Ca²⁺ exporting proteins in freshwater crayfish Procambarus clarkii during cold exposure. Journal of Thermal Biology 34: 144-151, 2009.

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.

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.

(* 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