Timothy Higham, PhD

former Humboldt Fellow

Herpetology

Mail: thigham [at] ucr.edu

Tabs

Profile

Field of work

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:

2016-2017: Elected as chair of the Comparative Morphology & Development section of the Canadian Society of Zoologists.

2015: Organized a symposium (with Rich Palmer) for the annual meeting of the Canadian Society of Zoologists (Calgary, Canada) titled “From head to toe: Integrative vertebrate morphology and evolution”. See http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/CMD/home.htm for more information.

2015: Organized a symposium (with Rich Palmer) for the annual meeting of the Canadian Society of Zoologists (Calgary, Canada) titled “Ten Years of The Triple Helix: Development, Morphology, Evolution”. See http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/CMD/home.htm for more information.

2015: Organized a symposium (with Peter Wainwright) for the annual meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (West Palm Beach, Florida) titled “New insights into suction feeding biomechanics and evolution”. See http://www.sicb.org/meetings/2015/symposia/index.php for more information.

2014: Became co-editor of Physiological and Biochemical Zoology.

2014: Organized a symposium (with Rick Blob) for the annual meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (Austin, Texas) titled “Terrestrial locomotion: Where do we stand, where are going?” See http://www.sicb.org/meetings/2014/symposia/locomotion.php for more information.

2013: Organized a regional SICB conference at the University of California, Riverside. Conference consisted of 80 scientists from the SW representing the Divisions of Vertebrate Morphology and Comparative Biomechanics. See http://www.biomechanics.ucr.edu/ucr2013/ for more information.

2013: Elected to the Executive Council of the Canadian Society of Zoologists.

2013: Organized a symposium (with Ted Garland) for the International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology (Barcelona, Spain) titled “The evolution of locomotion: reciprocal illumination from a diversity of approaches”.

2013: Organized a symposium (with Anthony Herrel) for the International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology (Barcelona, Spain) titled “Sticks, stones, and slopes: the link between substrate characteristics, morphology, and biomechanics.

2012: Invited to join Functional Ecology as an editor.

2012: Organized a symposium (with Anthony Russell) for the World Congress of Herpetology (Vancouver, Canada) titled “Caudal Autotomy and Regeneration in Lizards: Patterns, Costs, and Benefits”.

2011: Elected as Secretary of the Division of Comparative Biomechanics of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology.

2011-2014: Editorial board member of the Journal of Evolutionary Biology.

2010: Guest Editor (with Andrew Biewener) for a Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B theme issue titled “Integration of muscle function for producing and controlling movement”. Volume 366, issue 1570, April 2011.

2010: Organized a symposium (with Andrew Biewener) for the annual meeting of the American Physiological Society (Westminster, Colorado) titled “Off the beaten path: Integrative aspects of muscle function during locomotion”.

2007: Organized a symposium (with Peter Wainwright) for the annual meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (Phoenix, Arizona) titled “The evolution of feeding mechanisms in vertebrates”.

Research interests

Animal locomotion is replete with examples of elaborate behavioral and morphological novelties that enhance performance. The adhesive apparatus of geckos is one such innovation, permitting locomotion in challenging micro-environments, such as on vertical or inverted smooth surfaces including smooth leaves, bamboo, and banana. This remarkable system generally involves a complex hierarchy of components: setae (microscopic beta-keratin hair-like structures), scansors (expanded digital scales), and modified skeletal elements, muscles and tendons of the foot and other parts of the limb. The mechanism of adhesive contact involves electrostatic interactions and van der Waals and capillary forces.

The effective use of these morphological modifications is associated with altered locomotor kinematics. Despite our growing knowledge of gecko adhesion and its impact on locomotion, we know almost nothing about the intricate interactions between the hair-like structures on the ventral surface of the toes and the surfaces on which geckos move in nature. Unraveling the factors that actually facilitate or impede adhesion, especially with respect to plant surfaces that can vary dramatically in structure, chemistry, and polarizability, will be critical for inspiring the development of new adhesives and robots that mimic gecko adhesive properties, but will also be critical for understanding the evolution of plant-animal interactions. This research will be both transformative and broadly interesting to engineers, biomechanists, evolutionary biologists, and ecologists.
The unparalleled collections and live animal resources at Museum Koenig and the numerous live plant specimens at the Botanic Garden at the University of Freiburg will be used to address several questions:
(1) Does the microtopography of the gecko adhesive system match that of the plant surfaces on which they are found?
(2) What impact do electrical charge and hydrophobicity of the plant surface have on gecko adhesion?
(3) What parameters of the plant surface dictate frictional adhesion performance in arboreal geckos?

Memberships

African Herpetological Association, Canadian Society of Zoologists, Society for Experimental Biology, Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology

Awards

2017: Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship for Experienced Researchers. University of Freiburg and the Museum Koenig, GAANN Fellowship (co-wrote with Daivd Reznick), 2015: Junior Excellence in Teaching Award (JET) – Honoree Select. UC Riverside., 2012: Meeting grant from the Company of Biologists, 2013-2015: UC MEXUS Small Grant, 2013: Meeting grant from the Company of Biologists, NSF Fellowship: Locomotion and adhesion in geckos. The link between ecology, form, and function. Awarded by the Physiological and Structural Systems Cluster in the Division of Integrative and Organismal Systems (IOS)., 2012 Meeting grant from the Company of Biologists, 2010 University Research Grant Committee (URGC) award, 2008: NSERC postdoctoral fellowship, 2006: Journal of Experimental Biology Traveling Fellowship, 2006: William S. Hoar Award for best student oral presentation at the 2006 annual meeting of the Canadian Society of Zoologists, 2006: Fellowship for travel to the 2006 annual meeting of the Canadian Society of Zoologists, 2004 and 2003: UC Davis Graduate fellowship, 2003 and 2002: University of Cincinnati Harry L. Wieman Summer Fellowship

Further information

Service:

Graduate Advisor for joint doctoral program between UC Riverside and SDSU (2016-present)
Vice Chair of IACUC at UC Riverside (2016 - present)
Member of the IACUC at UC Riverside (2015 - present)
Faculty Search Committee for Community Ecology at UC Riverside (2015-2016)
GAANN Advisory Committee (2015 - Present)
Graduate advisor for admissions, Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology (2015 – Present)
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, UC Riverside (2015 – Present)
Graduate Written Exam Committee, UC Riverside (2014 – Present)
University of California Education Abroad Program Faculty Advisory Committee for Africa (2015 – Present)
Ad hoc committee for the Shipley-Skinner grants at UC Riverside (2015)
Committee on Scholarships and Honors at UC Riverside (2014 – present)
Ad hoc committee for merit advances at UC Riverside (2013 – present)
UC Riverside Natural Reserve System Advisory Committee (2013 – present)
Committee for Continuing Graduate Students at UC Riverside (2012 – 2015)
Faculty Search Committee for Behavioral Ecologist at UC Riverside (2012)
EEOB Program Committee at UC Riverside (2011 – present)
Chair of Seminar Organizing Committee at UC Riverside (2012 – 2014)
Mathias Award Committee at UC Riverside (2011)
Curriculum Committee at Clemson University (2010 – 2011)
Seminar Committee at Clemson University (2010 – 2011)

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES:

2014: Riverside Metropolitan Museum outreach all-day event. This event, termed “Animal Olympics”, highlighted the research in the Higham Lab by performing exercises and presentations.

2013: Animal Superpowers outreach event for grades K-6 at Alcott Elementary in Riverside, CA.

2013: Session chair at the International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology (ICVM) in Barcelona, Spain.

2013: Session chair at the annual meeting of the Canadian Society of Zoologists in Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

2013: Volunteer teaching at Alcott Elementary in Riverside, CA.

2011: Judge for the Best Poster Award of the CBP section of the Canadian Society of Zoologists, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

2010: Judge for the Division of Vertebrate Morphology and the Division of Comparative Biomechanics at the annual meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology in Seattle, WA.

2010: Session chair at the annual meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology in Seattle, WA

2007: Presenter and judge for Boston Latin School Science Fair

Projects

Field work:

2015 - 2017: French Guiana

2009 - 2017: Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, Vancouver

2010 - 2017: Namibia (Gobabeb, Swakopmund, Spitzkoppe)

2012 - 2015: Trinidad and Tobago

2012: Baja California

2012: Western and Eastern Cape, South Africa

2012 - 2013: Mojave Desert, USA

2000: Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory, Jamaica: Collected data regarding habitat use in Anolis lizards

2000: Mojave Desert, USA: Studied and collected desert lizards

1999: Bamfield Marine Station, Vancouver: Studied habitat selection in intertidal fishes

1999: Monkey River, Belize: Studied the locomotor behavior of howler monkeys

Publications

PUBLICATIONS:
76) Collins, C. and T.E. Higham. Accepted pending minor revision. Individual differences in locomotor biomechanics of a secondarily terrestrial gecko: The role of simplification of a morphological novelty. Scientific Reports.
75) Harrington, S., B. Hollingsworth, T.E. Higham, and T. Reeder. Accepted pending minor revision. Pleistocene climatic fluctuations drive historical isolation and secondary contact in the Red Diamond Rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber) in Baja California. Journal of Biogeography
74) Jagnandan, K. and T.E. Higham. Accepted pending minor revision. Lateral movements of a massive tail influence gecko locomotion: an integrative study comparing tail restriction and autotomy. Scientific Reports
73) Freymiller, G.A., M.D. Whitford, T.E. Higham, and R.W. Clark. 2017. Recent interactions with snakes enhance escape performance of desert kangaroo rats exposed to a simulated attack. In Press. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
72) Higham, T.E., H.A. Jamniczky, K. Jagnandan, S.J. Smith, T.N. Barry, and S.M. Rogers. 2017. Comparative dynamics of suction feeding in marine and freshwater three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus: kinematics and geometric morphometrics. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/biolinnean/blx069
71) Higham, T.E., A.P. Russell, and K.J. Niklas. 2017. Leaping lizards landing on leaves: escape-induced jumps in the rainforest canopy challenge the adhesive limits of geckos. Journal of the Royal Society Interface. 14, 20170156
70) Higham, T.E., T. Gamble, and A.P. Russell. 2017. On the origin of frictional adhesion in geckos: small morphological changes lead to a major biomechanical transition in the genus Gonatodes. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 120, 503-517.
69) Foster, K.L. and T.E. Higham. 2017. Integrating gastrocnemius force-length properties, in vivo activation, and operating lengths reveals how Anolis deal with ecological challenges. Journal of Experimental Biology. 220, 796-806
68) Higham, T.E., R.W. Clark, C.E. Collins, M.D. Whitford, and G.A. Freymiller. 2017. Rattlesnakes are extremely fast and variable when striking at kangaroo rats in nature: Three-dimensional high-speed kinematics at night. Scientific Reports. 7, 40412.
67) Birn-Jeffery, A. and T.E. Higham. 2016. Light level impacts locomotor biomechanics in a secondarily diurnal gecko, Rhoptropus afer. Journal of Experimental Biology. 219, 3649-3655.
66) Higham, T.E., S.M. Rogers, R.B. Langerhans, H.A. Jamniczky, G.V. Lauder, W.J. Stewart, C.H. Martin, and D.N. Reznick. 2016. Speciation through the lens of biomechanics: locomotion, prey capture, and reproductive isolation. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 283, 20161294.
65) Gillis, G. and T.E. Higham. 2016. Consequences of lost endings: caudal autotomy as a lens for focusing attention on tail function during locomotion. Journal of Experimental Biology. 219, 2416-2422.
64) Zhuang, M.V. and T.E. Higham. 2016. Arboreal day geckos (Phelsuma madagascariensis) modulate their fore- and hind limb kinematics differentially in response to changes in habitat structure. PLoS ONE. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153520

63) Birn-Jeffery, A. and T.E. Higham. 2016. Geckos decouple fore- and hind limb kinematics in response to changes in incline. Frontiers in Zoology. 13:11, DOI 10.1186/s12983-016-0144-2.

62) Irschick, D.I. and T.E. Higham. 2016. Animal Athletes: An Ecological and and Evolutionary Approach. Oxford University Press.

61) Olberding, J.P., A. Herrel, T.E. Higham, and T. Garland, Jr. 2016. Limb segment contributions to the evolution of hind limb length in phrynosomatid lizards. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 117, 775-795.

60) Higham, T.E., W.J. Stewart, and P.C. Wainwright. 2015. Turbulence, temperature, and turbidity: The ecomechanics of predator-prey interactions in fishes. Integrative and Comparative Biology. 55, 6-20.
59) Day, S.W., T.E. Higham, R. Holzman, and S. Van Wassenbergh. 2015. Morphology, kinematics, and dynamics: The mechanics of suction feeding in fishes. Integrative and Comparative Biology. 55, 21-35.
58) Kane, E.A. and T.E. Higham. 2015. Complex systems are more than the sum of their parts: Using integration to understand performance, biomechanics, and diversity. Integrative and Comparative Biology. 55, 146-165.
57) Russell, A.P., J. Baskerville, T. Gamble, and T.E. Higham. 2015. The evolution of digit form in Gonatodes (Gekkota: Sphaerodactylidae) and its implications for the transition from frictional to adhesive contact in gekkotans. Journal of Morphology. In press.
56) Higham, T.E. 2015. Bolting, bouldering, and burrowing: functional morphology and biomechanics of pedal specializations in desert-dwelling lizards. In: All Animals are Interesting: A Festschrift in Honour of Anthony P. Russell. O.R.P. Bininda-Emonds, G.L. Powell, H.A. Jamniczky, A.M. Bauer & J. Theodor (eds.) BIS-Verlag der Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg. pp. 279-302.
55) Van Wassenbergh, S., Day, S.W., Hernandez, P., Higham, T.E., and T. Skorczewski. 2015. Suction power output and the inertial cost of rotating the neurocranium to generate suction in fish. Journal of Theoretical Biology. 372, 159-167.
54) Higham, T.E., G.J. Measey, A.V. Birn-Jeffery, A. Herrel, and K.A. Tolley. 2015. Functional divergence between morphs of a dwarf chameleon: Differential locomotor kinematics in relation to habitat structure. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 116, 27-40.
53) Higham, T.E., A. Birn-Jeffery, C.E. Collins, C.D. Hulsey, and A.P. Russell. 2015. Adaptive simplification and the evolution of gecko locomotion: Morphological and biomechanical consequences of losing adhesion. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 112, 809-814. Media coverage by the Los Angeles Times, UCR Today, IFL Science, and many others. Also check out our Cover image
52) Collins, C.E., A.P. Russell, and T.E. Higham. 2015. Subdigital adhesive pad morphology varies in relation to structural habitat use in the Namib Day Gecko, Rhoptropus afer. Functional Ecology. 29, 66-77.
51) Foster, K.L., C.E. Collins, T.E. Higham and T. Garland, Jr. In Press. Determinants of lizard escape performance: decision, motivation, ability, and opportunity. In Escaping from predators: An integrative view of escape decisions and refuge use, eds. W.E. Cooper, Jr. and D.T. Blumstein. pp. 287-321.
50) Stewart, W.J. and T.E. Higham. 2014. Passively stuck: death does not affect gecko adhesion strength. Biology Letters. 10, 20140701. Media coverage by Smithsonian, UCR Today, Science, IFL Science, and many others.
49) Jagnandan, K., A.P. Russell, and T.E. Higham. 2014. Tail autotomy and subsequent regeneration alter the mechanics of locomotion in lizards. Journal of Experimental Biology. 271, 3891-3897.
48) Birn-Jeffery, A. and T.E. Higham. 2014. Geckos significantly alter foot orientation to facilitate adhesion during downhill locomotion. Biology Letters 10, 20140456. Media coverage by the Nature World News, UCR Today, Adhesives.org, and many others.
47) Blob, R.W. and T.E. Higham. 2014. Terrestrial locomotion - Where do we stand, where are we going? Integrative and Comparative Biology. 54, 1051-1057.
46) Seamone, S., T.A. Blaine and T.E. Higham. 2014. Sharks modulate their escape behavior in response to predator size, speed, and approach orientation. Zoology. 117, 377-382.
45) Birn-Jeffery, A. and T.E. Higham. 2014. The scaling of uphill and downhill locomotion in legged animals. Integrative and Comparative Biology. 54, 1159-1172.
44) Kane, E.A. and T.E. Higham. 2014. Modeled 3D suction accuracy predicts prey capture success in three centrarchids. Journal of the Royal Society Interface. 11, 20140223. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2014.0216
43) Russell, A.P., E.K. Lai, G.L. Powell and T.E. Higham. 2014. Density and distribution of cutaneous sensilla on tails of Leopard Geckos (Eublepharis macularius) in relation to caudal autotomy. Journal of Morphology. 275, 961-979. doi: 10.1002/jmor.20269
42) Foster, K.L. and T.E. Higham. 2014. Context-dependent changes in motor control and kinematics during locomotion: modulation and decoupling. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 281, 20133331. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2013.3331
41) Higham, T.E., A.P. Russell, and P.A. Zani. 2013. Integrative biology of tail autotomy in lizards. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology. 86, 603-610.
40) Higham, T.E., K.R. Lipsett, D.A. Syme, and A.P. Russell. 2013. Controlled chaos: muscle contractile dynamics, fiber types, and three-dimensional kinematics of autotomized lizard tails. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology. 86, 611-630.
39) Anderson, C.V. and T.E. Higham. 2013. Anatomy. In: The Biology of Chameleons. Tolley, K.A. and Herrel, A. (eds). University of California Press. pp. 7-56
38) Higham, T.E. and C.V. Anderson. 2013. Function and Adaptation. In: The Biology of Chameleons. Tolley, K.A. and Herrel, A. (eds). University of California Press. pp. 63-84.
37) Higham, T.E. and D.J. Irschick. 2013. Springs, steroids, and slingshots: the roles of enhancers and constraints in animal movement. Journal of Comparative Physiology B. 183, 583-595.
36) Kane, E.A. and T.E. Higham. 2012. Life in the flow lane: differences in pectoral fin morphology suggest transitions in station-holding demand across species of marine sculpin. Zoology. 115, 223-232.
35) Foster, K.L. and T.E. Higham. 2012. How forelimb and hindlimb function changes with incline and perch diameter in the green anole (Anolis carolinensis). Journal of Experimental Biology. 215, 2288-2300.
34) Higham, T.E. and A.P. Russell. 2012. Time-varying motor control of autotomized leopard gecko tails: multiple inputs and behavioral modulation. Journal of Experimental Biology. 215, 435-441.
33) Olberding, J.P. L.D. McBrayer, and T.E. Higham. 2012. Performance and three-dimensional kinematics of bipedal lizards during obstacle negotiation. Journal of Experimental Biology. 215, 247-255.
32) O’Connor, J.L., L.D. McBrayer, T.E. Higham, J.F. Husak, I.T. Moore, and D.C. Rostal. 2011. Effects of training and testosterone on locomotor performance in male six-lined racerunners (Aspidoscelis sexlineata). Physiological and Biochemical Zoology. 84, 394-405.
30) Higham, T.E., P.G. Korchari, and L.D. McBrayer. 2011. How muscles define maximum locomotor performance in lizards: An analysis using swing and stance phase muscles. Journal of Experimental Biology. 214, 1685-1691.
29) Kane, E.A. and T.E. Higham. 2011. The integration of locomotion and feeding in cottid fishes: Functional disparity despite morphological similarity. Journal of Experimental Biology. 214, 1092-1099.
28) Clark, A.J. and T.E. Higham. 2011. Slipping, sliding, and stability: locomotor strategies for overcoming low-friction surfaces. Journal of Experimental Biology. 214, 1369-1378.
27) Higham, T.E. and A.A. Biewener. 2011. Functional and architectural complexity within and between muscles: regional variation and intermuscular force transmission. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. 366, 1477-1487.

26) Higham, T.E., A.A. Biewener, and S. Delp. 2011. Mechanics, modulation and modeling: how muscles actuate and control movement. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. 366, 1463-1465.
26) Fuller, P.O, T.E. Higham, and A.J. Clark. 2011. Posture, speed, and habitat structure: Three-dimensional hindlimb kinematics of two species of padless geckos. Zoology. 114, 104-112.
25) Higham, T.E., P.G. Korchari, and L.D. McBrayer. 2011. How to climb a tree: Lizards accelerate faster, but pause more, when escaping on vertical surfaces. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 102, 83-90.
24) Higham, T.E. 2011. The biomechanics of feeding in fishes. In: Encyclopedia of Fish Physiology: From Genome to Environment. Farrell, A.P. (ed.), volume 1, pp. 597-602. Sand Diego: Academic Press.
23) Higham, T.E. 2010. Book review of “Feeding and Digestive Functions of Fishes”. Quarterly Review of Biology. 85, 374.
22) Higham, T.E. and A.P. Russell. 2010. Divergence in locomotor performance, ecology, and morphology between two sympatric sister species of desert-dwelling gecko. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 101, 860-869.
21) Foster, K.L. and T.E. Higham. 2010. How to build a pectoral fin: Functional morphology and steady swimming kinematics of the spotted ratfish, Hydrolagus colliei. Canadian Journal of Zoology. 88 (8), 774-780.
20) Higham, T.E. and A.P. Russell. 2010. Flip, flop and fly: modulated motor control and highly variable movement patterns of autotomized gecko tails. Biology Letters. 6, 70-73. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2009.0577

19) Russell, A.P. and T.E. Higham. 2009. A new angle on clinging in geckos: Incline, not surface structure, triggers the deployment of adhesive system. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 276, 3705-3709.

18) Higham, T.E. and A.A. Biewener. 2009. Fatigue alters in vivo function within and between limb muscles during locomotion. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 276, 1193-1197.

17) Wainwright, P.C., R.S. Mehta and T.E. Higham. 2008. Stereotypy, flexibility and coordination: key concepts in behavioral functional morphology. Journal of Experimental Biology. 211, 3523-3528.

16) Higham, T.E. and F.E. Nelson. 2008. The integration of lateral gastrocnemius muscle function and kinematics in running turkeys. Zoology 111, 483-493.

15) Higham, T.E. and A.A. Biewener. 2008. Integration within and between muscles during terrestrial locomotion: effects of incline and speed. Journal of Experimental Biology 211, 2303-2316.

14) Higham, T.E., A.A. Biewener and J.M. Wakeling. 2008. Functional diversification within and between muscle synergists during locomotion. Biology Letters 4, 41-44.

13) Day, S. W., T. E. Higham and P. C. Wainwright. 2007. Time resolved measurements of the flow generated by suction feeding fish. Experiments in Fluids. 43, 713-724.

12) Wainwright, P.C., A.M. Carroll, D.C. Collar, S.W. Day, T.E. Higham and R.A. Holzman. 2007. Suction feeding mechanics, performance and diversity in fishes. Integrative and Comparative Biology 47, 96-106.

11) Higham, T.E. 2007. The integration of locomotion and prey capture in vertebrates: evolution of morphology, behavior and performance. Integrative and Comparative Biology 47, 82-95

10) Higham, T.E., C.D. Hulsey, O. Rican and A.M. Carroll. 2007. Feeding with speed: prey capture evolution in cichlids. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 20, 70-78.

9) Higham, T.E. 2007. Feeding, fins and braking maneuvers: locomotion during prey capture in centrarchid fishes. Journal of Experimental Biology 210, 107-117.

8) Higham, T.E., S.W. Day, and P.C. Wainwright. 2006. The pressures of suction feeding: the relation between buccal pressure and induced fluid speed in centrarchid fishes. Journal of Experimental Biology 209, 3281-3287.

7) Higham, T.E., S.W. Day, and P.C. Wainwright. 2006. Multidimensional analysis of suction feeding performance in fishes: fluid speed, acceleration, strike accuracy and the ingested volume of water. Journal of Experimental Biology 209, 2713-2725.

6) Higham, T.E., B. Malas, B.C. Jayne and G.V. Lauder. 2005. Constraints on starting and stopping: behavior compensates for reduced pectoral fin area during braking of the bluegill sunfish Lepomis macrochirus. Journal of Experimental Biology 208, 4735-4746.

5) Day, S.W., T.E. Higham, A.Y. Cheer, and P.C. Wainwright. 2005. Spatial and temporal patterns of water flow generated by suction feeding bluegill sunfish Lepomis macrochirus resolved by Particle Image Velocimetry. Journal of Experimental Biology 208, 2661-2671. Also see cover.

4) Higham, T.E., S.W. Day and P.C. Wainwright. 2005. Sucking while swimming: evaluating the effects of ram speed on suction generation in bluegill sunfish Lepomis macrochirus using digital particle image velocimetry. Journal of Experimental Biology 208, 2653-2660. Also see cover.

3) Higham, T.E., and B.C. Jayne. 2004. In vivo muscle activity in the hindlimb of the arboreal lizard, Chamaeleo calyptratus: general patterns and the effects of incline. Journal of Experimental Biology 207, 249-261.

2) Higham, T.E., and B.C. Jayne. 2004. Locomotion of lizards on inclines and perches: hindlimb kinematics of an arboreal specialist and a terrestrial generalist. Journal of Experimental Biology 207, 233-248.

1) Higham, T.E., M.S. Davenport, and B.C. Jayne. 2001. Maneuvering in an arboreal habitat: the effects of turning angle on the locomotion of three sympatric ecomorphs of Anolis lizards. Journal of Experimental Biology 204, 4141-4155.

Presentations

Media (TV, Radio...)

MEDIA ATTENTION:

2015: Los Angeles Times, IFL Science, UCR Today (http://ucrtoday.ucr.edu/26570), Science Daily, and many others (Pub #53)
2014: UCR Today (http://ucrtoday.ucr.edu/25123), ScienceDaily, EH Science (Pub #45)
2014: UCR Today (http://ucrtoday.ucr.edu/21049), Science News (Pub #42)
2012: National Geographic Wild – work on tail autotomy highlighted in “Animal Superpowers”, hosted by Patrick Stewart
2012: NeuroDojo, NewScientist, i09 (Pub #34)
2011: New York Times, The Telegraph (Pub #28)
2009: New York Times, Scientific American, Discovery News, Wired, Smithsonian (Pub #20)
2009: Washington Post, Science Daily, Discovery News, Globe and Mail, Physics World (Pub #19)
2008: Inside JEB (2008: The Journal of Experimental Biology 211)
2007: Harvard Gazette & HarvardScience (Pub #14)
2006: Inside JEB (The Journal of Experimental Biology 209(17), ii)
2006: Inside JEB (The Journal of Experimental Biology 209(14), iii)
2005: Inside JEB (The Journal of Experimental Biology 208(14), iii)

Teaching

INVITED SEMINARS:

2017: University of Hawaii at Manoa, Department of Biology
2016: La Sierra University, Department of Biology.
2014: University of Calgary. Department of Biological Sciences.
2013: San Diego State University. Biology Department.
2013: Claremont Colleges. Keck Science Department.
2013: California State University, San Bernardino. Department of Biology.
2013: University of Alabama, Department of Biological Sciences.
2011: University of California, Irvine. School of Biological Sciences.
2011: California State University, Long Beach. Biological Sciences.
2011: University of California, Riverside. Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience.
2011: Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre. Evening seminar series.
2011: University of Calgary. Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine.
2011: University of Regina. Department of Biology.
2011: University of California, Riverside. Department of Biology.
2009: Simon Fraser University. Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology.
2009: University of British Columbia. Department of Zoology.
2008: College of Charleston. Department of Biology.
2008: Georgia Southern University. Department of Biology.
2008: Clemson University. Environmental Toxicology.
2008: Clemson University. Department of Biological Sciences.
2008: University of Wyoming. Department of Zoology and Physiology.
2007: University of Missouri-Columbia. Integrative Anatomy.
2007: University of Guelph. Department of Biomedical Sciences.
2005: University of California, Davis. Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

Invited instructor, Functional Ecology, Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, Vancouver Island, Canada, Summer 2016.

Instructor, Introduction to Organismal Biology (BIOL 5B), UC Riverside, 2015 (co-taught with Lou Santiago).

Invited instructor, Biology of Marine Fishes, Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, Vancouver Island, Canada, Summer, 2009, 2011, and 2015 (co-taught with Sean Rogers from the University of Calgary).

Instructor, Functional Anatomy of the Vertebrates (BIOL 161B), UC Riverside, 2012-2015 (co-taught with Ken Halama and Christopher Clark).

Instructor, Comparative Biomechanics (BIOL 176), UC Riverside, 2013-2015.

Invited instructor, Comparative Biomechanics, Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, Vancouver Island, Canada, Summer, 2010, 2012, 2014.
See http://www.bms.bc.ca/university/courses2010/2010profiles/biomechanics.html for example of course.

Instructor, Evolutionary Physiology (EEOB 220), UC Riverside, 2012 & 2014 (co-taught with Ted Garland).

Instructor and lab coordinator, Comparative Physiology (BIOSC 475), Clemson University, 2009, 2010.

Instructor and lab coordinator, Herpetology (BIOSC 468), Clemson University, 2011.

Instructor and lab coordinator, Ichthyology (BIOSC 477), Clemson University, 2009.

Guest lecturer, Comparative Biomechanics (OEB 173), Harvard University, 2008.

Teaching fellow, Independent Research (OEB 121A), Harvard University, 2007. This course involves mentoring undergraduate research projects. Students work with me to carry out independent projects in the area of muscle physiology.

Teaching assistant, Systemic Physiology, University of California, Davis, 2004-2006. Ran weekly labs and gave weekly lectures. Labs involved dissections and physiological experiments involving major physiological systems. Grading involved weekly quizzes and lab reports.

Teaching assistant, Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, University of Cincinnati, 2002-2003. Ran weekly labs involving dissection and vertebrate classification. Generated and graded comprehensive laboratory examinations.

Teaching assistant, Anatomy and Physiology, University of Cincinnati, 2000-2003. Ran weekly labs involving extensive cat dissections.

Teaching assistant, Freshman Biology, University of Cincinnati, 2000. Ran weekly labs involving introductory biological experiments. Grading involved quizzes and lab reports.

Associate Professor                                  Phone: 951-827-3652
Department of Biology                           Fax: 951-827-4286
University of California, Riverside       thigham [at] ucr.edu
Riverside, CA 92521

ACADEMIC POSITIONS:

2015 to present: Associate professor, University of California, Riverside
2011 to 2015: Assistant professor, University of California, Riverside
2008 to 2011: Assistant professor, Clemson University

POST-DOCTORAL:

2006 to 2008: Harvard University. Advisor: Andrew Biewener

EDUCATION:

2006: Ph.D. University of California, Davis. Advisor: Peter C. Wainwright
2003: M.S. University of Cincinnati. Advisor: Bruce C. Jayne
2000: B.S. University of Calgary. Zoology

INVITED SEMINARS:

MEDIA ATTENTION:

TEACHING EXPERIENCE: