RESEARCH INTERESTS

Social behavior, especially of eusocial Hymenoptera: Behavioral, genetic and physiological regulation of division of labor in wasps (Vespidae) and bees (Apidae)

Brain/behavior relationships in social insects

Evolution of brain structure

Network models of social group organization

Community ecology and biological diversity of tropical social insects, especially of army ants (Formicidae: Ecitoninae)

PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS

Associate Professor of Animal Behavior, Department of Psychology and Graduate Program in Neurobiology and Behavior, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, September 2002 to present.

Program Officer, Behavioral Systems Cluster, National Science Foundation, August 2007-August 2008.

Area Head, Animal Behavior, Department of Psychology, University of Washington, 2006/2007 academic year.

Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Biology, University of Washington, February 2004 to present.

Assistant Professor of Animal Behavior, Department of Psychology, University of Washington,Seattle, WA, September 1996 to August 2002.

Instructor, Univ. of California Education Abroad Program. Monteverde, Costa Rica, Fall 1995.

POSTDOCTORAL AND GRADUATE TRAINING

Postdoctoral Fellow: National Science Foundation Division of Environmental Biology (DEB-9303244). Laboratory of Robert E. Page, Jr., University of California-Davis, September 1994 to August 1996

Postdoctoral Fellow: University of California-Davis NSF Animal Behavior Research Training Grant. Laboratories of Hugh Dingle and Robert E. Page, Jr., September 1993 to August 1994

Ph.D. in Zoology and Entomology (joint major, advisors Robert Jeanne and Jack Hailman), University of Wisconsin-Madison, January 1990 to May 1993. Ph.D. Thesis: Patterns and regulation of division of labor in the eusocial wasp Polybia occidentalis Olivier (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).

MS in Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, December 1989. MS Thesis: Forager specialization and the control of nest repair in Polybia occidentalis (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).

University of Costa Rica/Organization for Tropical Studies; Tropical Biology: An Ecological Approach, Course #88-3, Summer 1988

UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION

BS in Biology Cum Laude, Saint Joseph's University (Philadelphia PA), May 1986

Teaching honors

Invited external Ph.D. committee member for Environmental Biology student Sean McCann, Simon Fraser University, May 2008-present

Nominated by University of Washington seniors as "Most influential undergraduate instructor," U.W. Alumni Association, Spring 2007

Nominated, University of Washington Distinguished Teaching Award, 2007

Invited external Ph.D. committee member for Biology student Floria Mora-Kepfer, University of Miami, August 2006-present.

Invited external Ph.D. defense examiner for Biological Sciences student Shelley Hoover, Simon Fraser University, October 2005

Nominated by University of Washington seniors as "Most influential undergraduate instructor," U.W. Alumni Association, Spring 2005

Academic honors

Who's Who in Science and Engineering 1993

University of Wisconsin Vilas Fellow 1990-1991

Honorable Mention, National Science Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship 1987 and 1988

Sigma Xi National Research Honor Society, elected 1986

Outstanding Young Men of America, 1986

Dean's list 5 semesters, St. Joseph's University

Academic scholarships and awards

Summer Field Biology Scholarship, University of Wisconsin Graduate School 1988

Dorsey Memorial Scholarship (Mountain Lake Biological Station) University of Virginia 1987

Field Course Award, University of Miami 1987

St. Joseph's University Scholarship 1982-86

National Merit Scholarship 1982-86

RESEARCH AWARDS

Current funding

Lead PI on NSF-IBN 0347315 Behavioral Neuroscience panel, Collaborative research: Brain plasticity and division of labor- from simple to complex societies (Theresa Jones co-PI), starting March 2004 for 48 months, budget $416,555

NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates supplemental award, Kayla Helem, 12 months starting June 2008, $6,426

University of Washington Royalty Research Fund, Army ant population genetics and forest fragmentation, 2006-2008, $34,775

Pending grants

Lead PI on NSF-DEB 0923680 Collaborative research: Comparative-developmental analysis of brain architecture in social wasps (Sarah Farris co-PI), to start 1 January 2010 for 36 months, UW budget $317,285

Lead PI on National Geographic Committee for Research and Exploration 84113 Phermones of Neotropical army ants: chemical coordination of top predators, to start August 1, 2009 for 12 months, budget $16,620

NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates supplemental award, Sean Tully, to start June 2009, $5855

Previous major grant awards

National Geographic Society Research Grant (M. Kaspari PI; J. Lattke Co-PI), Behavior and Diversity of Army Ants across a Latitudinal Gradient, starting June 2003 for 12 months, $24,221

PI on NSF-IBN 9904885 Animal Behavior panel, Dominance and Division of Labor in Social Wasps, October 1999 to March 2003, $86,578

NSF-DEB Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of California at Davis, 1994-1996, $69,600

NSF Research Training Grant Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of California at Davis, 1993-1994, $21,200

Previous grant supplements and short-term funding

NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates supplemental award, Justin Neste, 9 months starting November 2006, $3500

NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates supplemental award, Andrea Repetto, 12 months starting June 2005, $5950

Lead PI on NSF-IBN Research Opportunity Award 0119690 Animal Behavior panel, Social Aggression in Bees (Robin Foster Co-PI), June-September 2001, $13, 074

Organization for Tropical Studies/Pew Charitable Trust Tropical Fellowship, 1991

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Short-term Fellowship, 1990

Organization for Tropical Studies/Jesse Smith Noyes Foundation Pilot Research Award, 1988

Previous home institution funding

University of Washington Royalty Research Fund, 1997-1998, $28,969, Dominance and division of labor in social paper wasps.

University of Washington Startup Grant, 1996-1999, $80,000

University of Wisconsin Entomology Department Travel Award, 1992

University of Wisconsin Zoology Department Davis Travel Award, 1991 and 1992

University of Wisconsin Graduate School Vilas Travel Grant, 1990

INVITED AND PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

(See separate publications page; many of my papers are available for download as PDF reprints)

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

-O'Donnell, S. 1993. Scientific note: Neotropical social wasp folklore. Sphecos 25: 13-14.

-O'Donnell, S. 1992. Scientific note: Time-sharing, drifting, and pilfering: inter-nest activities of Polybia occidentalis foragers. Sphecos 23: 4.

-O'Donnell, S. 1992. Scientific note: Gastral rubbing observed in Mischocyttarus immarginatus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in Costa Rica. Sphecos 23: 5.

-O'Donnell, S. 1991. Scientific note: Swarm-founding wasp defensive behavior (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Epiponini). Sphecos 21: 14-15.

-O'Donnell, S. 1990. Collecting report: Southeastern Peru 1989. Sphecos 20: 31-32.

-O'Donnell, S. 1986. Niche partitioning among Anisoptera (dragonfly) nymphs in a small pond community. The Bio Digest, Shaffrey Chapter AIBS, Philadelphia, PA, pp. 15-17.

RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS

Symposium organizing activity

Program Symposium- Making Connections: Social Interactions and Social Networking in Insects (with J. Fewell and S. Schneider), Entomological Society of America national meetings, December 2007, San Diego, CA

Symposium on Neuroethology (with C. Kleinedam). 15th International Congress of the International Union for the Study of Social Insects, August 2006, Washington, DC

Section C Symposium on Parasites and Pathogens in Insect Societies (with R. Rosengaus) Entomological Society of America national meetings, December 2002, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Invited Talk Session on Aggression and Social Behavior (with R. Foster)

Animal Behavior Society National Meetings, Corvallis, OR, July 2001

Section C Symposium on Coevolution with Social Insects (with T. Singer) Entomological Society of America national meetings, December 1997, Nashville, TN

Section C Symposium on Behavioral Genetics (with G. Hunt), Entomological Society of America national meetings, December 1995, Las Vegas, NV

Informal Conference on Symbioses involving eusocial insects: an evolutionary perspective. Entomological Society of America national meetings, December 1992, Baltimore, MD

Invited symposium talks

Journey to the center of the node- worker psychology and the regulation of task performance in insect colonies. 12th International Behavioral Ecology Congress, August 2008, Ithaca, NY.

Linking physiology, behavior, and reproductive caste in eusocial paperwasps. Entomological Society of America national meetings, December 2001, San Diego, CA

Polygyny and colony genotypic structure in Neotropical advanced eusocial wasps. XIII International Congress of the International Union for the Study of Social Insects, January 1999, Adelaide, Australia

Control of the rate of behavioral development in a tropical swarm-founding wasp. Subsection Cb student paper competition. Entomological Society of America national meetings, December 1992, Baltimore, MD

The physiology of division of labor in Polybia occidentalis colonies. Program Symposium presentation (Physiology of Insect Colonies). Entomological Society of America National Meetings, Dec. 1990, New Orleans, LA

Invited university and government talks

University of Miami Department of Biology, February 2009; University of Maryland Department of Entomology, February 2008; National Science Foundation, Integrative Organismal Systems, August 2007; National Science Foundation, Integrative Organismal Biology, November 2006; George Washington University, Department of Biological Sciences, January 2006; Mount Holyoke College, Biology Department, December 2005; University of Washington Neurobiology and Behavior Program, November 2005; University of Washington Conservation Colloquium, November 2005; Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada, Biological Sciences, October 2005; USDA Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Vet. Entomology, Gainesville, FL, August 2005; University of Illinois, Department of Entomology, October 2004; University of Texas-Austin Institute for Neuroscience, April 2004; University of Washington Biology Department, November 2003; Louisiana State University Distinguished Lecturer, Department of Entomology, April 2003; Washington State University Department of Entomology, October 2002; University of Oklahoma Zoology Department, November 2000; University of Georgia-Athens Department of Entomology, November 1999; University of Puget Sound Biology Department, April 1998; University of Oregon Program in Evolutionary Biology, October 1997

Selected media coverage of research

2008 July/August: New Scientist magazine; NSF Biology Directorate website; ScienceDaily website; NewsSmashHits.com; Webwire.com; Eureka!ScienceNews; ScienceCentric.com; Physorg.com June: Scientific American MIND magazine March: EurekAlert! (AAAS website); Medical News Today website; ScienceCentric website; University of Washington-Daily; ScienceDaily website; IndiaEduNews.net January: National Science Foundation multimedia gallery (http://www.nsf.gov/news/mmg/)

2007 May: National Science Foundation multimedia gallery (http://www.nsf.gov/news/mmg/); January: University Week (UW campus newspaper); Washington Post (DC) science briefs; Presszoom.com; Biologynews.net; Newscientist.com; Physorg.com; LiveScience.com

2006 December: Sciencedaily.com; UPI.com/NewsTrack; Physorg.com; Medicalnewstoday.com; May/June: Science & Vie magazine (Paris, France), p. 32; Smithsonian Magazine Wild Things section; University of Washington Daily front page; Animal communication project- http://acp.eugraph.com; March : University of Washington homepage; FoxNews.com; Baltimore Sun; LiveScience.com

2004 April: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Radio, Quirks & Quarks; Der Spiegel magazine (Germany); The Oregonian (Portland, OR Newspaper); Science Daily web site

2002 March: National Geographic World magazine

2001 September: Natural History Magazine, In Sum Section; June/July 2001: New York Times Science Section; ABCnews.go.com SciTech Section; Science 292: 2399 (Editor's Choice Section); Science News

1999 October: Seattle Times Science Section; February: Newsday Magazine, Discovery section; Science News; The Daily (U.W. Campus Newspaper); ScienceNOW (Science magazine website)

1997 May: New Scientist Magazine; Focus Magazine (Germany); January: The Oregonian (Portland, OR Newspaper).

 TEACHING AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

 University-level courses- Graduate

Core Concepts in Behavioral Genetics, 4 cr.

Evolutionary Psychology of Human Reproduction, 3 cr.

Topical Seminars (Geographic Variation in Behavior; Senescence and Behavior; Parasites and Behavior; Animal Behavior Journal Club), 2 cr.

Current Research in Animal Behavior, U.C. Davis Animal Behavior Group

University-level courses- Undergraduate

Insect Behavior, 4 cr.

Behavioral Genetics, 4 cr.

Animal Communication, 5 cr.

Mechanisms of Animal Behavior, 4 cr.

Biodiversity, 4 cr.

Animal Behavior (majors) , 5 cr.

Comparative Animal Behavior (general ed.), 5 cr.

Student advising/mentoring

Graduated Ph.D. students:

Adam R. Smith, Animal Behavior Area, Defense July, 2005

Anjali S. Kumar, Animal Behavior Area Defense July, 2008

Current graduate students:

Yamile Molina, Animal Behavior Area Ph.D. student

Tom Soare, Animal Behavior Area Ph.D. student

Rotations/Research Assistants

Robin Harris, Neurobiology and Behavior rotation

William Wood, Neurobiology and Behavior Ph.D. student

Graduate advising

Served on committee of two Animal Behavior completed Ph.D.s

10 current Ph.D. student advisory committees or rotation supervision (Psychology, Neurobiology & Behavior, and Zoology)

Undergraduate directed research/advising: Current: 1 student; Previous: 31 students

Grants/fellowships to students for research in my laboratory

Kayla Helem, 2008, Mary Gates Endowment Research Scholarship, $4000

Kayla Helem, 2008 Edith Lucena Riehl Endowed Scholarship, UW Biology, $2000

Yamile Molina, 2007, Society for Integrative/Comparative Biology fellowship, $2000

Andrea Repetto, 2005, Mary Gates Endowment Research Scholarship, $3,000

Anjali Kumar, 2005, ALCOR Fellowship award, $5,000

Anjali Kumar, 2005, Organization for Tropical Studies post course award, $500

Adam Smith, 2003, A.W. Mellon Research Exploration Award in Tropical Biology, $3,000

Amelia Brunskill, 2000-2001, Mary Gates Endowment Research Scholarship, $4500

Adam Smith, 2000, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Short-Term Fellowship, $3,000

Adam Smith, 1999, Organization for Tropical Studies Stone Endowment, $1,750

Adam Smith, 1999, American Museum of Natural History Roosevelt Fund, $1,600 (declined)

Dan Markiewicz, 1999, Sigma Xi Grants in Aid of Research, $750

Renee Robinette, 1998, Animal Behavior Society, $600

Monica Reichardt, 1998, Hughes Foundation Fellowship, $2,300

Workshops attended/professional development

National Science Foundation Program Management Seminar, September 2007

Council for International Educational Exchange (CIEE) resident director/faculty training workshop, Portland, ME, June 2003

University of Washington Faculty Fellows Program, September 1996

Invited Resource Faculty Positions

Organization for Tropical Studies undergraduate field course, Costa Rica, February 2005

School for International Training Comparative Ecology & Conservation Course, Ecuador, 2003

Organization for Tropical Studies graduate field courses, Costa Rica, 1998-3, 1997-3, 1992-3

University of California Education Abroad Program course in tropical biology, Monteverde, Costa Rica, 1994

Guest lectures/field exercises

Natural History Seminar, Univ. of Washington Biology, March 2006

Graduate Seminar Neurobiology of Language (555D), Univ. of Washington, December 2005

Council for International Educational Exchange field course, Costa Rica, July 2004

Graduate Proseminar (PSYCH 560I), University of Washington, Winter 2004

Molecular Evolution (ZOOL 414), University of Washington, Winter 2003

Council for International Educational Exchange field course, Costa Rica, August 2002

General Entomology (ZOOL 444), University of Washington, Summer 2001

Council for International Educational Exchange field course, Costa Rica, July 2000

Behavioral Neuroscience (NBIO 403), University of Washington, Spring 2000

Psychology Honors Seminar, University of Washington, Fall 1996, Fall 1998, Fall 2004

Evergreen State College Field Course, Costa Rica, Winter 1996

Insect Diversity and Evolution (Entomology), U.C. Davis, Fall 1994

U.C. Education Abroad Program course in Tropical Biodiversity, Costa Rica, October 1993

Organic Evolution, University of Wisconsin, Spring 1989

Public outreach/science education

-Reviewed book, "Architecture by Birds and Insects" by Macnamara, Bates, & Boone, University of Chicago Press, Fall 2006.

-Research talk to Monteverde biology guides, July 2006

-Interview on animal morality, Seattle Eastside Prep 8th grade class

-Ran booth on Bumble Bee Behavior, Science Night 2006, Lake Forest Park Elementary School, February 2006

-Creative Learning Center grade school, 1st&2nd grades, field exercise on ant biology, Monteverde, Costa Rica, March 2005

-Creative Learning Center grade school, 5th&6th grades, lecture on army ant biology, Monteverde, Costa Rica, February 2005

-Training consultant, Monteverde biology guides, March 2005

-Naturalist guide training consultant, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, August 1997

Graduate research assistantships

-USDA Hatch Grant 3544 (R.L. Jeanne, PI): Behavior and ecology of foraging in yellow jackets (Vespula spp.). June to August 1992; January to May 1993.

-NSF Grant BNS-8517519 (R.L. Jeanne, PI): Regulation of Nest Repair Behavior in Polybia occidentalis. September 1987 to June 1992.

Teaching assistantships

-BIOCORE (Biology Core Curriculum) Honors Program, Organismal Biology, Fall 1992

-Minority Student Science Enrichment Program, University of Wisconsin, Summer 1991-1992

-General Entomology, University of Wisconsin, Spring 1989

-General Biology, University of Miami, Fall 1986, Spring and Summer 1987

-Ecology and Ethology, St. Joseph's University, Spring 1986

-Electron Microscopy, St. Joseph's University, Fall 1985

Field research experience

-Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Ecuador, September/October 2003

-Monteverde, Costa Rica, June 2005, January-March 2005, June/July 2004, July/August 2002, May-July 2000, July/August 1997, December/January 1995-1996, April/May 1994 and October 1993

-Yasuni National Park, Napo Province, Ecuador, April 1995 and November 1994

-Iquitos, Loreto Province, Peru, January 1994 and March 1993

-Centro Ecologico la Pacífica, Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica, June 2005, August 2001, July 1999, July 1998, August 1997, July 1992, July-October 1991, June-August 1989, August-October 1988

-Hato Masaguaral, Venezuela, Spring 1991 and 1992

-Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama, July 1998, June-October 1990

-Cuzco Amazonico lodge, Madre de Dios Province, Peru, August 1989

Consulting, guiding, and technician positions

-Tropical biology guide, Amazon River in Loreto Province, Peru, March 1993 and January 1994

-Museum display design, University of Costa Rica Insect Museum: permanent exhibit on Costa Rican eusocial wasps, June 1994

-Analytical technician: mass spectroscopy/chromatography, Uniroyal Chemical Co., 1984-1986

SERVICE

Elected professional positions and Scientific journal editorial board positions

Animal Behaviour, starting July 2006

Journal of Insect Behavior, 2005-present

Insectes Sociaux, 2003-2007

-Member, Monteverde Conservation League, elected 2005

-Secretary/Treasurer, North American section of the International Union for the Study of Social Insects, 2001-2004

-At-large Member, Committee on International Affairs (Latin America), Entomological Society of America, 2000-2002

-Nominating Committee, at-large member, North American Section, International Union for the Study of Social Insects, 2000-2001

-Executive Officer, Entomological Society of America Subsection Cb (Apiculture and Social Insects), 1997-1999

Other professional service

-Site visit review panel, NSF, Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Atlanta, GA, May 2003

-Judge, Subsection Cb/Cc Student Talk Competition, Entomological Society of America National Meetings 2002

-Grant Review Panel Member, Entomology, U.S. Dept. Of Agriculture, Spring 2002

-Grant Review Panel Member, Entomology, U.S. Dept. Of Agriculture, Spring 2001

-Head Judge, Subsection Cd/Cf Student Poster Competition, Entomological Society of America National Meetings 1999

-Membership committee, Animal Behavior Society, 1994-1997

-Head Judge, Subsections Cd & Cf Student Presentation Competition, Entomological Society of America National Meetings 1999

-Head Judge, Subsection Cd Student Poster Competition, Entomological Society of America National Meetings 1997

-Reviewer for Academic Advancement (1995), Foundation for Research and Development, South Africa

-Ad-hoc review of grant proposals for USDA-CSREES (Entomology panel), U.S. National Science Foundation (Animal Behavior, Behavioral Neuroscience, Integrative Biology, and Population Biology panels), Smithsonian Institution, National Geographic Society, Organization for Tropical Studies, and J.S. Guggenheim Memorial Foundation.

Departmental/University service

-Planning/executive committee, Department of Psychology, 2002-present.

-Search Committee, Tenure-track Quantitative Psychology Faculty Position, U.W. Psychology, 2004-2005

-Search Committee, Tenure-track Animal Behavior Faculty Position, U.W. Psychology, 2002-2003

-University of Washington Faculty Senate, elected to two terms 2000-2004

-Web Page Design and Production, Animal Behavior Area

-Psychology Colloquium Committee, 2000-2002

-Ad Hoc Committee for Psychology Graduate Program Revision 1998-1999

-Graduate Training Committee, U.W. Psychology, 1997-2000

-Edwards Lecturer Selection Committee 1998-present

-Search Committee, Tenure-track Quantitative Psychology Faculty Position, U.W. Psychology, 1997-1998

-Ad hoc reviewer, Quantitative Psychology Instructor Search Committee, U.W. Psychology, 1998

-Reviewed grant proposals for University of Washington Royalty Research Fund

-Executive positions (including president) in the University of Wisconsin Entomology Graduate Student Association, 1988-1992

Ad hoc reviews of scientific papers

American Naturalist; Animal Behaviour; Annales Zoologici Fennici; Australian Journal of Zoology; Behavioral Ecology; Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology; Behavioral Processes; Belgian Journal of Zoology; Biotropica; Brain, Behavior & Evolution; Caribbean Journal of Science; Ecología Austral; Environmental Entomology; Ethology, Ecology, & Evolution; Evolution; Functional Ecology; Insectes Sociaux; Journal of Economic Entomology; Journal of Ethology; Journal of Hymenoptera Research; Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society; Journal of Insect Behavior; Journal of Insect Physiology; Journal of Zoology; Oecologia; Physiology and Behavior; Proceedings of the Royal Society of London (Series B); Psychological Review; Science; Theoretical Population Biology

Professional organization activity

International Society for Behavioral Ecology; Animal Behavior Society; Association for Tropical Biology; Entomological Society of America; American Entomological Society; International Union for the Study of Social Insects; Kansas Entomological Society