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Cratsley, Christopher
Office Information:
CS-115A
Graduate Chair, Biology/Biology/Secondary education
Phone: 978-665-3617
Email: ccratsley@fsc.edu

For education and research publications, please click for the detailed profile below:

Curriculum Vitae

Department of Biology and Chemistry

Fitchburg State College

160 Pearl Street

Fitchburg, MA 01420

Phone (978) 665-3617

ccratsley@fsc.edu

Education

Ph.D. in Biology, Tufts University, May 2000

Thesis: Sexual selection on male courtship signals and nuptial gifts in Photinus fireflies.

Advisor:  Dr. Sara M. Lewis

Bachelor of Arts in Biology, Brown University, May 1991

Certification in Biology and General Science through Teacher Education Program.

Teaching Experience

Associate Professor, Department of Biology and Chemistry, Fitchburg State College 2005-

Visiting Associate Professor, Graduate and Continuing Education, Fitchburg State College 2005-

Assistant Professor, Department of Biology and Chemistry, Fitchburg State College 2000-2005

Lectured and oversaw laboratory instruction for General Biology II, second semester introductory majors course focusing on Evolution, Physiology and Behavior.

Developed new courses in Animal Behavior and Biological Inquiry through Computer Technology.

Revised and taught existing courses in Leadership in Biology, Mathematics and Technology, Life Science I and II, Ecology, Methods in Teaching Biology, Biology Teaching Practicum, and Independent Study.

Visiting Assistant Professor, Graduate and Continuing Education, Fitchburg State College, 2000-

2005, Program Chair, Biology and Science Education 2001-

            Developed online graduate course on Biological Inquiry through Computer Technology.

Revised and taught existing courses in Methods in Teaching Biology and Earth Science, The Modern Science Curriculum, Research in Science Education, Research in Science, Research in Biology, Independent Study, Internship and Teaching Practicum.

Serving on thesis committee for Albert J. Springfield

Teaching Assistant, Department of Biology, Tufts University, 1994 � 2000

            Animal Communication and Sexual Selection � Co-designed Graduate Seminar

Experiments in Biology � Supervised experiments in Behavior, Neurobiology and Physiology

Biostatistics � Assisted with course development and supervised computer lab activities

Biology and the Social Contract � Led weekly discussion sections on Bioethics

Introductory Biology � Laboratory Instructor and Undergraduate TA Coordinator

Cell Biology � Guest lecturer and grader

Secondary Science Teacher, Pearl River School District, Pearl River, NY, 1991 � 1994

Biology, Marine Biology and Physical Science

Team Teacher, St. Thomas Aquinas College, Marie Curie Math and Science Center, 1993

Saturday Morning Search for Solutions Program on Cellular Investigations

Student Teacher, Brown University, Teacher Education Program, 1990

Research Experience

Principal Investigator, NSF C-RUI Grant in Biology and Computer Science, Fitchburg State College, 2003-present.  Research developing and applying embedded computer systems to determine the ecology of firefly flash behavior.

Principal Investigator, Department of Biology, Fitchburg State College, 2000-present.  Research on mating behavior in Pieris rapae and Computer-based tools for Biological inquiry.

Research Assistant, Department of Biology, Tufts University, 1995-2000

Supervisor:  Dr. Sara M. Lewis, research on sexual selection in Lampyrid beetles.

Research Rotations, Department of Biology, Tufts University 1994-1995

Supervisor:  Dr. Barry Trimmer, research on proleg withdrawal reflex of the Manduca Sexta.

Supervisor:  Dr. Francie Chew, research on foraging behavior of Pieris rapae on Alliaria petiolata.

Awards and Honors

2005     FSC Faculty Mentor Grant for Leadership Program Pilot Laptop Initiative

2005        Carnegie Award for a classroom-based research project on �Problem-based cooperative learning in a science course�

2003     NSF C-RUI Grant �Exploring the ecology of flash communication in Photinus fireflies

through collaborative undergraduate research with computer-simulated signaling behavior.�

2003        Ruth Butler Grant for research on �Conditional mating behavior in Photinus ignitus fireflies.�

2002        CITI Grant �Exploring Biological Inquiry Through Computer Technology on the eLearning Network.�

2002        FSC Mission Grant for �Improving Laboratory Instruction by Upgrading Technology and Improving Safety.�

2002     Ruth Butler Grant for research on �Mating preference and melanization in Pieris rapae.�

2001     Graduate Research Fellow Award

2001     Undergraduate Academic Scholarship Award

2001        IT Across the Curriculum CITI Grant �Biological Inquiry Through Computer Technology.�

2001     FSC Mission Grant for �Teaching the Skills of Biological Inquiry in the 21^st Century�

1999     Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research.

1998     SICB Division of Animal Behavior Best Student Paper Award, for poster presentation.

1996     Graduate Teaching Award, Tufts Biology Department.

1995     Honorable Mention, Department of Defense Fellowship Program.

1992     Finalist, Pearl River School District Outstanding New Teacher Award.

1991     Campbell Biology Prize for essay on high school science teaching.

1991     Sigma Xi, Scientific Research Society.

Publications

Lewis, S.M. and Cratsley, C.K. Flash signaling, mate choice and predation in fireflies.

Invited review, Annual Review of Entomology. In preparation.

Cratsley, C.K. and Lewis, S.M.  2005.  Seasonal variation in mate choice of Photinus ignitus

fireflies.  Ethology. 111: 89-100.

Austin, K.B., Dunlap J., Glover M., McKinnon J., Mohney D., Taft M., Vysocky M., and Cratsley,

C.K.  2005.  The virtual firefly: an interdisciplinary undergraduate research project. Journal

of Computing Sciences in Colleges. 20 (5):  188-199.

Lewis, S.M., Cratsley, C.K. and Demary, K.  2004. Mate recognition and choice in Photinus

fireflies.  Annales Zoologici Fenici. 41: 809-821.

Cratsley, C.K.  2004.  Flash signals, nuptial gifts and female preference in Photinus fireflies. 

Integrative and Comparative Biology.  44: 238-241.

Lewis, S.M., Cratsley, C.K. and Rooney, J.A.  2004.  Nuptial gifts and sexual selection in

Photinus fireflies.  Integrative and Comparative Biology.  44: 234-237.

Cratsley, C.K. and Lewis, S.M. 2003.  Female preference for male courtship flashes in Photinus

ignitus fireflies.  Behavioral Ecology.  14(1): 135-140.

Cratsley, C.K., Rooney, J.A. and Lewis, S.M.  2003.  Limits to nuptial gift production by male

fireflies.  Journal of Insect Behavior. 16(3):  361-370.

Cratsley, C.K. 2000.  Sexual selection on male courtship signals and nuptial gifts in Photinus

fireflies.  (Ph.D. Thesis) Tufts University.

Cratsley, C.K. and Lewis, S.M.  1997.  Variation in the nuptial gifts of Photinus ignitus

males and the potential for female choice.  American Zoologist.  37(5):  32A.

Cratsley, Christopher.  1991.  How problems can help.  The American Biology Teacher.

            53 (7):  390-392.

Professional Talks and Posters

Candidate assessment: promising practices.  January 2006.  American Association of Colleges

for Teacher Education Annual Meeting.  San Diego, CA.

Morphology and flash patterns as potential predictors of flash duration in Photinus fireflies

(Coleoptera: Lampyridae).  January 2006. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting.  Orlando, FL.

Photinus ignitus male courtship behavior and Photuris predation in response to virtual fireflies. 

January 2006. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting.  Orlando, FL.

Information Technology in Biological Inquiry and Science Education.  November 2005.  Fitchburg

State College Laptop Symposium.  Fitchburg, MA.

NCATE Accreditation:  Views from the field.  October 2005.  Association of Science Teacher

Educators, Northeast Region Meeting.  Amherst, MA.

Photinus pyralis male flash signals as potential indicators of mate quality.  August 2005.  Animal

Behavior Society Annual Meeting.  Snowbird, UT.

Variation in male flash characteristics of Photinus fireflies.  November 2004.  Entomological

Society of America Annual Meeting.  Salt Lake City, UT.

Animal Behavior and Computer Science:  Using extreme programming & virtual fireflies to train

students in skills of inquiry.  June 2004.  Animal Behavior Society Annual Meeting.  Oaxaca,

Mexico.

Female preference, male body size, spermatophore mass and the evolution of long flash

duration in male Photinus pyralis fireflies.  July 2003.  Animal Behavior Society Annual

Meeting.  Boise State University, Boise, ID.

Flash signals, nuptial gifts and precopulatory mate choice in Photinus fireflies.  January 2003.

Symposium:  Communication: Fireflies at Fifty.  Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting.  Toronto, Ontario.

Flash signals and sexual selection in Photinus fireflies.  November 2002.  Colby College

Department of Biological Sciences Seminar Series.  Waterville, ME.

Female preferences and male mate choice in Photinus ignitus fireflies.  July 2002.  International

Behavioral Ecology Congress.  Montreal, Quebec.

Teaching about the tools of Information Technology for Biological Research.  October 2001. 

Invited poster, CITI Information Technology Across the Curriculum Conference. 

Framingham State College, Framingham, MA.

Male courtship signals as indicators of spermatophore mass in Photinus ignitus fireflies.

July 2001.  Animal Behavior Society Annual Meeting.  Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR.

Female preference and precopulatory mate choice for large male lanterns in Photinus ignitus

fireflies.  August 2000.  International Behavioral Ecology Congress.  Zurich, Switzerland.

Female mating preference and resistance in Photinus fireflies.  November 1999  Invited seminar,

Department of Biology, Humbolt State University, Arcata, CA.

Mate choice and female condition in Photinus ignitus flash responsiveness.  June 1999.  Animal

Behavior Society Annual Meeting.  Bucknell University, Bucknell, PA.

Variation in the nuptial gifts of Photinus ignitus males and the potential for female choice. 

January 1998.  Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting.  Boston,

MA.

Professional Activities

Graduate Program Chair:  Biology and Science Education, 2001 - present.

Committee Chair:  All College Committee Teacher Education Council, spring 2003 � 2004.

NCATE Standard 1 Committee spring 2003 � present. 

Biology Graduate Curriculum Committee, 2001 - present.

Committee Member:  Biology Curriculum Committee

Biology Search Committee

Biology Self Study Committee

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

Leadership Steering Committee

Secondary Education Committee

Masters of Arts in Teaching Council

President�s Task Force 2001-2002 on Workforce and Professional Development

Acton Science Discovery Museum Science Advisory Committee.

Reviewer:  Ethology, Journal of Insect Physiology, National Science Foundation Division of

Biological Infrastructure Grants, Oxford University Press, Animal Behavior Society Children�s Book Award.

Supervisor:  Biology Department Graduate Assistant, NSF C-RUI grant research.

Administrator:  Biology Department Website.

Author:  NCATE Program Report Biology Secondary Education.

Co-author:  NEASC Biology Department Self-Study.

Represented Fitchburg State College:  NCATE panel on assessment, AACTE Annual

Meeting, January 2006, San Diego, CA..  NCATE program report workshop, NSTA National

Convention, April 2004, Atlanta, GA and AASCU Conference on Improving Teacher Licensure Test Performance, May 2001, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA.

Invited panel member:  Tufts University 1999 Graduate Student TA Orientation.

Committee Member:  Tufts University 1998 �Excellence in Scholarship and Research�

committee.

Professional Affiliations

Animal Behavior Society, member serving on Education Committee

Association of Science Teacher Educators, member

Council for Undergraduate Research, member

International Society for Behavioral Ecology, member

National Science Teachers Association, member

Sigma Xi, Scientific Research Society, member

Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, affiliated member

References

Dr. George Babich, Chairman, Department of Biology, Fitchburg State College, 160 Pearl Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420.  (978) 665-3245.

Dr. Howard Thomas, Professor, Department of Biology, Fitchburg State College, 160 Pearl Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420.  (978) 665-3618.

Dr. Sara Lewis, Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155. (617) 627-3548.