John R Finnerty
I am unlikely marine scientist….
An evolutionary biologist since the age of 4, I am probably the most unlikely "marine" scientist in the Boston University Marine Program. I was born and raised in a Pennsylvania coal town, and I didn't so much as dip his toe into the sea until after graduating high school. I came to marine science somewhat accidentally during my graduate training in Chicago (yes, I knew that the big body of water on the east side of town was technically a lake).
I have a history of developing new model systems to study big questions in marine biology….
As a PhD student in the laboratory of Barbara Block, I helped elucidate the evolution of warm-blooded fishes, a story that was published in Science and recognized by Discover magazine as one of the top 100 scientific findings of the year.
As a post-doc in the lab of Mark Martindale, I conducted the first molecular studies on the starlet sea anemone, Nematostella vectensis, and played a leading role in developing this inconspicuous salt marsh invertebrate into a leading laboratory model system. “Stella” would go on to be the first marine animal whose genome was sequenced (and published in Science). She subsequently appeared in textbooks, a best-selling popular science book, and the New York Times.
Since joining the faculty at Boston University, I have continued to work on the genomic and developmental evolution of Nematostella, while expanding into comparative studies on related sea anemones and corals. Increasingly, my research is focused on how the genomic and developmental diversity of marine animals might impact their ability to survive in the face of a rapidly changing environment. In this effort, the members of his lab have joined a larger fellowship of “Coral Whisiperers” dedicated to understanding coral resilience and promoting coral reef conservation.
I take a creative approach to teaching….
I have received two of BU’s most prestigious teaching awards, the Gitner Award and the Metcalf Award. According to BU’s President, Robert Brown, I have an “infectiously interactive classroom style.” I've been called “Game Maker” for my tendency to incorporate competitive play into the learning process. I am a passionate advocate of undergraduate research—over 20 BU undergraduates have co-authored scientific papers through their research in my lab, much of it coming from projects begun during the Marine Semester.
For more information, see my departmental web page.
Address: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
An evolutionary biologist since the age of 4, I am probably the most unlikely "marine" scientist in the Boston University Marine Program. I was born and raised in a Pennsylvania coal town, and I didn't so much as dip his toe into the sea until after graduating high school. I came to marine science somewhat accidentally during my graduate training in Chicago (yes, I knew that the big body of water on the east side of town was technically a lake).
I have a history of developing new model systems to study big questions in marine biology….
As a PhD student in the laboratory of Barbara Block, I helped elucidate the evolution of warm-blooded fishes, a story that was published in Science and recognized by Discover magazine as one of the top 100 scientific findings of the year.
As a post-doc in the lab of Mark Martindale, I conducted the first molecular studies on the starlet sea anemone, Nematostella vectensis, and played a leading role in developing this inconspicuous salt marsh invertebrate into a leading laboratory model system. “Stella” would go on to be the first marine animal whose genome was sequenced (and published in Science). She subsequently appeared in textbooks, a best-selling popular science book, and the New York Times.
Since joining the faculty at Boston University, I have continued to work on the genomic and developmental evolution of Nematostella, while expanding into comparative studies on related sea anemones and corals. Increasingly, my research is focused on how the genomic and developmental diversity of marine animals might impact their ability to survive in the face of a rapidly changing environment. In this effort, the members of his lab have joined a larger fellowship of “Coral Whisiperers” dedicated to understanding coral resilience and promoting coral reef conservation.
I take a creative approach to teaching….
I have received two of BU’s most prestigious teaching awards, the Gitner Award and the Metcalf Award. According to BU’s President, Robert Brown, I have an “infectiously interactive classroom style.” I've been called “Game Maker” for my tendency to incorporate competitive play into the learning process. I am a passionate advocate of undergraduate research—over 20 BU undergraduates have co-authored scientific papers through their research in my lab, much of it coming from projects begun during the Marine Semester.
For more information, see my departmental web page.
Address: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
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