Robert F. Waldeck, Ph.D.

 

                                                                                                                           waldeckr2@uofs.edu

 

 

(570) 941-4324 - Work

                                                                                                                               

 

 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

 

Assistant Professor, University of Scranton (Fall, 2001-present) Full time teaching of physiology and neurobiology, as well as research.

 

Visiting Assistant Professor, St. Joseph’s University (September, 2000-June, 2001)

One year full-time teaching of upper class lecture and laboratories in Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy and Developmental Biology, as well as systematic physiology and core biology labs and general biology courses for non-majors. Design of course, syllabus, selection of laboratory exercises, and laboratory preparation.

 

Adjunct Professor, University of Delaware Parallel Program-Wilmington (Fall, 1998-May, 2001)

Instruction of Introductory to Biology I & II, Introductory Lab, and Human Physiology. Development and design of course, syllabus, selection of laboratory exercises, and laboratory preparation.

 

Adjunct Professor, MCP-Hahnemann University of the Health Sciences (2000-present)

Continue to lecture for traditional and independent learning course for first year medical students and graduate students.

 

Instructor, MCP-Hahnemann University of the Health Sciences  (1992-2000)

Shared teaching duties for traditional Neuroscience course and independent programmed learning course for first year medical students and graduate students. Duties included lectures on neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, review sections, case studies, and instruction in all laboratory assignments for the course (which included physiological and anatomical characterization of sensory and motor systems and their connectivity to higher integrative areas of the brain).

 

Visiting Lecturer, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (1999)

Lectured on reproductive Physiology.

 

Laboratory Coordinator, Temple University (1987-1991)

Supervised and trained teaching assistants for advanced undergraduate laboratory in mammalian physiology. Responsible for developing and updating lab student manual and upkeep of equipment. Oversaw daily operation of laboratories and handled classroom problems.

 

Instructor, Temple University (1986-1991) Taught undergraduate general biology and mammalian physiology laboratory sessions.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

 

Post-Doctoral Fellow, MCP-Hahnemann University of the Health Science  (1992-2000)

 

Synaptic Mechanisms of Plasticity. Use of the Mauthner (M-) cell preparation as an experimental model for synaptic depression and recovery of function following injury. Simultaneous intracellular recording from presynaptic and postsynaptic sides of the synaptic contact and dye injection to study the molecular mechanism of synaptic depression.  Working with Dr. Donald Faber.

 

Motoneuron Disease. Study neuro-degenerative processes occurring in a canine model of human motoneuron disease using intracellular recording from motoneurons of the lumbar region of the spinal cord, nerve recording, EMG, and measurement of muscle contractile properties.  Working with Dr. Martin Pinter.

 

Peripheral Nerve Regeneration. Examination of cat trochlear motoneurons and motor unit contractile properties following regeneration.  Worked with Dr. Hazel Murphy and Dr. Pinter.

 

 

Ph.D. Dissertation, Temple University (1992)

Behavioral, anatomical and physiological investigation of the neural basis of visually guided behavior of amphibians following lesioning of the optic chiasm.

 

Wood's Hole Biological Laboratory, Wood's Hole, Mass. (1989). Summer course included projects in intracellular recording of invertebrate preparations (leech, Aplysia) including voltage clamping. Histochemical techniques included HRP, DiI, and antibody techniques. Individual projects included a study of certain potassium channels using voltage clamping technique.

 

Project Supervisor, Inst. for Survey Research (1983-1986)     

Supervisor of survey research projects. Author of instruction manuals for staff training session. Responsible for recruitment, training, and oversight of editing, coding, and processing of national research projects.

 

Professional Organizations

 

Member of Society of Neuroscience.

Member of Facility for Undergraduate Neuroscience

Representative of the Neurobiology & Anatomy Department: Sleep Academic Award

Advisory Committee. (1998 - present)

Secretary: Regional Chapter, Society of Neuroscience. (1997- 2001).

 

Workshops Attended

 

·        Winter Session on Neural Plasticity. Grenada. February 18-25, 1994

·        Pre-synaptic Mechanisms of Neurotransmission. San Diego, CA Novemeber 9-11, 1995

·        Boden Conference on Synaptic Transmission. Lake Crackenback, Australia. January 24-27, 1998

·        Study techiniques of Quantal analysis. Visit to Dr.Christian Stricker’s Laboratory. Department of Neuroinformatics. Zurich, Switzerland. August 7-13, 1999

 

EDUCATION

 

Temple University, Ph.D-1992

Temple University, M.A.-1988

University of Delaware, M.P.A. -1981

Lehigh University. B.A.- 1979

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

Hsu, F.C., Waldeck, R., Faber, D.S., and S.S. Smith. Neurosteroid effects on GABAergic synaptic plasticity in hippocampus. J. Neurophysiology 89: 1929-1940. (2003)

 

Rich, M.M., Waldeck, R.F., Cork, L.C., Balice-Gordon, R.J., Fyffe, R.E.W., Wang, X. Cope, T.C. and M.J. Pinter. Reduced endplate currents underlie motor unit dysfunction in canine motor neuron disease. J Neurophysiology 88: 3293-3304. (2002)

 

Waldeck, R.F., Pereda, A., and D.S. Faber. Properties and plasticity of paired-pulse depression at a central synapse. J Neuroscience 20: 5312-5320. (2000)

 

Faber, D.S., Waldeck, R.F., and A. Pereda. Synaptic depression at an identified central synapse: evidence for different constraints on evoked and spontaneous quanta. In, “Central Synapses: Quantal Mechanisms and Plasticity” Eds. D.S. Faber, S.J. Redman, S.M. Thompson and J.S. Altman. HFSP, Strasburg, 1998.

 

Pinter, M.J., Waldeck, R.F., Cope, T.C., and L.C. Cork. Effects of 4 - aminopyridine on muscle and motor unit force in canine motor neuron disease. J. Neuroscience 17: 4500-4507. (1997)

 

Weber, B., Waldeck, R.F., and E.R. Gruberg. Seeing beyond the midline: the role of the contralateral isthmotectal projection in the leopard frog. Visual Neuroscience 13: 467-476. 1996.

 

Itoh, Y., Waldeck, R.F., Tessler, A. and M.J. Pinter. Regenerated dorsal root fibers form functional synapses in embryonic spinal cord transplants. J. Neurophysiology 76: 1236-1245. (1996)

 

Waldeck, R.F., Murphy, E.H., and Pinter, M.J. Properties of motor units following self-reinnervation of the cat superior oblique muscle. J. Neurophysiology 74: 2309-2318. (1995)

 

Waldeck, R.F. and Gruberg, E.R. Studies on the optic chiasm of the leopard frog. I Selective loss of visually elicited avoidance behavior after optic chiasm hemisection. Brain, Behav. Evol. 46:64-94. (1995)

 

Waldeck, R.F. and Gruberg, E.R. Regrowth of optic fibers and behavioral recovery after optic chiasm transection. Exp. Neurol. 132: 229-238. (1995)

 

Tsai, J., Waldeck, R.F., and Gruberg, E.R. Studies on the optic chiasm of the leopard frog. II. Organization of retinotectal fibers in the optic chaism. Brain Behav. Evol. 46: 95-107. (1995)

 

Pinter, M.J., Waldeck, R.F., Wallace, N., and Cork, L.C. Motor unit behavior in canine motor neuron disease. J. Neuroscience 15: 3447-3457. (1995)

 

Waldeck, R.F. and Gruberg, E.R. Optic chiasm and the parsing of visual information in frogs. In: “Visual Structures and Integrated Functions.” J.A. Arbib and J.-P. Ewert (eds.) (1991)

 

Gruberg, E.R., Wallace, M. and R. Waldeck. Relationship between isthmotectal fibers and other tectopetal systems in the leopard frog. J. Comp. Neurol. 288: 39-50. (1989)

 

ABSTRACTS

 

Waldeck, R.F. and L. Sheypuk. Basis of recovery of motor behavior in goldfish. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. (2003)

 

F. –C. Hsu, Waldeck, R.F., Faber, D.S., and S.S. Smith. Estrous hormones alter the kinetics of miniature IPSCs of pyramidal cells in CA1 hippocampus. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 25:491.5 1999.

 

D.S. Faber and R.F. Waldeck. Altered kinetics of transmitter release during synaptic depression. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 25:187.15 1999.

 

Waldeck, R.F. and D.S. Faber. Presynaptic Ca2+ injections increase synaptic transmission and decrease synaptic depression at a fast central synapse. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 23: 887.17, 1997.

 

Battisti, W.P., Bozek, K., Waldeck, R.F., Lewis, C., Faber, D.S. and M. Murray. Extracellular matrix molecules in the goldfish spinal cord and their relation to regenerating Mauthner cell axons.  Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 23: 676.15, 1997.

 

Waldeck, R.F. , Pinter, M.J., Cope, T.C., and L.C. Cork. Effects of 4 - aminopyridine on muscle and motor unit force in canine motor neuron disease. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 1996.

 

Waldeck, R.F., Pereda, A., and Faber, D.S. Does depletion account for paired pulse depression at a fast synapse? Soc. Neurosci. Abstr., 1995.

 

Faber, D.S., Waldeck, R.F., and Pereda, A. Multiple modes of transmitter release at a fast synapse. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr., 1995.

 

Waldeck, R.F., Murphy, E.H. and Pinter, M.J. Physiological characteristics of trochlear motoneurons following reinnervation of cat extraocular muscle. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 20:25. 1994.

 

Iannuzzeli, P.G., Murray, M., Waldeck, R. , Pinter, M.J., and Murphy, E.H. Anomalous nonmyelinated branches of axotomized trochlear motor neurons are eliminated in long term regenerated trochlear nerves. FASEB Abstracts vol.9, submitted, 1995.

 

Waldeck, R.F. and Gruberg, E.R. Abnormal recovery of responses to visually presented prey and looming stimuli after transection of the optic chiasm in Rana pipiens. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 18:1310. 1992.

 

Waldeck, R.F., Tsai, J., and Gruberg, E.R. Organization of retinotectal fibers in the optic chiasm of Rana pipien. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 17:111. 1991.

 

 

Waldeck, R.F. and Gruberg, E.R. Prey catching is spared after hemisection of the optic chiasm in the frog. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 15: 460. 1989.

 

Gruberg, E.R., Wallace, M. T., Waldeck, R.F. Relationship between isthmotectal and retinotectal fibers in the frog, Rana pipiens. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 13:432. 1987.