Dr. Robert K. Okazaki, Ph.D.

 

Professor of Zoology

 

Weber State University

Education

1988 - Ph.D., Aquatic and Population Biology: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA. Dissertation: Factors regulating predation on crab embryos by the nemertean Carcinonemertes: The role of host ecdysteroids. Dr. Armand Kuris: Major Professor and Dr. Ernest Chang (Adjunct co-major professor)

1976 - M.A., Marine Biology: San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA. Thesis: The accumulation of copper in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. Dr. Joel Gustafson: Major Professor.

1971 - A.B., Zoology: University of California, Berkeley, CA.  Drs. Ralph Smith and Cadet Hand: Undergraduate Mentors

 

Honors and Awards

2009   Spencer Seager College of Science Distinguished Teaching Award                                                               

 ‘05 ‘00 ’96   Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers Award

1981-86  Sea Grant Trainee, California Sea Grant College, La Jolla, CA

 

Professional Experience

2004 - Current - Professor, Department of Zoology          Weber State University, Ogden, UT

1999 - 2004 - Associate Professor, Department of Zoology Weber State University, Ogden, UT

1998 - 1999 - Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology Weber State University, Ogden, UT

1996-1997 - Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA

 

1990-96 - Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA

 

1989-90 - Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL (Dr. John Freeman: Project Director)

Cell growth and development in eyestalk-ablated grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio

 

1987 - Research Assistant, Institute of Marine Resources, California Sea Grant College, La Jolla, CA

 

1987 - Teaching Assistant (Problems in Marine Biology) Bodega Marine Laboratory, University of California, Davis,CA

 

1986 - Research Assistant, Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, University of California, Davis, CA

 

1977-81 - Staff Research Associate II, Sanitary Engineering & Environmental Health Research Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA

 

1976-77 - Staff Research Associate I & II, Bodega Marine Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA

 

1976 - Instructor for Marine Biology, Skyline College, San Bruno, CA

 

1973-75 - Staff Biologist, Bodega Bay Institute of Pollution Ecology, Berkeley, CA (Dr. Robert W. Risebrough: Director)

Master Theses

Heslin, L.B. 1995. Cd, Cr,and Pb accumulation in the tissues of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus.  Southeastern Louisiana University

Church, D.R. 1996. Seasonal variation of plasma testosterone titers in male red back salamanders, (Plethodon cinereus). Southeastern Louisiana University

Society and Organizations

American Association for the Advancement of Science

Society for Comparative and Integrative Biology

The Crustacean Society

National Center for Science Education

Western Society of Naturalists

Papers and Posters Presented

Preliminary Molecular Study on Induction of Stress Proteins in Nemerteans

7th International Meeting on Nemertean Biology

Santa Barbara, CA; June-July 2009

 

Nematode Infestation in the Visceral Mass of the Mangrove Crab, Sesarma rectum from 

Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil

Mid-Year Crustean Society Conference

La Serena, Chile; October 2007

 

Stress Proteins in Ribbon Worms (Phylum: Nemertea) During Exposure to Varying Salinities

6th International Meeting on Nemertean Biology

Ogden, UT; June 2004

 

Preliminary Study of Heat Shock Proteins in Nemerteans.

5th International Meeting on Nemertean Biology

Alcala de Henares, Spain; June, 2000

 

Ecdysteroids in Nemerteans: Further Characterization and Identification

4th International Meeting on Nemertean Biology

Pacific Grove, CA; July, 1995

 

Cadmium, Chromium, and Lead Accumulation in the Blue Crab, Callinectes sapidus

The Crustacean Society Second Summer Meeting

Walpole, ME; June, 1994

 

Population Genetics of the Blue Crab, Callinectes sapidus, From Northern Gulf of Mexico

Gulf of Mexico Symposium

Tarpon Springs, FL; December, 1992

Tarpon Springs, FL; December, 1992

 

The Relationship of 

Ecdysteroids to Nemertean

Reproduction

Southeast Regional Conference in Comparative Endocrinology

Tulane University; New Orleans, LA; October, 1991

 

Nemertean Ecdysteroids: Relationship to Reproduction

3rd International Meeting on Nemertean Biology

Bangor, Wales; August, 1991

 

Cell Growth and Cuticle Expansion in Eyestalk-Ablated Palaemonetes

Crustacea Poster Session: American Society of Zoologists Meetings

Boston, MA; December, 1989

 

Ecdysteroids in the Embryos and Sera of Crabs, Cancer magister and C. anthonyi

Comparative Endocrinology: American Society of Zoologists Meetings

San Francisco, CA; December, 1988

 

Ecdysteroids in Nemerteans: Presence and Physiological Role

2nd International Meeting on Nemertean Biology

Tjarno Marine Biological Laboratory, Sweden; August, 1986

 

Aspects of Feeding Behavior of Carcinonemertes errans (Nemertea), An Egg Predator of the Dungeness Crab, Cancer magister

Pathology in Marine Aquaculture

Montpellier, France; September, 1984

 

Egg Predation Effects of  Nemertean 

Carcinonemertes on Distribution of Egg Mortality in the Broods of Two Cancrid Crabs

1st International Meeting on Nemertean Biology

Philadelphia, PA; December, 1983