SCIENTIST. ARTIST. FISHERMAN.
A LITTLE ABOUT ME
After graduating from Cornell University in 2016 with a BS in biology and a concentration in marine biology, I immediately started my PhD in biology at Wake Forest University in Dr. Miriam Ashley-Ross' lab. My research interests include fish functional morphology, biomechanics, and behavior, with a special focus on how amphibious fishes move and orient on land. In addition to being a PhD candidate, I am an artist that uses photography, Photoshop, and a biochemical technique called clearing and staining to create skeletal images of vertebrates. I am also a competitive fisherman on a mission to catch every species of fish (currently at 368!) and a scientific blogger for the journal Integrative Organismal Biology, Integrative and Comparative Biology, The Company of Biologists through Outside JEB, and the Discovery Channel TV show, A Fishing Story. At the end of May 2020, I will be starting as a Postdoctoral Scholar at Chapman University researching in Dr. Doug Fudge's lab. There, I will be working on developing biomimetic hagfish slime.
CURRENT RESEARCH
EMERSION AND FUNCTIONAL TERRESTRIAL LOCOMOTION BY THE INVASIVE NORTHERN SNAKEHEAD (CHANNA ARGUS)
In collaboration with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, I am studying the terrestrial locomotion, behaviors, and emersion of the Northern Snakehead, an invasive species throughout the United States. Using a combination of EMG and high-speed video, I am describing how they are able to move overland on a variety of substrates over a broad size range. I am also describing environmental factors that cause them to emerge from the water.
TERRESTRIAL ORIENTATION AND NATURAL HISTORY OF THE INVASIVE WALKING CATFISH (CLARIAS BATRACHUS)
Walking Catfish are an invasive species in southern Florida that can breathe air and move well on land. While many amphibious fishes only come onto land during the day and use vision to orient out of water, Walking Catfish have relatively small eyes and often come onto land at night. In collaboration with the University of Florida, I am using behavioral experiments to determine the senses and cues these fish use to orient out of water. Preliminary data suggests they use chemoreception, particularly taste, to find their way around on land. Additionally, I am crowd-sourcing natural history data on this species by analyzing YouTube videos and interviewing Floridians about the conditions surrounding sightings of Walking Catfish on land.
ORAL COLLAGEN DISTRIBUTION IN LORICARIOID CATFISHES
Many Loricarioid catfishes (which include plecos and suckerfish) have oral sucker discs to help them adhere to the substrate. However, this highly diverse superfamily exhibits a great range in mouth morphology. In collaboration with several other institutions, we are describing the oral soft tissue anatomy and diversity. Using staining techniques, morphometrics, ecological data, and phylogenetics, we have determine that plecos living in high flow, rocky environments have thicker lips with more collagen than those in low flow to help them hold on.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Contact me for a full list of publications and free PDFs at:
A WALKING BEHAVIOR GENERATES FUNCTIONAL OVERLAND MOVEMENTS IN THE TIDEPOOL SCULPIN, OLIGOCOTTUS MACULOSUS
WHERE DO FISH GO WHEN STRANDED ON LAND? TERRESTRIAL ORIENTATION OF THE MANGROVE RIVULUS KRYPTOLEBIAS MARMORATUS
GALLERY
To arrange art exhibits/shows, please contact me at: noahbressman@gmail.com. To purchase artwork in a variety of sizes, colors, and media, please contact me or check out my online shop: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/noah-bressman. All artwork here is trademarked and property of Noah Bressman.
RECENT BLOG POSTS
February 25th, 2020
February 3, 2020
June 27th, 2019
February 5th, 2019
December 11th, 2018
November 11th, 2018
October 22nd, 2018
September 24th, 2019
LIMITED CV
May 2020
OUTSTANDING BIOLOGY GRADUATE STUDENT AWARD
Awarded by the Biology Department at Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
January 2019
FINALIST - SICB BEST STUDENT PAPER COMPETITION
Finalist in the Best Student Paper Competition for Division of Comparative Biomechanics at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology's Annual Meeting in Tampa, FL. Presented my research on the emersion and terrestrial locomotion of the invasive Northern Snakehead (Channa argus).
November 2018
ANIMAL SUPER POWERS GRANT
Received a crowd-funded grant from Experiment.com to study the terrestrial orientation and natural history of invasive Walking Catfish in Florida. $1002.
Spring 2017
NOMINATION TO THE MID-ATLANTIC FISHERIES MANAGEMENT COUNCIL
While I ultimately did not receive the federal appointment, I was one of three nominees by NY Governor Andrew Cuomo to represent New York State on the MAFMC.
August 2016 - Present
PHD CANDIDATE - WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY
PhD candidate in biology at Wake Forest University, studying fish biomechanics, functional morphology, and behavior.
Summer 2016
FISH FUNCTIONAL MORPHOLOGY COURSE - UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
Student in the graduate-level research course at Friday Harbor Labs, University of Washington. Researched the ossification in sculpins, and how it related to habitat and phylogeny.
August 2016 - Present
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP
Received the NSF GRFP in March 2016 to pursue my PhD at Wake Forest University, studying terrestrial locomotion and orientation in fishes.
Summer 2015
BLINKS-NSF REU-BEACON RESEARCH INTERNSHIP - UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
Performed an REU at Friday Harbor Labs with Drs. Alice Gibb and Stacy Farina on the terrestrial locomotion of the Tidepool Sculpin (Oligocottus maculosus)
Spring 2014
ANDREW W. MELLON STUDENT RESEARCH GRANT
Received a research grant to purchase a high-speed camera and study the terrestrial locomotion and orientation of the mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) at Shoals Marine Lab. $800.
August 2012 - May 2016
BACHELOR'S DEGREE - CORNELL UNIVERSITY - MAGNA CUM LAUDE
Graduated from Cornell University with a degree in biology and a concentration in marine biology. Worked as an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Willy Bemis' lab while at Cornell, studying fish functional morphology, behavior, and biomechanics.
2012 - 2017
VOLUNTEER EDUCATOR
Volunteer educator and gallery guide at the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT.
CONTACT ME
Email: