Degrees
B.A. (honors) in Biological
Sciences, University of Chicago, 1987. Thesis: "Effects of prostaglandin
E2 on the post-copulatory vocalization of the male rat."
M.S. in Zoology, University
of Florida, 1992. Thesis: "Bacular scaling in megachiropteran bats."
Ph.D. in Zoology, University
of Florida, 1997. Dissertation: "A phylogenetic approach to the evolution
of mammalian genital form, with emphasis on the megachiropteran bats."
My interests
Evolutionary morphology:
how animal genital anatomy has changed over time
Evolutionary psychology:
how the human mind expresses fitness conflicts through story-telling (movies)
Culture and economics of
science: how grant money defines and limits scientific research and teaching
Academic job history
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(Current) Assistant Professor,
one-year position, Department of Biology, DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois:
Intro Biology, journal club (organizer), teaching discussion group (organizer).
Upcoming courses include Principles of Biology, Rat's Eye View Chicago,
Vertebrate Diversity and Evolution.
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Visiting Scholar, Conceptual
Foundations of Science, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
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Assistant Professor, Valdosta
State University, Valdosta, Georgia: Intro Biology and labs, Human Biology;
1998-1999.
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Instructor, University of Florida,
Gainesville, Florida: Vertebrate Anatomy, Animal Physiology, various basic
biology courses, Science Writing, and more; 1989-1998.
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Laboratory assistant; workshop
design and preparation, Education Core of the Interdisciplinary Center
for Biotechnology Research (ICBR), Shands Hospital, University of Florida;
summer 1998.
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Statistics consulting: just
about anything biological and messy, 1995-1999: community ecology of botanical
epiphytes, sea turtle shell morphology, sea turtle nest site selection
behavior, human reproductive tract flora and infection, fossil clam morphology
and evolution, equine allergic responses
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Research assistant, Mammal Division,
Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 1987-1989.
Teaching Publications
Teaching Presentations
Research Publications
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Edwards, R. 1993. Mammalogical
and entomological perspectives on how animal genitalia evolve. Trends in
Ecology and Evolution 8(11):406-409.
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Lanciani, C., and Edwards, R.
1993. Effect of photoperiod on wing area in Anopheles quadrimaculatus.
Florida Entomologist 76:622-626.
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Edwards, R. 1994. Genital morphology:
R. Edwards replies. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 9:186.
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Kiltie, R., and Edwards, R.
1998. Interspecific correlates of squirrel coat patterns: ecology, taxonomy,
and body size. In M.A. Steele and D.A. Zegers (eds.) Ecology and evolutionary
biology of tree squirrels. Special Publication, Virginia Museum of
Natural History.
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Edwards, R. Penis evolution
in primates: social mating system divorced from anatomy (in prep).
Research Presentations
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Edwards, R. 1991. "Scaling of
bacular size and shape in megachiropteran bats" (poster). American Society
of Zoologists.
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Edwards, R. 1992. "Bacular size
and shape in megachiropteran bats" (talk). American Society of Mammalogists.
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Edwards, R. 1993. "Mammalogical
and entomological views on how genitals evolve" (talk). Graduate Student
Forum, University of Florida.
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Edwards, R., and C.J.K. Peterhans.
1993. "Male and female genital evolution in the Macroglossinae" (poster).
American Society of Mammalogists.
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Edwards, R., and R. Kiltie.
1994. "Color patterns in the Sciuridae" (poster). American Society of Mammalogists.
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Edwards, R. 1995. "The amniote
cloaca and its mammalian derivatives," (workshop talk). American Society
of Mammalogists.
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Edwards, R. 1995. "Grant overhead
in scientific theory, practice, and education" (talk). American Society
of Zoologists.
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Edwards, R. 1996. "Comparative
analysis by independent contrasts of chiropteran bacula" (talk). American
Society of Zoologists.
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Edwards, R. 1996. "The evolutionary
psychology of Hollywood movies" (talk). American Society of Zoologists.
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Edwards, R. 1997. "Penis evolution
in primates: new evidence and novel hypotheses" (talk). Society for Comparative
and Integrative Biology (formerly ASZ).
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Edwards, R. 1997. "The naturalistic
fallacy and public policy: the abortion debate" (talk). Society for Comparative
and Integrative Biology (formerly ASZ).
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Edwards, R. 1999. Male
and female conflict of interest in Pretty Woman. 5th Annual Women's
Studies Conference, Valdosta State University.
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Edwards, R. 2000. The evolution
of reproductive anatomy and behavior in primates. Evolutionary Morphology
seminar series, University of Chicago.
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Edwards, R. 2000. The evolution
of genital anatomy in megachiropteran bats. Department of Biology seminar,
DePaul University.
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Edwards, R. 2000. Grant overhead,
academia, and you. Conceptual Foundations of Science lunchtime seminar,
University of Chicago.
Some highlights
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Designed and taught the course
Professional Science Writing at the U of Florida, 1992; based in part on
the teachings and research of Joseph Williams
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Designed and chaired the workshop
on the evolution of mammal genitalia; 1995 Annual Meetings of the American
Society of Mammalogists
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Introduced evolutionary psychology
to the study of narrative, specifically movies, 1997-1999
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Designed and taught the course
Human Biology at VSU, 1999
Academic service & consulting
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Organizing Committee, Annual
Meetings of the North American Bat Research Symposium, 1993
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Organizer and Chair of Workshop
on the Evolution of Mammalian Genitals, American Society of Mammalogists,
June 1995
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Undergraduate Task Force graduate
representative, 1995
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Undergraduate Committee graduate
representative, 1993-1995
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Undergraduate Research Assistance
Program coordinator, 1993-1996
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Reviewer for BioInquiry text,
Jon Wiley & Sons, 1998
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Reviewer for biology texts,
laboratory text, and Internet guide, Prentice Hall Publishing, 1995-1997
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Evolutionary psychology of film
treatments; story consulting for Eightfold Entertainment, 1997
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Organizing Committee, 5th Annual
Women's Studies Conference, Valdosta State University.
Awards
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College of Liberal Arts and
Sciences Teaching Award, nominated 1994 and 1995
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Best Paper, Annual Meeting of
the Florida Academy of Sciences, 1995
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Best Presentation, College of
Liberal Arts and Sciences Graduate Student Forum, University of Florida,
1995
Non-academic stuff
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Martial arts: old-style Taekwon-Do,
Yang style Tai Chi, kickboxing
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Pop culture: comic books, movies,
science fiction, role-playing games, and other marginal activities
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