David O. Norris David O. Norris, Ph.D. Department of Integrative Physiology University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309-0354 phone: 303-492-8379 fax: 303-492-0811 e-mail: david.norris@colorado.edu

Research Interests

• The neuroendocrine (brain, pituitary gland) control of thyroid, adrenal, and reproductive functions of fishes and amphibians with special interest in the role of environmental factors (natural and anthropogenic) that alter the activities of these systems during development, sexual maturation, reproduction, and aging. Recent studies have focused on aging in the salmon brain, metamorphosis in amphibians, sex-changes in fishes, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals on amphibian development and sexual differentiation, trout stress responses, and estrogenic chemicals in waste water effluents on fish sexual differentiation and reproduction.


• Basic research and consulting work in forensic botany, including the identification of plant food materials in gastric, intestinal, and fecal sampes from homocide victims and related forensic uses of plants.


• Environmental and Comparative Endocrinology.

Education

• 1961, B.S., Baldwin-Wallace College


• 1966, Ph.D. University of Washington

Professional Experience

• 1966-1970, Assistant Professor, Department of EPO Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO


• 1971-1978, Associate Professor, Department of EPO Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO


• 1974, Visiting Associate Professor, Department of Zoology, University of California at Berkeley


• 1983-1984, Visiting Professor, Department of Zoology, Oregon State University


• 1978-2003, Professor, Department of EPO Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO


• 2003-Present, Professor, Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO

Honors and Awards

• 1961, Honors in Biology, Baldwin-Wallace College


• 1961, Charles F. Steward Award


• 1964-1966, NASA Predoctoral Fellowship


• 1966, NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship


• 1969, Citation of Achievement in Science, Baldwin-Wallace College


• 1996, CU Boulder Faculty Assembly, Excellence in Service Award


• 1998, Irving Geschwind Memorial Lecturer


• 2005, Alumni Hall of Fame, Ashtabula (OH) School System


• 2006 Robert L. Stearns Award, CU Alumni Association.

Recent Publications

• Brinkman S, Woodling JD, Vajda AM, Norris DO. Chronic toxicity of ammonia to early life-stage rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 138: 433-440, 2009


• Linenfelser B, Norris DO, Vajda A. Estrogenic chemicals in wastewater and their effects on fish reproduction. Rumbles 48: 23-26.


• McGee MR, Julius ML, Vajda AM, Norris DO, Barber LB, Schoenfuss, HL.   Predator avoidance performance of larval fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) following short-term exposure to estrogen mixtures. Aquatic Toxicology 91: 355-361, 2009.


• Norris, DO and Vajda, AM. 2007. Endocrine active chemicals (EACs) in wastewater: Effects on health of wildlife and humans. Impact 9: 15-16, 2009.


• Vajda, AM, Barber, LB, Gray JL, Lopez, EM, Woodling, JD, Norris, DO. Intersex and other forms of reproductive disruption in white suckers (Catostomus commersoni) downstream of a wastewater treatment plant effluent. Environmental Science and Technology  42: 3407-3414, 2008.