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

• Norris DO. Vertebrate Endocrinology, 4th edition. Academic Press (Elsevier), 2006.


• Norris DO, Carr JA. Endocrine Disruption: Biological Bases for Health Effects in Wildlife and Humans. Oxford University Press, 477 pp, 2005


• Norris DO, Hobbs S. The HPA axis and functions of corticosteroids in fishes. In Reinecke M, Zaccone G, Kapoor BG (eds.) Fish Endocrinology, Enfield, NH: Oxford and Science Publishers, pp. 721-76, 2006.


• Norris DO, Lopez KH. Anatomy of the amphibian endocrine system. In Heatwole H (ed.) Amphibian Biology Vol. 6, Endocrinology. Surrey Beatty & Sons, Chipping Norton, NSW, Australia. pp. 2021-2044, 2005.


• Vajda AM, Norris DO. Effects of steroids and dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) on the developing wolffian ducts of the tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum). General Comparative Endocrinology 141: 1-11, 2005.


• Woodling JD, Lopez EM, Maldonado TA, Norris DO, Vajda AM. Intersex and other reproductive disruption of fish in wastewater effluent dominated Colorado streams. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology C, Toxicology and Pharamcology 144: 10-15, 2006.