Comparative Physiology
Susan L. Edwards, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Assistant Chairperson
Ph.D.; Deakin University; Victoria, Australia
M.Sc.; The University of Melbourne; Victoria, Australia
B.Sc; Deakin University; Victoria, Australia
Grad Certificate Education (Tertiary Teaching); James Cook University; Queensland, Australia
Rankin South 208A
Telephone (828) 262-2679
Fax (828) 262-2127
edwardssl@appstate.edu
Website: http://www.appstate.edu/~edwardssl/EdwardsLab/Edwards_lab/Comparative_Physiology.html
Professional experience:
- 2007 - Current; Assistant Professor; Applachian State University
- 2002 - 2007: Senior Lecuturer (US Associate Professor equivilant); Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Molecular Sciences; James Cook University; Cairns, Australia
- 2000 - 2002; Visiting Assistant Professor; Department of Biology; Georgia Southern University; Statesboro, GA
Teaching specialties:
- Human anatomy and physiology
- Comparative animal physiology
- Pathophysiology
Areas of expertise:
- Osmoregulation in fishes
- Acid/base physiology
- Environmental impacts on fish homeostasis
- Ion transport
- Membrane physiology
Current Teaching:
- BIO 3301 - Human Systems Physiology
- BIO 3534 / BIO 5534 - Comparative Animal Physiology
- BIO 1802 - Biological Concepts II
Honors / awards:
- New Investigator Award; Salisbury Cove Research Fund; 2005-2009
- Bodil Schmidt-Nielson Fellowship; Mt Desert Island Biological Laboratory; 2005
- Travel Award; International Union of Physiologists; 2005
- Physiology Insights Fellowship; The American Physiology Society; 2002
- Physiology Insights Fellowship; The American Physiology Society; 2001
Professional affiliations:
- Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology
- American Fisheries Society
- The American Physiology Society
- Australian and New Zealand Society of Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry
- The Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory
Research:
My research is based upon gaining a greater understanding of the physiological processes associated with the maintenance of acid/base and osmoregulatory homeostasis in fishes: Specifically the role epithelial transport proteins and environmental salinity. We use an integrative approach to our research combining systemic physiology with biochemistry and molecular biology to answer fundamental research questions.
Current research projects underway in the Edwards Lab:
- Osmoregulation in an extant agnathan fish the sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus.
- The role of the sodium proton exchangers (NHEs) in the ability of fishes to maintain acid/base balance.
- Identification and regulation of Rh glycoproteins in primitive fishes
My research philosophy: I want to encourage students to be free to follow their research passion in a supportive environment. I strongly encourage students to pursue opportunities for study and travel abroad through collaborative research associations and participation at both national and international conferences.
Current Graduate Students:
- Rick de Triquet: The Abelson Oncogene: Potential for conserved function within zebrafish and humans
- Sal Blair: Comparative strategies for osmoregulation in land-locked and anadromous sea lamprey
Students interested in pursuing M.Sc research projects within the Edwards lab should contact Dr Edwards directly at edwardssl@appstate.edu
Selected publications:
Claiborne, J.B., Choe, K.P., Evans, D.H., Freiji, A., Havird, J., Morrison-Shetlar, A.I., Weakley, J.C. and Edwards, S.L. (2008). Molecular detection and immunological localization of gill Na+/H+ exchange (NHE2) in the dogfish (Squalus acanthias). Am. J. Physiol. Reg Inter. Physiol. 294(3):R1092-102
Choe, K.P. Edwards, S.L. Claiborne, J.B. Evans, D.H. (2007). The putative mechanism of Na+ absorption in euryhaline elasmobranchs exists in the gills of a stenohaline marine elasmobranch, Squalus acanthias 146(2):155-62
Catches J.S, Burns, J.M. Edwards, S.L., Claiborne, J.B. (2006). Na+/H+ antiporter (NHE2), V-type H+ATPase and Na+/K+-ATPase immunolocalisation in a marine teleost (Myoxocephalus octodecimspinosus). J.Exp. Biol., 209: 3440-3447.
Edwards, S.L., Wall, B.P., Morrison-Shetlar, A.I., Sligh, S, Weakley, J.C. and Claiborne, J.B. (2005). The effect of environmental hypercapnia and salinity on the expression of NHE-like isoforms in the gills of a euryhaline fish (Fundulus heteroclitus). J. Exp. Zool., 303A 464-475.
Choe, K.P, O'Brien, S, Evans, D.H., Toop, T, Edwards, S.L. (2004) Immunolocalisation of Na+/K+-ATPase, carbonic anhydrase II and vacuolar H+-ATPase in the gills of freshwater adult lamprey Geotria australis. J. Exp. Zool., 301A: 654-665
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