Siena Heights University, 1247 E. Siena Heights Dr., Adrian, MI 49221, twassmer@sienaheights.edu
Current appointment
Professor of Biology, Siena Heights University
Education and Training
Undergraduate Degrees
· 1986: Zwischenprüfung (~B.A.) from the Albert-Ludwigs Universität Freiburg, Germany in Cultural Anthropology, 1.3 (1-6 scale)
· 1987: Vordiplom (~B.S.) from the Albert-Ludwigs Universität Freiburg, Germany in Biology, 2.33 (1-6 scale)
Graduate Degrees
· 1991: Diplom-Biologe (~M.S.) from the Albert-Ludwigs Universität Freiburg, Germany, Biology, 1.5 (1-6 scale). Thesis on Dung beetle ecology. Supervisors: Peter Sowig and Klaus Peschke
· 1998: Dr. rer. nat. (~Ph.D.) from the Universität Konstanz, Germany in Animal Physiology, Ecology, Clinical Psychology cum laude. Thesis on Hibernation in the European hamster. Supervisor: Franziska Wollnik
Postgraduate Education
· 2004 - 2006: Waldorf-/Steiner-School teacher training and certification for high school Biology, Earth Science, and Chemistry
Professional Experience
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1987 - 1991 |
Teaching assistant in botany and zoology lab courses at the biology department of the Albert-Ludwigs Universität Freiburg. |
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1992 - 1993 |
Research assistant at the Institute of Landscape Ecology, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg. Supervisor: Klaus C. Ewald |
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1993 – 1997 |
Research- and teaching assistant in animal behavior, ecology, and evolution at the Biology Department of the University of Konstanz. Supervisors: Franziska Wollnick and Hubert Markl |
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1997 – 1999 |
Project manager of the database project of the Film Archive of Human Ethology (human behavior) of the Max-Planck Society in Andechs, Germany. Supervisor: Irenäus Eibl-Eibesfeldt |
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2000 – 2004 |
eLearning developer and project manager for biochemistry in a nation-wide project for college-level chemistry education (Vernetztes Studium Chemie) funded by the federal government of Germany. Supervisor: Alfred Maelicke |
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2006 – 2010 |
High school science teacher at the Rudolf-Steiner School of Ann Arbor, MI teaching grade 9-12 biology, chemistry, and earth science. |
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2010 – 2016 |
Assistant professor of Biology at Siena Heights University, Adrian, MI, USA |
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2016 – 2022 2022 - |
Associate professor of Biology at Siena Heights University, Adrian, MI, USA Professor of Biology at Siena Heights University, Adrian, MI, USA |
Teaching
- High School
o Geology, Astronomy, Inorganic and Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Botany, Zoology, Evolution, Ecology, Embryology, Gardening, Environmental Science.
- College
o Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II (lecture and lab), Biology Junior and Senior Seminars (4 semesters), Terrestrial Ecology (lecture, field trips and labs), Vertebrate Physiology (lecture and lab), Fresh Water Ecology (lecture, field trips and labs), Evolution (lecture and labs), Environmental Documentaries, Liberal Arts: Justice and Peace, Contemplation and Action.
Research
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-1456-3475, Google Scholar: 50ZWFM0AAAAJ, Web of Science ResearcherID: D-7727-2011
Current Research Fields:
· Ecology of coprophilous beetles in SE Michigan
· Activity patterns of fox squirrels in SE Michigan
Most Relevant Publications
· Wassmer T. 2020a. Phenological Patterns and Seasonal Segregation of Coprophilous Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea and Hydrophilidae) on a Cattle Farm in SE-Michigan, United States Throughout the Year. Front Ecol Evol. 8. doi:10.3389/fevo.2020.563532. [accessed 2020 Nov 2]. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2020.563532/full.
· Wassmer T. 2020b. Attractiveness of Cattle Dung to Coprophilous Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea and Sphaeridiinae) and Their Segregation During the Initial Stages of the Heterotrophic Succession on a Pasture in Southeast Michigan. J Insect Sci. 20(3). doi:10.1093/jisesa/ieaa040. [accessed 2020 Jul 25]. https://academic.oup.com/jinsectscience/article/20/3/13/5851655.
· Wassmer T, Murray D, Boutin S, Fahlman A, Jensen FH, editors. 2020. Ecology and behaviour of free-ranging animals studied by advanced data-logging and tracking techniques. Lausanne: Frontiers Media SA. https://doi.org/10.3389/978-2-88963-792-8.
· Wassmer T, Refinetti R. 2019. Individual Daily and Seasonal Activity Patterns in Fox Squirrels (Sciurus niger) Quantified by Temperature-Sensitive Data Loggers. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 7(179). doi:10.3389/fevo.2019.00179. https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fevo.2019.00179.
· Wassmer T, Wollnik F. 1997. Timing of torpor bouts during hibernation in European hamsters (Cricetus cricetus L.). Journal of comparative physiology B, Biochemical, systemic, and environmental physiology. 167(4):270–9. doi: 10.1007/s003600050074
Membership in Scientific Societies
· American Society of Mammologists
· The Coleopterist's Society
· Ecological Society of America
· Entomological Society of America
Committee Work
· 2012 – today Institutional Review Board (IRB): Member
· 2014 – today Sustainability Committee: Chair and founder
· 2013 – today Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC): Co-Chair and founder
· 2014 – 2016 Social responsibility committee: Member
Community Service
· 2012 – 2018 Lenawee County Intermediate School District Stubnitz Environmental Education Partnership Advisory Board (SEEPAB)
· 2012 – 2016 Adopt a River – citizen monitoring of River Raisin, River Raisin Watershed Council
· May to December 2018: Climate Adaptation Task Force of the National Sierra Club
· 2013 – today Adrian - Oil and Gas Blog: Following the oil and gas exploitation in and around Adrian, Michigan and how these events in our little city connect to the global environmental situation. https://adrianoil.blogspot.com
· 2015 – today Environmental Documentary Series open and free for the university and wider community: https://www.shusustainability.org/environmental-documentaries.html
· 2018 – today Adrian International Film Festival: Planning committee member and judge for short and feature documentaries: https://www.adrianfilm.org
· 2021: Michigan Climate Change Advisory Workgroup
· 2020 -today: Michigan Campus Sustainability Collective
· 2017-now: Running the Siena Heights University weather station and the East Adrian air quality monitor
· 2022 – Lenawee County Intermediate School District Natural Resources Advisory Board