VITA
Michael Lawrence Dini
Associate Professor
Dept. of Biological Sciences
Box 43131
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX 79409-3131
(806) 742-2729
FAX: (806) 742-2963
E-mail: michael.dini@ttu.edu
Michael Lawrence Dini
Associate Professor
Dept. of Biological Sciences
Box 43131
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX 79409-3131
(806) 742-2729
FAX: (806) 742-2963
E-mail: michael.dini@ttu.edu
EDUCATION
1984-1989, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, Ph.D., Biology.
1977-1979, Loyola-Marymount University, Los Angeles, California, California Secondary Single-Subject Teaching Credential, upgraded to LIFE status in 1982.
1972-1977, St. Mary's College, Moraga, California, B.S. in Biology.
HONORS
Carlos Freitas Award in Biology upon graduation from St. Mary's College.
Magna cum laude, St. Mary's College.
Schmidt Fellowship awarded upon entrance to Department of Biology, University of Notre Dame.
Featured in 1995 edition of La Ventana yearbook of Texas Tech University which included a series on exceptional faculty members.
Named 1998-1999 "Teacher of the Year" by the Honors College at Texas Tech University.
Recipient of a Professing Excellence Award from the Success Center of the Texas Tech Department of Housing and Residence Life, April 2003.
National Academies Education Fellow in Life Sciences, August 2004-August 2005.
President's Award for Excellence in Teaching, April 2005.
Named 2004-2005 "Teacher of the Year" by the Honors College at Texas Tech University.
PUBLISHED ABSTRACTS
Dini, M.L. and S.R. Carpenter. 1987. Variability in zooplankton behavior following fish community manipulations. 50th annual meeting of the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography. Presented by M.L. Dini.
Dini, Michael L. and S.R. Carpenter. 1988. Variable zooplankton species composition and migratory behavior following fish community manipulations. 73rd annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America. Presented by M.L. Dini.
DISSERTATION
Dini, M.L. 1989. The adaptive significance of diel vertical migration in Daphnia. Ph.D. dissertation. University of Notre Dame.
PUBLICATIONS
Dini, M.L., J. O'Donnell, M.M. Elser, J.J. Elser and A.M. Bergquist. 1987. Daphnia size structure, vertical migration of phosphorus redistribution. Hydrobiologia 150: 185-191.
Dini, M.L. and S.R. Carpenter. 1988. Variability in Daphnia behavior following fish community manipulations. Journal of Plankton Research 10: 621-635.
Dini, M.L. and S.R. Carpenter. 1991. The effect of whole-lake manipulations on Daphnia migratory behavior. Limnology and Oceanography 36: 370-377.
Dini, M.L. and S.R. Carpenter. 1992. Fish predators, food availability and diel vertical migration in Daphnia. Journal of Plankton Research 14: 359-377.
Dini, Michael L., P.A. Soranno, Mark Scheuerell and S.R. Carpenter. 1993. Effects of predators and food supply in diel vertical migration of Daphnia. Chapter 9 in Cascading Trophic Interactions, (S.R. Carpenter and J.F. Kitchell, eds.), Cambridge University Press.
Sundberg, M.D. and M.L. Dini. 1993. Majors vs. nonmajors: Is there a difference? Journal of College Science Teaching 22: 299-304.
Sundberg, M.D., M.L. Dini and E. Li. 1994. Decreasing course content improves student comprehension of science and attitudes towards science in freshman biology. Journal of Research in Science Teaching 31: 679-693.
Dini, Michael, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999. Laboratory Manual for Biology I. Stipes Publishing Co., Champaign, IL, pp. 216.
Dini, Michael, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999. Laboratory Manual for Biology II. Stipes Publishing Co., Champaign, IL, pp. 251.
Sundberg, M,D. J.E. Armstrong, M.L. Dini and E.W. Wischusen. 2000. Some practical tips for instituting investigative biology laboratories. Journal of College Science Teaching 29 (5): 353-359.
INVITED PRESENTATIONS
Presented segment on development of inquiry labs as part of the "Designing and Running Investigative Laboratories" workshop, sponsored by the Louisiana Collaborative for Excellence in the Preparation of Teachers" held at Louisiana Tech, Ruston, LA, May 25-28, 1998.
Presentation to the Texas Tech chapter of Beta Beta Beta Biology Honor Society, March 24, 1999 on the relationship between "Science and Religion."
Presentation to the Student Association of the Honors College at Texas Tech University, February 1, 2000 on "The Dawn of Darwinian Medicine."
Co-Presentation to Texas Tech faculty members on "Strategies for Teaching Large Lecture Courses," sponsored by the Texas Tech Teaching, Learning and Technology Center, April 11, 2001.
Co-Presentation (with Dr. John Pelley) to Texas Tech faculty members on "Setting the Bar Higher: Strategies for Professors and Students," sponsored by the Texas Tech Teaching, Learning and Technology Center, November 15, 2001.
Presentation to the Student Association of The Honors College at Texas Tech University, February 20, 2003, "Can Science and Religion Co-Exist in the Educated Mind?"
Presentation to A.A.U.P. conference on "Academic Freedom at Religiously Affiliated Colleges and Universities," March 13-16, 2003, University of San Diego, Co-presentation (with Dr. James Patton) on "Science, Religion, and Academic Freedom."
Presentation to Texas Tech faculty members on "Using Concept Mapping to Foster and Evaluate Comprehension," sponsored by the Texas Tech Teaching, Learning and Technology Center, March 2, 2004.
Presentation to Texas Tech Mathematics faculty on "Using Concept Mapping to Foster and Evaluate Comprehension," sponsored by the Texas Tech Teaching, Learning and Technology Center, April 12, 2004.
CURRENT ORGANIZATIONS
American Institute of Biological Sciences
Association of Biology Laboratory Educators
National Center for Science Education
National Science Teachers Association
SERVICE IN THE ACADEMY
Revised units 4 and 5 (Evolution and Biodiversity) of test bank for 6th edition of BIOLOGY, by N. Campbell et al, summer-fall 2001. Conducted final proofreading of page proofs for units 4, 5 and 6 (chapters 22-56) of 6th edition of BIOLOGY, by N. Campbell & J. Reece, winter 2001.
Reviewed promotion dossier of Dr. Rudi berkelhamer, being considered for promotion to senior lecturer with security of employment in the Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California, Irvine, fall 2001.
Reviewed promotion dossier of Dr. Don French, being considered for promotion to full professor in the Dept. of Zoology at Oklahoma State University, fall 2001.
served on university committee to nominate students for rhodes fellowships and marshall scholarships, fall 2001.
Undergraduate Biology Advisor, 1992-1998
Coordinator of BIOL 1403, 1992-present
Coordinator of BIOL 1404, 1994-present
Chairman, Curriculum Committee, 1998-present
Faculty Advisor to Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society, 1999-2002
CONFERENCES ATTENDED
AAAS Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, February 1991.
NSF Chautauqua-type Short Course: Evolution, Creation, or Both? A Multiple-Model Approach. University of Texas at Austin, February 28-March 2, 1991.
NSF Chautauqua-type Short Course: Changing Science Courses to Promote Critical Thinking. University of Texas at Austin, March 4-6, 1991.
Labs for Liberal Learning II, conference cosponsored by Hunter College of CUNY and Southern University of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana, June 13-15, 1991.
Strategies for Success Workshop on investigative laboratories, sponsored by Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company. University of Texas at San Antonio, February 13, 1993.
Workshop on Critical Thinking Instructional Strategies, sponsored by the National Council on Excellence in Critical Thinking, Denver, Colorado, May 15-16, 1993.
Labshop -- Workshop to develop investigative laboratory exercises for large-enrollment, introductory-level college biology courses, funded by NSF, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, June 13-18, 1993.
Strategies in Action Workshop on Computer-Based Multimedia in Biology, sponsored by Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, June 13-15, 1994.
Strategies in Action Workshop on Grantsmanship, sponsored by Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, June 15-17, 1994.
17th annual workshop/conference of American Biology Laboratory Educators (ABLE) at Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN, June 6-10, 1995.
Strategies for Success Workshop on technology and teaching solutions, sponsored by Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company. San Antonio College, November 16, 1996.
Workshop on Assessment of Critical Thinking Skills, sponsored by the National Council on Excellence in Critical Thinking, Dallas, April 18-19, 1998.
NSF Chautauqua Short Course: Promoting Active Learning in Introductory Biology Courses. UT-Austin, June 17-19 1999.
Joint Annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Evolution, the American Naturalists Society and the Society of Systematic Biologists, UW-Madison, June 22-26, 1999 and pre-conference workshop on teaching evolution to undergraduates.
Tri-Beta biological honor society regional convention, University of Oklahoma field station, Kingston, OK, April 6-8, 2001.
23rd annual workshop/conference of the Association for Biology Laboratory Education (ABLE) at the University of Chicago, June 20-22, 2001.
The National Academies Summer Institute for Undergraduate Education in Biology. Aug. 16-20, 2004. University of Wisconsin at Madison.
EXPERIENCE
1998-present, Associate Professor of Biology, Texas Tech University, Lubbock.
1992-1998, Assistant Professor of Biology, Texas Tech University, Lubbock.
1991-1992, Research Assistant Professor, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge.
1989-1991, Postdoctoral Fellow, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. Instructor: General Biology for majors and General Biology for Nonmajors. Supervisor of graduate teaching assistants in nonmajors' lab courses.
1984-1989, Graduate student in Aquatic Ecology, University of Notre Dame. Instructor: Limnology (at University field station - UNDERC). Teaching Assistant: Introductory Biology (nonmajors), General Biology (majors), Biostatistics, Aquatic Ecology and Aquatic Biology (summer course conducted at UNDERC). Radiation Safety Officer: UNDERC.
1981-1984, Justin-Siena High School, Napa, California. Teacher: Freshman Religion, General Biology and Honors Biology.
1977-1981, La Salle High School, Pasadena, California. Teacher: General Biology, Freshwater Ecology, Terrestrial Ecology, Oceanography, Freshman Religion and Issues in Religion and Science.