Professor Susman

June 2012

 Kathleen M. Susman (Raley-Susman)

Professor of Biology on the Jacob P. Giraud Jr. Endowed Chair of Natural History

Department of Biology

Email: kasusman@vassar.edu

                                                                                                                                               

EDUCATION

PhD – University of Wisconsin-Madison

Physiology, May, 1989

Thesis advisor: Dr. Peter Lipton

• American Heart Association Predoctoral fellowship

• UW-Madison research assistant fellowship

M.S. – University of Wisconsin-Madison

Physiology, January, 1986

Advisor: Dr. Peter Lipton

B.S. – College of William and Mary

Biology, May, 1983

High Honors; Phi Sigma Outstanding Student Scientist Prize

Publications

(note: publication name Raley-Susman). Entries are in reverse chronological order. * denotes undergraduate student co-author.

Book Chapters:

  1. Lipton, P. and Raley-Susman, K.M. (1999) Autoradiographic measurements of protein synthesis in hippocampal slices from rats and guinea pigs. In: Methods: A Companion to Methods in Enzymology 18: 127-143.
  1. Raley-Susman, K.M. and Sapolsky, R.M. (1994) Glucocorticoid effects on neuronal development and vitality. In: Alfred Benzon Symposium 37. Brain Lesions in the Newborn: Hypoxic and Haemodynamic Pathogenesis. Lou, H., Greisen, G., Larsen, J.F. (eds). Munksgaard, Copenhagen. pp. 257-268.
  1. Lipton, P., Raley, K.M. and Lobner, D. (1988) Long-term inhibition of synaptic transmission and macromolecular synthesis following anoxia in the rat hippocampal slice: Interaction between Ca2+ and NMDA receptors. In: Mechanisms of Hypoxia and Stroke. Ed. Somjen, G. pp. 229-249. Plenum Press.

Peer-reviewed Research Articles or Presentation Papers (1990-present): (* denotes undergraduate student coauthor)

 Magnes, J., Raley-Susman, K.M., Melikechi, N., *Sampson, A., *Eells, R., *Bello, A., and *Lueckheide, M. (in press) Analysis of freely swimming C. elegans using laser diffraction. Open J. Biophysics.

  1. Magnes, J.M., Susman, K.M. and *Eells, R. (in press) Quantitative locomotion study of freely swimming microorganisms using laser diffraction. JoVe.
  2. Banta, L.M., Crespi, E.J., Nehm, R.H., Schwarz, J.A., Singer, S., Manduca, C.A., Bush, E.C., Collins, E., Constance,C.M., Dean, D., Esteban, D., Fox, S., McDaris, J., Paul, C.A., Quinan, G., Raley-Susman, K.M., Smith, M.L., Wallace, C.S., Withers, G.S. and Caporale, L. (in press) Integrating genomics research throughout the undergraduate curriculum: A collection of inquiry-based genomics lab modules. Cell Biology Education.
  3. Magnes, J, Raley-Susman, K.M., *Khakurel, R., *Sampson, A., *Kinneberg, M., *Eels, R. (2010) Diffraction Patterns of Live C. elegans: Acquisition and Analysis. Biophysical Journal 98: (3, Suppl 1) 746a.
  4. Raley-Susman, K.M. and Gray, J.M. (2010) Exploration of gerontogenes in the nervous system: A multi-level neurogenomics laboratory module for an intermediate neuroscience and behavior course. J. Undergrad. Neurosci. Edu. 8(2): A108-A115.
  5. Ronsheim, M.L., Pregnall, A.M., Schwarz, J.,  Schlessman, M.A. and Raley-Susman, K.M. (2009) Teaching Out of the Can: A New Approach to Introductory Biology. Bioscene Vol. 35(1) 12-23.
  6. Pokrywka, N.J., *Schwartzman, S., *Payne-Tobin, A., Raley-Susman, K.M., Woongjoon, M. and Hazelrigg, T. (2009) Microtubules, the ER and Exu: New associations revealed by analysis of mini spindles mutations. Mech. Dev. 126:289-300.
  7. *Gordon, P., *Hingula, L., *Krasny, M.L., Swienckowski, J. L., Pokrywka, N.J. and Raley-Susman, K.M. (2008) The invertebrate microtubule-associated protein PTL-1 functions in mechanosensation and development in Caenorhabditis elegans. Dev. Genes Evol. 218:541-551.
  8. Buddle, M., Eberhardt, E., *Ciminello, L.H., *Levin, T., *Wing, R. and Raley-Susman, K.M. (2003) Microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) associates with the NMDA receptor and is spatially redistributed within rat hippocampal neurons after oxygen-glucose deprivation. Brain Research 978: 38-50.
  9. Raley-Susman, Kass, I.S., Cottrell, J.E., *Newman, R.B., Chambers, G. and Wang, J. (2001) Sodium influx blockade and hypoxic damage to CA1 pyramidal neurons in rat hippocampal slices. J. Neurophysiology 86: 2715-2726.
  10. *Monje, M.M., *Chatten-Brown, J., Hye, S.E. and Raley-Susman, K.M. (2000) Free radicals are involved in the damage to protein synthesis after anoxia/aglycemia and NMDA exposure. Brain Research 857: 172-182.
  11. Wang, T., Raley-Susman, K.M., Wang, J., Chambers, G., Cottrell, J.E. and Kass, I.S. (1999) Thiopental attenuates hypoxic changes of electrophysiology, biochemistry and morphology in rat hippocampal slice CA1 pyramidal cells. Stroke 30: 2400-2407.
  12. Gray, J. and Raley-Susman, K.M. (1998) Effects of tamoxifen, fluphenazine and estradiol on ATP levels in preoptic area and hypothalamic slices from ovariectomized rats. Brain Res. 798: 223-231.
  13. Raley-Susman, K.M. and *Barnes, J.R. (1998) The effects of extracellular pH and calcium manipulation on protein synthesis and response to anoxia/aglycemia in the rat hippocampal slice. Brain Res. 782: 281-289.
  14. Raley-Susman, K.M., *Barnes, J.R. and Kaja, J. (1997) Effects of volatile anesthetics on hippocampal slice metabolism, response to anoxia with or without glucose. Brain Res. 755: 1-8.
  15. [contributing author] Lipton, P. et al. (1995) Making the best of brain slices: Comparing preparative methods. J. Neurosci. Methods 59: 151-156.
  16. [contributing author] Aitken, P. et al. (1995) Preparative methods for brain slices: a discussion. J. Neurosci. Methods 59: 139-150.
  17. Raley-Susman, K.M. and *Murata, J. (1995) Time course of protein changes following in vitro ischemia in the rat hippocampal slice. Brain Res. 694: 92-102.
  18. Raley-Susman, K.M., Sapolsky, R.M. and Kopito, R.R. (1993) Cl-/HCO3- exchange function differs in adult and fetal rat hippocampal neurons. Brain Res. 614: 308-314.
  19. *Redish, D., Raley-Susman, K.M. and Sapolsky, R.M. (1993) Inhibition of metabolism in cultured fibroblasts by glucocorticoids: Application of silicon microphysiometry to endocrinology. Horm. Metab. Res. 25: 264-267.
  20. Romero, L.M., Raley-Susman, K.M., *Redish, D.M., Brooke, S.M., Horner, H.C. and Sapolsky, R.M. (1992) A possible mechanism by which stress accelerates growth of virally-derived tumors. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. (USA) 89: 11084-11087.
  21. Wada, H.G., Owicki, J.C., Bruner, L.H., Miller, K.R., Raley-Susman, K.M., Panfili, P.R., Humphries, G.M.K. and Parce, J.W. (1992) Measurement of cellular responses to toxic agents using a silicon microphysiometer. Alternatives to Animal Testing and Experimentation 1: 154-164.
  22. Raley-Susman, K.M., Miller, K., Owicki, J.C. and Sapolsky, R.M. (1992) Effects of excitotoxin exposure on metabolic rate of primary hippocampal cultures: Application of silicon microphysiometry to neurobiology. J. Neuroscience 12(3): 773-780.
  23. Raley-Susman, K.M., Cragoe, E.J.Jr., Sapolsky, R.M. and Kopito, R.R. (1991) Regulation of intracellular pH in cultured hippocampal neurons by an amiloride-insensitive Na+/H+ exchanger. J. Biological Chemistry 266(5): 2739-2745.
  24. Raley-Susman, K.M. and Lipton, P. (1990) In vitro ischemia and protein synthesis in the rat hippocampal slice: The role of calcium and NMDA receptor activation. Brain Research 515: 27-38.
  25. Raley, K.M. and Lipton, P. (1990) NMDA receptor activation accelerates ischemic energy depletion in the hippocampal slice and the demonstration of a threshold for ischemic damage to protein synthesis. Neuroscience Letters 110:118-123.

Conference Papers and Abstracts (1990-present, reverse chronological order)

  1. 1.     Raley-Susman, K.M., *McKee, C., *Chou, E., *Sturm, J. and Pokrywka, N.J.  (2011) Subcellular localization and protein interactions of PTL-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans. Soc. NS. Meeting, November, Washington, D.C.
  2. *Eells, R., *Lueckheide, M., *Rozenblat, T., Susman, K.M. and Magnes, J. (2011) Dynamic diffraction analysis and transformation of C. elegans. URSI Symposium, Vassar College.
  3. Raley-Susman, K.M., *Sturm, J., *McKee, C., *Chou, E. and Pokrywka, N.P. (2011) Subcellular localization and protein interactions of PTL-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans 18th International Worm Meeting, UCLA, CA. June 2011.
  4. *Zhang, H., Raley-Susman, K.M. and Pokrywka, N.J. (2010) Mining localized mRNAs in late-stage Drosophila oocytes. Annual Drosophila Meeting. April, Washington, DC.
  5. *Sampson, A., *Eells, R., *Khakurel, R., Raley-Susman, K.M. and Magnes, J., (2010) “Layering Techniques for Modeling Data,” Teaching With Technology Forum, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, April 2010.
  6.  * Sampson, A., *Eells, R., *Khakurel, R., Raley-Susman, K.M. and Magnes, J., (2010) “Diffraction Patterns of Live C. elegans: Modeling Techniques,” Rochester Symposium for Physics Students (RSPS), Rochester, NY, April 2010.
  7. *Eells, R., *Sampson, A., *Khakurel, R., Raley-Susman, K.M. and Magnes, J., (2010) “Diffraction Patterns of Biological Systems,” Rochester Symposium for Physics Students (RSPS), Rochester, NY, April 2010.
  8. Magnes, J., Raley-Susman, K.M., *Khakurel, R.,*Sampson, A., *Kinneberg, M., *Eells, R., (2010) “Diffraction Patterns of Live C. Elegans: Acquisition and Analysis,” Biophysical Society, 54th Annual Meeting, 3879-Pos, 24 Feb 2010.
  9. Raley-Susman, K.M. and Gray, J.M. (2009) Genomics, epigenetics, stress and aging: An introduction to neuroscience and behavior. Soc. NS Abst. 21.19.
  10. Raley-Susman, K.M., Pokrywka, N.J., *Swienckowski, J.L., *Gordon, P., *Opheim, E. and *Krasny, M. (2008) The invertebrate tau protein, PTL-1, is involved in mechanosensation and development in Caenorhabditis elegans. Soc. NS Abst. 439.16.
  11. *Seigneur, E., Pokrywka, N.J. and Susman, K.M. (2008) Bioinformatic assessment and investigation of localized mRNAs expressed early in development and in adult neurons of Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans. URSI Symposium, Vassar College.
  12. *Krasny, M., Pokrywka, N.J. and Susman, K.M. (2008) Expression of the microtubule-associated protein PTL-1 coincides with a significant hatching defect in PTL-1 null C. elegans embryos. URSI Symposium, Vassar College.
  13. Ronsheim, M.L., Collins, E.T. and Susman, K.M. (2008) Teaching a process-driven, laboratory-based introductory biology course that integrates across biological disciplines, ESA Annual Meeting.
  14. *Godoy, B., *Reeves, C., *Kimber, J., Raley-Susman, K.M. and Lyczak, L. (2008) Identification of targets for the PAM-1 aminopeptidase in Caenorhabditis elegans. Development Evolution C. elegans Meeting abstracts.
  15. *Krasny, M.L., Pokrywka, N.J. and Susman, K.M. (2007) The microtubule-associated protein, PTL-1, is involved in the hatching of C. elegans eggs and interacts with mec-7 during development. URSI Symposium, Vassar College.
  16. *Meltzer, A., Susman, K.M. and Pokrywka, N.J. (2007) Bioinformatic assessment of genes expressed early in development and in adult neurons. URSI Symposium, Vassar College.
  17. *Payne-Tobin, A., Susman, K.M. and Pokrywka, N.J. (2007) Minispindles is required for endoplamic reticulum organization during oogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster. URSI Symposium, Vassar College.
  18. *Rahman, T., Pokrywka, N.J. and Susman, K.M. (2007) Examination of a genetic interaction between ptl-1 and mec-4 in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. URSI Symposium, Vassar College.
  19. *Krasny, M.L. and Raley-Susman, K.M. (2007) The microtubule-associated protein, PTL-1, influences the hatching of C. elegans eggs. International C. elegans Meeting July 2007.
  20. Susman, K.M. (2007) Biology 106: Introduction to Biological Investigation: A lab-focused, process approach to introductory biology. International C. elegans Meeting July 2007.
  21. *Gordon, P., *Hingula, L., and Raley-Susman, K.M. (2006) The microtubule-associated protein PTL-1 interacts with Mec-7 and Mec-12 in mechanosensory neurons. C. elegans Neuroscience Meeting, July 2006.
  22. *Gordon, P. and Susman, K.M. (2004) Developmental expression of ptl-1 in C. elegans. URSI Symposium, Vassar College.
  23. Buddle, M., *Levin, T., *Ciminello, L. and Raley-Susman, K.M. (2002) Microtubule-Associated Protein 2 (MAP2) is Spatially Redistributed and Cleaved by Calpain after Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation in Rat Hippocampal Neurons. Soc. Neurosci. Abstracts.
  24. *DiPasquale. K., and Susman, K.M. (2002)  Timecourse of spatial changes in MAP2 localization after oxygen and glucose deprivation. URSI Symposium 2002
  25. *Wing, R., Buddle, M. and Susman, K.M. (2002) Using MALDI-TOF and ClustalX to investigate the phosphorylation states of MAP2 in Rattus norvegicus. URSI Symposium 2002.
  26. Hye, S.E.,* Chatten-Brown, J. and Raley-Susman, K.M. (1999) Damage to protein synthesis after anoxia/aglycemia involves free radicals. Neurosci. Abst. 25: 1351.
  27. *Newman, R.B. and Susman, K.M. (1999) Does sodium play a role in the mechanism of ischemic damage? URSI Symposium, Vassar College.
  28. *Chatten-Brown, J. and Susman, K.M. (1998) Do free radicals damage protein synthesis in neurons of the hippocampal slice? URSI Symposium, Vassar College.
  29. Wang, T., Raley-Susman, K.M., Cottrell, J.E. and Kass, I.S. (1997) Mechanisms by which thiopental protects against anoxia-induced damage to CA1 pyramidal neurons in rat hippocampal slices. Neurosci. Abst. 23: 1379.
  30. Gray, J. and Raley-Susman, K.M. (1996) Effects of estradiol and tamoxifen on cell ATP levels in preoptic and hypothalamic slices. Neurosci. Abst. 22: 672.
  31. Raley-Susman, K.M., *Do, D., *Monje, M. and Cladis, S. (1996) Modulation of NMDA toxicity and in vitro ischemic damage by pH and free radical scavengers. Neurosci. Abst. 22: 1426.
  32. *Do, Dung and Raley-Susman, K.M. (1995) Morphological damage to neurons following in vitro ischemia and pH change. URSI Symposium. Vassar College
  33. Kaja, J., *Barnes, J. and Raley-Susman, K.M. (1995) Modulation of extracellular pH inhibits protein synthesis rates in the rat hippocampal slice and fails to prevent ischemia-induced changes in ATP levels and protein synthesis. Neurosci. Abst. 21.
  34. Gray, J.M. and Raley-Susman, K.M. (1995) Biopsychology at Vassar: Twenty-five years as a degree-granting program. Neurosci. Abst. 21.
  35. *Murata, J. and Raley-Susman, K.M. (1994) The effects of in vitro ischemia on proteins from the rat hippocampal slice. Neurosci. Abst. 20.
  36. Raley-Susman, K.M. (1994) Leech identified neuron neurobiology laboratory sequence for undergraduates. Neurosci. Abst. 20.
  37. Raley-Susman, K.M. and McLaughlin, L.G. (1994) Anoxia-aglycemia inhibits protein synthesis in the rat hippocampal slice- Modulation by extracellular pH and calcium. J. Neurosci. Meth. Abst.
  38. *Schmeelk, K. and Raley-Susman, K.M. (1993) Expression of fos, AE3 and Na+/H+ antiporter genes following an in vitro ischemia in rat hippocampal neurons. URSI symposium. Vassar College.
  39. *Murata, J. and Raley-Susman, K.M. (1993) The effects of ischemia on protein expression in the rat hippocampal slice. URSI symposium. Vassar College.
  40. Raley-Susman, K.M. and Sapolsky, R.M. (1993) The effects of glucocorticoids on neuronal development and vitality. Alfred Benzon Symposium 37. Munksgaard. Copenhagen.
  41. *Zeitzer, J.M. and Raley-Susman, K.M. (1992) Extracellular acidosis partially relieves ischemic damage in an in vitro rat hippocampal slice system. URSI symposium. Vassar College.
  42. Raley-Susman, K.M., Kopito, R.R. and Sapolsky, R.M. (1992) NMDA exposure reduces intracellular pH in cultured hippocampal neurons. Neurosci. Abst. 18.
  43. Raley-Susman, K.M., Sapolsky, R.M. and Kopito, R.R. (1991) Cl-/HCO3 exchange function of rat brain AE3 differs in adult and fetal rat hippocampal neurons. 1991 ASCB Annual meeting, Boston, MA.
  44. Raley-Susman, K.M., Kercso, K.M., Parce, J.W., Owicki, J.C. and Sapolsky, R.M. (1990) Direct measurement of neurotransmitter activation of cellular metabolism in cultured hippocampal neurons. 1990 ASCB Annual meeting, San Diego, CA.

  45. Raley-Susman, K.M., Sapolsky, R.M. and Kopito, R.R. (1990) Cultured hippocampal neurons regulate pHi via an amiloride-insensitive Na+/H+ exchanger. Neurosci. Abst. 16.

    Teaching

Participant in Program in Neuroscience and Behavior. Served as program director 1994-1996, 2004-2006, 2008-2010. Also faculty member of Program in Biochemistry.

Courses taught (followed by years): Biology 101 (1992-1994; taught in the course 3 separate semesters); Biology 105 (Fall 2005, Spring 2009, Fall 2009, Spring 2010; Spring 2011), Biology 152 (1992-2002; taught this course 8 semesters), Biology 316 (1991-2003; 2004-2008; Fall 2009, Fall 2010, Spring 2012); Biopsychology 201 (2000-2003; taught this course 3 semesters); NEUR 201 (Spring 2009; Spring 2010; Spring 2011, Spring 2012); Biopsychology 301 (1994-1995; 2001-2002; taught this course 4 semesters); Biology 323 (1993; taught this course 1 semester); Biology 106 (2004-2008- five semesters); Neuroscience and Behavior 301 (Fall 2010)