Department of Biological Sciences
Florida International University, University Park
Miami, Florida 33199     Tel: (305) 348-3100  Fax: (305) 348-1967
e-mail: biggerc@fiu.edu

                          Teaching Awards Supervised Research Administrative Positions 
                     Special Programs Research Interests Grants Publications


Education

A.A. Manatee Junior College, 1966
B.S.   Florida State University, 1968
M.S.  Florida State University, 1976
Ph.D. Florida State University, 1978
 

Research and Technical Positions
  

      Research Assistant for Dr. R.N. Mariscal, Department of Biological Science, Florida State University: a
         study of coelenterate behavioral physiology and ultra-structure, June 1974June 1975; July 1977-December 1977.

      Manager of the Electron Microscope Laboratory, Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University: Responsibilities
         included maintenance of the electron microscope and associated equipment, instruction in the operation of the microscope and the
         preparation of material for examination, the ordering of supplies, and the supervision of laboratory use, December 1975-June 1977.

      Postdoctoral Scholar in the laboratory of Dr. W.H. Hildemann, UCLA School of Medicine, Immunogenetics Group: Ongoing studies
         in comparative immunology, with emphasis on selected marine invertebrates, and murine immunogenetic studies. January 1978-June
         1981.

      Assistant Research Immunologist, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UCLA School of Medicine: Studies in
         comparative immunology emphasizing selected marine invertebrates and primitive vertebrates and pancreas transplantation in
         miniswine (collaborations with Drs. W.H. Hildemann and Y. Mullen). July 1981-June 1984.

      Member of the Dental Research Institute, UCLA. In the sections of Immunology/Immunogenetics and Ultrastructure and Cell
         Biology. November 1981 -June 1984.

      Assistant Professor 1984-87, Associate Professor 1987-Present, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University:
         Studies in comparative immunology emphasizing selected marine invertebrates and marine mammals.

Teaching at FIU

(1) Immunogenetics (PCB 6937)
 (2) Immunology (PCB 4233)
 (3) Molecular and Organismal Evolution (PCB 5615)
 (4) General Biology (BSC 1010 & 1011), Ecology/Systematics & Physiology/Genetics
 (5) Comparative Immunology (PCB 6235)
 (6) Human Genetics (PCB 5936)
 (7) Invertebrate Zoology (ZOO 3203)
 (8) Marine Comparative Immunology Workshop (PCB 5238)
 (9) Undergraduate Seminar (BSC 4931)

Awards

 1998   FIU Foundation Outstanding Service Award
     1998   Special Service Award from the FIU Judo Program

Graduate & Special Research Students Supervised

Luisa Peixoto - M.S.  1986   “Coral Alloimmunity”
Diana Ramirez - B.S/M.S.   1991    “Sponge Immunity/pathology”
Paula O’Garro - B.S.  1992     “Comparative Immunology”
Cecile Olano - M.S.    1993  “Coral immunity/cellular processes”
Julia Bundschuh-M.S. 1993  “Coelenterate molecular biology”
Traci LeBlanc - B.S.    1993  “Sponge histocompatability”
Adriana Meszaros-M.S.   1994 “Coelenterate wound healing”
Gregory Bossart-Ph.D. 1995 “Marine mammal immunology”
Robert Cirocco - Ph.D.     2001 “Dolphin cytokines”
Barbara Maloney - Ph.D. In progress  “Sponge death, natural and mass mortality”
Larry Dishaw - Ph.D.  In progress  “Coral Immunogenetics”
Ana Santana Goyos - B.S. 1999 - 2000, 2001-Present “Coral Immune responses”
Severine Findenheim - M.S. 1999 - 2000 “Coral wound healing”  (French Exchange Student)
Hilda Ramon – B.S.    2000 - Present “Coral Immunity”
Manual Herrera – B.S.   2000 - Present  “Coral Immunogenetics”
Aura Espinal - B.S. 2001 - Present  “Coral wound healing & environmental influences”
Heidi Morales – B.S. 2001 - Present  “Coral immunity”  


Major Administrative Positions - FIU 

Departmental Graduate Director. 1985-1991.
University Animal Care and Use Committee Chairperson. 1985-1987.
University Scientific Diving Officer. 1994 - 1995. Interim SDO 2000 - 2001
FIU University Research Council Member. 1995 - 1996.
     Involved with university research issues, including approvals for human subject use in research.
 Director of the FIU/National Institutes of Health Minorities Biomedical Research 
    Support Program.  1995 - 1999.  Oversee this   program at FIU that promotes biomedical scientific 
     research and consists of 9 faculty scientists and  25 students engaged in biomedical research.
Program Director, FIU MBRS Support of Continuous Research Excellence 
    Program (NIH funded).  2000 - Present.   This program supports eight major biomedical research 
     projects at FIU in Biology, Physics, Chemistry and   Biomedical Engineering.  It involves 11 faculty, 5 Post 
     Doctoral Fellows, 3 technicians, 8 students and 3 staff.  
 Program Director, FIU MBRS Research Initiative for Scientific enhancement 
    Program (NIH funded). 2000 – Present.  This new program at FIU contains three sub-projects 
     involved in student and biomedical education development: (1) the  Student Research Experience fosters student 
     interest in biomedical research and trains undergraduate and graduate students for biomedical  research careers 
     with workshop, courses,  research experience, and travel to professional meetings;  (2)  The FIU Chemistry     
     Initiative is focused  on improving Organic Chemistry teaching methodologies and developing “Natural Products” 
     chemistry instruction at FIU; and  (3)  a Comparative  Immunology Initiative that fosters Comparative 
     Immunology training and research at FIU, including outside speakers, graduate student research “mini-grants”,  
     training, and an annual symposium.  This program involves 15 undergraduate students, 17 graduate students, 19 
     potential faculty  research mentors, and 8 staff.
 Program Director, FIU Minority Access to Research Careers/Undergraduate 
    Student Training in Academic Research (NIH funded), 2000 – Present.  This program 
     prepares outstanding under-represented minority students, in their junior and senior years,  for research careers 
     in biomedical research.  Eight students are currently supported in the Biology and Biomedical 
     Engineering Programs.  The students are involved in original research, attend major scientific meetings and 
     receive additional training that  includes  bioethics, general lab procedures,  and GRE preparation.  

Board & Advisory Positions

                  1991 - 1994         Board of Directors, Society for Environmental Awareness (Non-profit)
                  1991 - 2000         Advisory Board & Chair of Scholarship Committee, Youthwish, Inc. (Non- profit)
                  1984 - 1991         Assistant Scout Master, Boy Scouts of America
                  1990 - 1996         Adult Leader, Girl Scouts, Tr. 23, Tropical Council
                  1993 - 1997         Member, Upper Keys Red Cross Disaster Assistance Team
                  1993 - 1998         Instructor, Upper Keys Youth Association Judo Club (Non-profit)
                  1995 - Present    Faculty Advisor, FIU Judo and Self Defense Club
                  1996 - Present    U.S. Naval Academy Representative for Monroe County
                  1999 - Present    Scientist in the Sea (SITS) Steering Committee Member
                  2000 - Present    Director of Minority Biomedical Research Support - Support of Continuous Research Excellence 
                                              Program at FIU.  This NIGMS funded program supports research projects at FIU.  They include 
                                              faculty, Post - Doctoral, fellow staff and students.

Participation in Special Programs 

Scientist in the Sea, 1973, (SITS 73) - a program jointly sponsored by the Florida State       
     University System Institution of Oceanography, the U.S. Navy, NOAA, and MUST involving 
     in situ marine research using advanced diving techniques, including mixed gas and 
     saturation diving. Personal project concerned the self/non-self recognition of octocorals and 
     participated in work involving the spiny lobster.
University of California Marine Biomedical Program, March 1984 - Symposium and 
     Workshop on "Histocompatibility and Symbiosis in Aquatic Organisms". In addition to 
     co-organizing the Symposium, presented a seminar and a workshop session.

Professional Societies

American Association of Immunologists
International Society for Developmental and Comparative Immunology 
Society for Invertebrate Pathology

Research Interests

Comparative Immunology
Invertebrate pathology and disease
Invertebrate cytology, ultrastructure and behavioral physiology
Population genetics and community structure


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