Email:

siddallSPAMFILTER@amnh.org

Phone:

212-769-5638

Fax:

212-769-5277

Curriculum Vitae (short version)

Education

• University of Toronto, Ph.D., 1994
• University of Toronto, M.Sc., 1991
• University of Toronto, B.Sc., 1989

Research Interests

Dr. Siddall’s research focuses on the evolution of leeches and their blood-feeding behavior, as well as on protozoan parasitology in general. Dr. Siddall analyzes the evolutionary patterns of both blood-feeding and non-blood-feeding leeches to determine how they have managed to circumvent the blood-clotting mechanisms of their hosts. Knowledge gained from this research may be used one day to develop anti-coagulants and tumor inhibitors in humans. He also studies the evolutionary relationships of various protozoan groups - including some that threaten the oyster populations along the Atlantic Coast, and others that cause malaria and giardiasis. Currently, Dr. Siddall and colleagues are completing a project that establishes the origins of relationships among bird, lizard, human, and primate malarias. Another aspect of his work assesses the genetic diversity of leeches in wild populations decimated by centuries of over-exploitation, to determine their species' level of endangerment.

• Publications

  Oceguera-Figueroa, AF., Barrio, AK., Aldea-Guevara, MI., Siddall, ME. 2012. Evaluation of the evolution of jaw morphology in New World hirudiniform leeches, with a description of a new blood-feeding species of Oxyptychus (Annelida: Hirudiniformes) from the Peruvian Amazon. Invertebrate Systematics. DOI: 10.1071/IS11005

  Siddall, M., Kvist, S., Phillips, AJ., 2012. DNA Barcoding of Parasitic Nematodes: Is it Kosher? Journal of Parasitology DOI: 10.1645/GE-2994.1

  Aguado, MT., San Martín, GS., Siddall., ME. 2011. Systematics and Evolution of syllids (Annelida, Sylidae). Cladistics. DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-0031.2011.00377.x

  Kvist, S. Oceguera-Figueroa, AF., Fuchs, BB. and Siddall, ME. 2011. Phylogenomics of Reichenowia parasitica, an alphaproteobacterial endosymbiont of the freshwater leech Placobdella parasitica. PLoS ONE 6(11): e28192. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0028192

  Kvist, S., Sarkar, I.N. and Siddall, M.E. 2011. Genome-wide search for leech antiplatelet proteins in the non-blood- feeding leech Helobdella robusta (Rhyncobdellida: Glossiphoniidae) reveals evidence of secreted anticoagulants. Invert Biol. DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7410.2011.00238.x 

• Teaching Experience

  Faculty Appointments

  • Adjunct Faculty, Columbia University, 2001–present
  • Adjunct Faculty, CUNY, 2000–present
  • Assistant Professor–Michigan Fellow, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, 1996–1999
  • Adjunct Faculty, School of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, 1994–1996

  Courses Taught

  • Phylogenetics—Just Methods, College of LS&A, University of Michigan, 1998-1999
  • Phylogenetic Systematics, College of LS&A, University of Michigan, Fall 1996
  • Molecular Ecology of Marine Symbioses, Bermuda Biological Station for Research, 1995
  • Phylogeny and Macroevolution, School of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, 1995
  • Advanced Phylogenetic Systematics, Department of Zoology, University of Toronto, 1992–1993; 1993–1994
  • Parasitic Helminths and Arthropods, Department of Zoology, University of Toronto, 1994

  Graduate Advisees

  • Sebastian Kvist, Richard Gilder Graduate School
  • Megan Cevasco, CUNY
  • Louise Crowley, CUNY
  • Elizabeth Borda, CUNY
  • Julianne Williams, College of William and Mary
  • Kathleen Apakupakul, University of Michigan
  • Brenda S. Flores, College of William and Mary

  Graduate Committees

  • Frank Fontanella, CUNY
  • Julianne Williams, College of William and Mary
  • Indra Neil Sarkar, Columbia University
  • Vincent Rousett, Museum d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris