Curriculum Vita

Education
• Iowa State University, Ph.D. 1986
  Major: Zoology (Neurobiology)
  Major Professor: Dr. Charles D. Drewes
  Thesis Title: Modulation of contractility and basic tonus in two serially homologous muscles in the cricket Teleogryllus oceanicus.
• North Dakota State University, M.S. 1980
  Major: Zoology Minor: Psychology
  Major Professor: Dr. Jeffery W. Gerst
  Thesis Title: The control of the hindgut of the larval tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta.
• University of Wisconsin - Madison, B.S. 1976
  Major: Psychology
• New England Biolabs Molecular Biology and PCR Summer Workshop, 1999


• Postdoctoral Position
  Department of Biology, University of Virginia 1986 - 1990
  Postdoctoral Sponsor: Dr. W. Otto Friesen
Professional Experience in Higher Education
• Humboldt State University, Department of Biological Sciences

Chair, Department of Biological Sciences 2012 to date
Professor 2011 to date
Associate Professor 2006 to 2011
Assistant Professor 2000 to 2006

• Barnard College of Columbia University, Department of Biological Sciences
Assistant Professor 1991 to 2000
• Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA
Instructor, Neural Systems and Behavior, 1994-1995
Publications
• Papers
  • O'Gara, B. A., Murray, P. M., Hoyt, E. M., Leigh-Logan, T., and Smeaton, M. B. (2006). The Vitamin E analog Trolox reduces copper toxicity in the annelid Lumbriculus variegatus but is also toxic on its own. Neurotoxicology 27:604-614.
  • O'Gara, B. A., Bohannon, V. K., Teague, M. W., and Smeaton, M. B. (2004). Copper-induced changes in locomotor behaviors and neuronal physiology of the freshwater oligochaete, Lumbriculus variegatus. Aquatic Toxicol. 69:51-66.
  • O'Gara, B. A., Brown, P. L., Dlugosch, D., Kandiel, A., Ku, J. W., Geier, J. K., Henggeler, N. C., Abbasi, A., and Kounalakis, N. (1999). Regulation of pharyngeal motility by FMRFamide and related peptides in the medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis. Invert. Neurosci. 4:41-53.
  • O'Gara, B. A., Abbasi, A., Kaniecki, K., Sarder, F., Liu, J., and Narine, L. (1999). Pharmacological characterization of the response of the leech pharynx to acetylcholine. J. Exp. Zool. 284:729-741.
  • O'Gara, B. A., Illuzzi, F., Chung, M., Portnoy, A. D., Fraga, K., and Frieman, V. B. (1999). Serotonin induces four pharmacologically separable contractile responses in the pharynx of the leech, Hirudo medicinalis. Gen. Pharmacol. 32:669-681.
  • O'Gara, B. A. and Friesen, W. O. (1995). Termination of swimming activity by a previously identified swim trigger neuron. J. Comp. Physiol. A 177:627-636.
  • O'Gara, B. A., Chae, H., Latham, L. B., and Friesen, W. O. (1991). Modification of leech behavior patterns by reserpine-induced amine depletion. J. Neurosci. 11:96-110.
  • O'Gara, B. A. (1990). Modulation of tension production by proctolin in the dorsal longitudinal muscles of the cricket, Teleogryllus oceanicus. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 14:71-83.
  • O'Gara, B. A. and Drewes, C. D. (1990). Modulation of tension production by octopamine in the metathoracic dorsal longitudinal muscle of the cricket, Teleogryllus oceanicus. J. Exp. Biol. 149:161-176.
  • Carlson, J. R. and O'Gara, B. A. (1983). The ecdysis of the cricket, Teleogryllus oceanicus: generation of the pharyngeal air-swallowing motor program by the isolated frontal ganglion. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 75A:579-587.
  • O'Gara, B., Vining, E. P., and Drewes, C. D. (1982). Electrophysiological correlates of rapid escape reflexes in intact earthworms, Eisenia foetida. I. Functional development of giant nerve fibers during embryonic and postembryonic periods. J. Neurobiol. 13:337-353.
  • Vining, E. P., O'Gara, B., and Drewes, C. D. (1982). Electrophysiological correlates of rapid escape reflexes in intact earthworms, Eisenia foetida. II. Effects of food deprivation on the functional development of giant nerve fibers. J. Neurobiol. 13:355-367.
  • Drewes, C. D., Denny, M. R., O'Gara, B., and Vining, E. P. (1981). Intracellular recording of electrical activity in muscle cells of intact and isolated dorsal blood vessels of the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris. J. Exp. Biol. 93:149-165.
  • Reinecke, J. P., Gerst, J., O'Gara, B., and Adams, T. S. (1978). Innervation of hindgut muscle of larval Manduca sexta (L.) (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) by a peripheral multinucleate neurosecretory neuron. Int. J. Insect Morph. Embryol. 7:435-453.
• Abstracts
  • Alkhathlan, M. and O'Gara, B. A. (2015). The sodium channel blocker tricaine reduces regeneration in Lumbriculus variegatus: a study at the ultrastructural and light microscopic levels. 27th CSUPERB Annual Biotechnology Symposium, Santa Clara, CA.
  • Espinosa, M. S., Mendoza, C. and O'Gara, B. A. (2014). Depletion of serotonin, but not dopamine, reduces regeneration of lost body parts in Lumbriculus variegatus. Annual Meeting of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), Los Angeles, CA.
  • Sinanyan, A. and O'Gara, B. A. (2013). BPA Slows down medial and lateral giant fiber conduction velocity and disrupts regeneration in Lumbriculus variegatus. Annual Meeting of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), San Antonio, TX. Received "Best Poster" award in Physiology/Pathology.
  • Collins, H. Y., Garcia, J., and O'Gara, B. A. (2012). The gap junction blocker octanol induces bipolar head regeneration in the aquatic oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus. Annual Meeting of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), Seattle, WA.
  • Gustus, K.C. and O'Gara, B.A. (2012). The sodium channel blocker tricaine reduces the regenerative capabilities of Lumbriculus variegatus. 24th CSUPERB Annual Biotechnology Symposium, Santa Clara, CA.
  • Ortiz, A., Bryant, C. Hernandez, K., and O'Gara, B.A. (2011). The effects of serotonin receptor agonists on the helical swimming and body reversal escape behaviors of the aquatic annelid Lumbriculus variegatus. Annual meeting of Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), San Jose, CA.
  • De León, Y., Gustus, K., Yikum, A., and O'Gara, B.A. (2010). The effects of histamine on escape behaviors and giant nerve fiber conduction velocity in the blackworm, Lumbriculus variegatus. Annual meeting of Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), Anaheim, CA. Received "Best Poster" award in Neuroscience.
  • Hedges, K. and O'Gara, B.A. (2010). Copper exposure damages neurons and induces paralysis at far sublethal levels in the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans. Aging, Metabolism, Pathogenesis, Stress, and Small RNAs: C. elegans Topic Meeting, Madison, WI.
  • Hedges, K. and O'Gara, B.A. (2010). Copper selectively damages neurons and induces paralysis at concentrations far below lethal concentrations in Caenorhabditis elegans. The Toxicologist CD — An official Journal of the Society of Toxicology, Volume 114, Number S-1.
  • Din, P.J. and O'Gara, B.A. (2010). The effects of monoamines on the swimming and reversal behaviors of Lumbriculus variegatus. 22nd CSUPERB Annual Biotechnology Symposium, Santa Clara, CA.
  • O'Gara, B.A. (2009). Worms, Brains, and Copper: A recipe for neural damage. Symposium on Recent Advances in Pharmacology and Toxicology. AAAS Pacific Division 90th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
  • Hedges, K.A. and O'Gara, B.A. (2008). Copper exposure damages both dopaminergic and GABAnergic neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans. Neural Development, Synaptic Function & Behavior: Caenorhabditis elegans Topic Meeting #2, Madison, WI.
  • Santander, W. and O'Gara, B.A. (2008). Protection from neuronal copper toxicity by dopamine or the dopamine reuptake blocker nomifensine in the aquatic annelid Lumbriculus variegatus. West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference. San Diego, CA. Received "Best Oral Presentation" in Physiology.
  • Hedges, K.A., Lu, C.R., and O'Gara, B.A. (2008). The effect of copper exposure on the ultrastructure of the giant nerve fibers in a freshwater oligochaete, Lumbriculus variegatus. 20th Annual CSUPERB Biotechnology Symposium.
  • Santander, W., Navarro, M. and O'Gara, B.A. (2008). Protection from neuronal copper toxicity by dopamine or the dopamine reuptake blocker nomifensine in the aquatic annelid Lumbriculus variegatus. 20th Annual CSUPERB Biotechnology Symposium.
  • Key, K. C. and B. A. O'Gara. (2007). The role of dopamine in the protection from copper toxicity in the freshwater oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus. Southeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference.
  • Pimentel Cruz, J., Hedges, K.A., and O'Gara, B.A. (2006). The effects of curcumin and copper-induced stress on HSP70 expression and feeding rate in C. elegans. Annual meeting of Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS).
  • Pimentel Cruz, J., Leigh-Logan, T., and O'Gara, B.A. (2005). The effects of salicylate on copper-induced decrements in escape behaviors of the aquatic annelid Lumbriculus variegatus. Annual meeting of Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS).
  • Asher, K. A. and O'Gara, B. A. (2005) Copper accumulation in the aquatic oligochaete worm Lumbriculus variegatus and its effects on Hsp70 expression. 17th Annual CSUPERB Biotechnology Symposium.
  • O'Gara, B. A., Teague, M., Bohannon, K, Smeaton, M. and Murray, P. (2004) Copper-induced changes in locomotor behaviors and neuronal physiology of the freshwater oligochaete, Lumbriculus variegatus. West Coast Nerve Net.
  • O'Gara, B. A., Abbasi, A., Kaniecki, K., Sarder, F., and Liu, J. (1997). Pharmacological characterization of the pharyngeal acetylcholine receptor in the medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 23:1235.
  • O'Gara, B. A., Kounalakis, N., Judge, T., Rubenstein, M., Natarajan, C., DiMaggio, D., Brown, P., Abbasi, A., and Narine, L. (1996). Colocalization of cholecystokinin-like and FMRFamide-like peptides in the central and stomatogastric nervous systems of the leech. Cellular Neurobiology and Development of the Leech at the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole MA.
  • O'Gara, B. A., and Illuzzi, F. A. (1993). A 5-HT1C/5-HT2 receptor induces an increase in basal tonus in the pharyngeal muscles of the leech, Hirudo medicinalis. Cellular Neurobiology and Development of the Leech at the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole MA.
  • O'Gara, B. A. (1990). Regulation of pharyngeal motility in the leech Hirudo medicinalis. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 16:306.
  • O'Gara, B. A., Chae, H. and Friesen, W. O. (1989). Aminergic neurotransmitters reverse the effect of reserpine on biting behavior but not swimming activity in the leech Hirudo medicinalis. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 15:27.
  • O'Gara, B. A. and Friesen, W. O. (1988). Reserpine depletes serotonin from the CNS of the leech (Hirudo medicinalis) and drastically alters behavior. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 14:383.
  • O'Gara, B. A. and Friesen, W. O. (1987). Termination of swimming activity by stimulation of a neuron in the subesophageal ganglion of the leech, Hirudo medicinalis. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 13:1060.
  • O'Gara, B. A. (1986). Differential pharmacological responsiveness of two serially homologous muscles in the cricket, Teleogryllus oceanicus. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 12:246.

Grant Activity
• National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research and Mentoring in the Biological Sciences Program URM: Recruitment and training of underrepresented minorities in the biological sciences at Humboldt State University (Matthew Johnson [Wildlife], co-PI) September 1, 2009 to August 31, 2014: $892,353.
• HSU Sponsored Programs Foundation Small Grant for Grant Development The effects of copper exposure on the dopamine and serotonin content of the nervous system of the aquatic annelid Lumbriculus variegatus: development of a new model system for human neurodegenerative diseases; June 1, 2007 to June 1, 2008: $4997.
• California State University Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology (CSUPERB) - CSU Faculty-Student Collaborative Research Seed Grant Program Protection from oxidative damage by pharmacological stimulation of heat shock proteins; March 1, 2005 to May 31, 2006: $10,000.
• HSU Research Scholarship and Creative Activity Award The effect of copper exposure on the expression of stress-related proteins in the aquatic annelid worm, Lumbriculus variegatus; 2004/2005: $3772.
• HSU Research Scholarship and Creative Activity Award Neurotransmitter-induced protein phosphorylation in neurons and muscles of the medicinal leech; 2003/2004: $4832.
• HSU Foundation Small Grant Uptake of copper from contaminated water by the aquatic oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus; December 19, 2003 to December 19, 2003; $393.
• HSU Research Scholarship and Creative Activity Award Electrophysiology Equipment for Neurobiological Research; 2001/2002: $4000.
• HSU Foundation Small Grant Modulation of Ionic Currents in Leech Pharyngeal Muscle Cells; January 4, 2001 to January 4, 2002, $1245.
• National Science Foundation Instrumentation and Laboratory Improvement Award Electron microscopy in undergraduate biology; July 1, 1997 to June 30, 1999;� $61,875. Co-Principal Investigators were P. Ammirato, J. Poindexter, J. Larkin. This award was matched by money from Bristol Myers.
• National Science Foundation Research in Undergraduate Institutions Program Serotonergic control of feeding in the leech; March 1, 1996 to February 28, 1999 (no-cost extension to February 28, 2000); Amount awarded (direct and indirect costs) $120,000.
• Barnard College Faculty Grant Neuropharmacological control of feeding in the leech; June 1, 1995 to June 30, 1997, $2479.
• National Institutes of Health Academic Research Enhancement Award Control of the feeding musculature of the leech; June 1, 1992 to May 31, 1995; Direct costs $74,997, Indirect costs $28,161, Total Award, $103,158.
• National Science Foundation Instrumentation and Laboratory Improvement Award Instrumentation for neurobiology laboratory; July 1, 1991 to December 31, 1993; $34,336. This award was matched by moneys from the AT&T Foundation and Barnard College.
• National Institutes of Health National Research Service Award postdoctoral fellowship, November 1 1987 to November 1 1990.

Teaching Experience
• Humboldt State University
  • Animal Physiology, Human Physiology, Elementary Physiology, Cellular Neuroscience, General Zoology, Principles of Zoology, Neuroethology, Toxicology, Drugs and the Brain
• Barnard College
• Revolutionary Concepts in Biology, Contemporary Issues in Biology, Science and Scientists, Biodiversity, Laboratory in Animal Physiology, Neurobiology, Laboratory in Neurobiology, Senior Seminar in Neurobiology, Research Seminar
• Marine Biological Laboratory
  • Neural Systems and Behavior
• Iowa State University
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory, Introductory Zoology Laboratory, Neurobiology Laboratory
• North Dakota State University
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory, General Zoology Laboratory, Mammalian Physiology Laboratory

Current Membership in Professional Societies
• American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Society for Neuroscience
• International Brain Research Organization
• International Society for Neuroethology
• Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience
• Sigma Xi
• SACNAS (Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science)