David Gilley
Professor • Department of
Professor, Department of Biology, WPUNJ (2018-present)
Associate Professor, Department of Biology, WPUNJ (2011-2018)
Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, WPUNJ (2006-2011)
Post-doctoral Research Associate, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Tucson Arizona (2003-2006)
Ph.D. Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca New York (1997-2003)
B.A. Biology, Cornell University Arts & Sciences, Ithaca New York (1993-1997)
Professional Interests
Teaching
-Research-based best practices in pedagogy including structured classrooms, inclusivity, student engagement, and peer mentoring
-Integration of scholarly research into undergraduate teaching and mentoring of research students
-Course design for teaching science to non-science majors
-Use of writing as both a learning approach and as professional training in the sciences
-Remote education
Research
-Conflict and cooperation within animal social groups
-Self-organization of animal social groups
-Genomic imprinting
-Colony reproduction in social insects
-Chemical communication in social insects
-Role of phenological mismatch in pollinator decline
-Honeybee health and beekeeping practice
Degrees
Specialization
My research specialization is in the mechanisms and evolution of animal behavior, particularly communication and reproduction in social insects. I have been using honey bees as a model organism for over 20 years.
Representative Publications
Phenology of Honey Bee Swarm Departure in New Jersey, United States;
, Environmental Entomology;
Volume
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvy039
Behavioral Activity of Hydrocarbons Emitted by Honeybee Waggle Dancers;
, Journal of Insect Behavior;
Volume
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10905-018-9664-2
Waggle-dancing bees emit body odors: new evidence of an important role for scent in bee foraging communication;
, Bee Culture;
Volume
https://www.beeculture.com/waggle-dancing-bees-emit-body-odorsnew-evidence-of-an-important-role-for-scent-in-bee-foraging-communication/
Hydrocarbons emitted by waggle-dancing honey bees increase forager recruitment by stimulating dancing;
PLoS ONE;
2014
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0105671
Hydrocarbons emitted by waggle-dancing honey bees stimulate colony foraging activity by causing experienced foragers to exploit known food sources;
Apidologie;
Volume
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13592-011-0080-2
Notable Courses Taught
BIO 1620: General Biology: Evolution Ecology and Biodiversity
BIO 2040: General Biology: Physiology
BIO 3180: Zoology
BIO 3500: Animal Behavior
BIO 3990: Parasitology
BIO 4430: Evolutionary Medicine
BIO 4800: Biology Capstone Seminar
