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Ron Rosen
Dr. Ronald B. Rosen
Emeritus Professor of Biology|Biology
Dr. Ron Rosen
Contact
  • phone
    x7306
Office Location
Hutchins Library 304
Additional Department
  • Biology
Bio

I just completed my 30th year of teaching at this remarkable school and I have found my time at Berea College to be both rewarding and personally fulfilling.  I have mentored 15 summer undergraduate research projects with 67 students.  My research interest over the last 30 years has been in the area of Parasitology with a focus on several trematodes (i.e., flatworm parasites) that infect snails, fresh water mussels and fish.  We have been investigating both physiological and ecological principles associated with the cycling of these parasites in aquatic systems. Information acquired from these studies has relevance to trematode pathogens of humans. Berea students have presented oral talks and research posters related to this work at a variety of state and regional meetings, and are co-authors on 18 professional peer-reviewed papers.

I am a firm believer in hands-on activities in the courses that I teach.  Some 20 years ago I became part of a national effort National Science Foundation initiative called Research Link 2000 which promoted such experiences for students. This experience completely transformed the manner by which I teach my classes.  Actively engaging with material in laboratory and field settings has become a high priority in my teaching pedagogy.

Degrees
  • Ph.D. – University of Manitoba, Canada
  • M.S. – Colorado State University
  • B.A. – Hendrix College
Publications & Works

  • Honors & Awards

    2009:   Phi Kappa Phi Professor of the Year (Berea Chapter)

    2008:   Mabel D. Worth Chair in Science (Berea College)

    2008:   Seabury Award For Excellence in Teaching (Berea College)

    2006:   Mortar Board Certificate of Appreciation – “Love of Teaching” (Berea Chapter)

    1990:   Outstanding Teaching In Appalachia – Faculty Scholars Program, Univ. Kentucky

    1988:   Outstanding Teacher In Science – College Level – Kentucky Academy of Science, 74th Annual Meeting

    1986:   Honorary Member, Physiology Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Kentucky

    1982:   G. A. Lubinsky Memorial Scholarship – Department of Zoology, The University of Manitoba (excellence in graduate work)

    1980-83:   University of Manitoba Fellowship

    1976:   Spessard Biology Award – Department of Biology, Hendrix College (excellence in Biology)

    Professional Affiliations

    • American Society of Parasitologists
    • Annual Midwestern Conference of Parasitologists
    • Helminthological Society of Washington
    • Kentucky Academy of Science
      • Past President – 2002
      • President – 2001
      • President Elect – 2000
      • Vice-President – 1999
      • Chairman, Physiology Section – 1989
      • Secretary, Physiology Section – 1988

    Publications

    Rosen, R., M. Andrews, Y. Budhathoki, H. Jackson, B. Kwisera, J. Mecham, S. Staat, and M. Conge. 2021. Factors affecting the infection intensity of the azygiid trematodes Proterometra macrostoma vs. Leuceruthrus micropteri in centrarchid fish from North Elkhorn Creek, Kentucky, U.S.A. Comparative Parasitology 88(1): 70-75. (includes 7 students co-authors).

    Rosen, R., C. Peng, B. Traw, E. Blevins, B. Jovanovic, A. Sarshad, and F. Zaki. 2019. Identification, location, and emergence of the cercaria of Leuceruthrus micropteri (Trematoda: Azygiidae) recovered from the snail, Pleurocera semicarinata (Gastropoda: Pleuroceridae) at North Elkhorn Creek, Kentucky. Comparative Parasitology. 86(2): 143—149. (includes 5 student co-authors)

    Rosen, R., S. Blank, F. Akabogu, R. Hauschner, S. Meneses, O. Slater, A. Melton, C. Tetidrick, and W. Gosnell. 2018. Effect of temperature on the release of Proterometra macrostoma (Trematoda: Digenea) cercariae from their snail intermediate host, Pleurocera semicarinata (Gastropoda: Pleuroceridae) at North Elkhorn Creek, Kentucky. Comparative Parasitology. 85(2): 202-207. (includes 7 student co-authors)

    Rosen, R., F. Akabogu, R. Hauschner, S. Meneses, O. Slater, K. Reasoner, H. Peng, L. Peng, and C. Peng. 2017. Seasonal changes in maturation of adult Cotylaspis insignis (Trematoda: Aspidogastridae) recovered from the fat mucket, Lampsilis radiata luteoloa (Bivalvia: Unionidae). Comparative Parasitology 84(2): 169—173. (includes 8 student co-authors)

    Rosen, R., H. Abe, O. Adejumo, K. Ashami, L. Ballou, K. Montgomery, S. Toe, E. Berg, and L. Peng. 2016. Mean intensity and prevalence of Cotylaspis insignis (Trematoda: Aspidogastridae) infections in the fat mucket, Lampsilis radiata luteola (Bivalvia: Unionidae), from North Elkhorn Creek, a tributary of the Kentucky River in central Kentucky, U.S.A.  Comparative Parasitology 83(1): 1—5. (includes 8 student co-authors)

    Rosen, R., H. Abe, O. Adejumo, K. Ashami, L. Ballou, K. Montgomery, and S. Toe. 2016.   Cotylaspis insignis (Trematoda: Aspidogastridae): Effect of osmolality on adult worm survival and egg production. Comparative Parasitology 83(1): 102—104. (includes 6 student co-authors)

    Rosen, R., E. Berg, L. Peng, H. Abe, O. Adejumo, K. Ashami, L. Ballou, K. Montgomery, S. Toe, and K. Reasoner. 2016.  Location and development of the cotylocidium within the egg of Cotylaspis insignis (Trematoda: Aspidogastridae).  Comparative Parasitology 83(1): 6—10. (includes 9 student co-authors)

    Rosen, R., E. Berg, J. Dolan, B. King, M. Martin, and F. Mehmeti. 2013. Proterometra macrostoma (Trematoda: Azygiidae): Location of the redia and emergence path from the snail, Elimia semicarinata (Gastropoda: Pleuroceridae).  Journal of Parasitology.  99 (4): 734—737. (includes 5 student co-authors)

    Rosen, R., C. Albers, A. Chambers, A. Faust, E. Fleming, A. Holmberg, A. Meador, K. N. Mouapi, K. Sandefur, and L. Ware.  2011.  Effect of osmolality and selected ions on retraction of the distome body into the cercarial tail chamber of Proterometra macrostoma (Trematoda: Azygiidae). Journal of Parasitology. 97(1): 36—39. (includes 9 student co-authors)

    Rosen, R., D. Bastakoty, T. Dolma, A. Fidler, M. Gunaratna, R. Twiggs, B. Viragh, J. Fleming, B. Jovanovic, A. Sarshad, E. Throop, F. Zaki, and A. Ammons. 2009. Proterometra macrostoma (Faust) (Trematoda: Azygiidae): Further studies on strains at North Elkhorn Creek, Scott County, Kentucky. Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science.  69(2): 43—49. (includes 12 student co-authors)

    Rosen, R., D. Bastakoty, T. Dolma, A. Fidler, M. Gunaratna, R. Twiggs, B. Viragh. 2009. Experimental infections of bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque, wth cercaria of the digenean, Proterometra macrostoma (Faust): (I) Infectivity of the embryonic cercaria and (II) Initiation of egg development.  Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science. 69(2): 106—107. (includes six student co-authors)

    Rosen, R., J. Fleming, B. Jovanovic, A. Sarshad, E. Throop, F. Zaki, and A. Ammons. 2005.  Location of the redia of Proterometra macrostoma (Trematoda: Azygiidae) in the snail, Elimia semicarinata (Gastropoda: Pluerocercidae), and daily emergence of its cercaria.. Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science. 66(2): 89-93. (includes six student co-authors)

    Rosen, R., A. Ammons, A Boswell, A. Roberts, A. Schell, M. Watkins, J. Fleming, B. Jovanovic, A. Sarshad, E. Throop, and F. Zaki.  2005.  Effect of light wavelength and osmolality on the swimming of the cercaria of Proterometra macrostoma. Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science. 66(2): 94—100. (includes 10 student co-authors)

    Rosen, R., E. Anderson-Hoagland, C. Barton, B. Berry, J. Hardy, and T. Wangmo 2005.  Natural and experimental infections of centrarchid fish by the digenetic trematode, Proterometra macrostoma: Detection of new infections and host histopathology. Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science. 66(2): 101—106. (includes five student co-authors)

    Rosen, R. B. and O. R. Larson.  2003.  In Memorium Gary L. Uglem 1941—2002.  Journal of Parasitology. 89(4): 872—873.

    Rosen, R.  2001.  Cercariae of digenetic trematodes: use in laboratory investigations. Proceedings of the 22nd Workshop/Conference of the Association for Biology Laboratory Education (ABLE) June 6—10, 2000, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina. 156—167.

    Rosen, R., K. Adams, E. Boiadgieva and J. Schuster.  2000.  Proterometra macrostoma (Digenea: Azygiidae): Distome emergence from the cercarial tail and subsequent development in the definitive host.  Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science. 61(2): 99—104 (includes three student co-authors)

    Schuster, J., E. Boiadgieva, K. Adams and L. Roth.  2000.  Seasonal prevalence of the Digenetic trematode Proterometra edneyi (Azygiidae) in the snail Elimia ebenum (Pleurocercidae) at Anglin Falls, Kentucky.  Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science. 61(1): 60—62 (includes three student co-authors)

    Rosen, R. B. and R. L. Thompson.  1998.  Undergraduate research in biology (1987-1997) at Berea College.  Transactions of the Kentucky Academy of Science. 59(1): 33-36.

    Rosen, R., P. Blair, J. Ellington, and J. Backus.  1997.  Effect of light on daily emergence of cercariae of the trematodes Echinostoma trivolvis (Echinostomatidae) and Cephalogonimus vesicaudus (Cephalogonimidae) from natural infections of the snail Helisoma trivolvis (Planorbidae) at Owsley Fork Reservoir, Kentucky. Transactions of the Kentucky Academy of Science. 58(1): 46-51 (includes three student co-authors)

    Rosen, R., J. M. Ilagan, Jessica S. Law, Marichelle Asuncion, Melissa E. Denton and Manuel L. San.  1994.  Seasonal prevalence of three species of digenetic trematodes in the snail, Helisoma trivolvis, at Owsley Fork Reservoir. Transactions of the Kentucky Academy of Science.  55: (1-2): 32-35 (includes five student co-authors)

    Rosen, R., M. L. San, M. E. Denton, J. W. Wolfe and G. L. Uglem.  1994. The rapid development of the glucose transport system in the excysted metacestode of Hymenolepis diminuta. Parasitology. 108: 217-222. (includes three student co-authors)

    Rosen, R.  1992.  Intermediate host sex and cysticercoid age: Effect on size of adults of the tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta (Cyclophyllidea).  Transactions of the Kentucky Academy of Science.  53: 1-4.

    Rosen, R. and G. L. Uglem.  1988.  Localization of facilitated diffusion and active glucose transport in cysticercoids of Hymenolepis diminuta (Cestoda). International Journal for Parasitology.  18: 581-584.

    Rosen, R. and W. C. Marquardt.  1986.  Ecological aspects of helminth infections in Chrysemys scripta elegans (Wied).  Transactions of the Kentucky Academy of Science.  46: 13-18.

    Shostak, A. W., R. B. Rosen and T. A. Dick.  1985.  The use of growth curves to assess the crowding effect on  procercoids of the tapeworm Triaenophorus crassus in the copepod host Cyclops bicuspidatus thomasi. Canadian Journal of Zoology.  63: 2343-2351.

    Rosen, R. and T. A. Dick.  1984.  Experimental infections of rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, with plerocercoids of Triaenophorus crassus Forel. Journal of Wildlife Diseases.  20: 34-38.

    Rosen, R. and T. A. Dick.  1984.  Growth and migration of Triaenophorus crassus Forel and pathology in experimentally infected whitefish, Coregonus clupeaformis (Mitchill).  Canadian Journal of Zoology.  62: 203-211.

    Shostak, A. W., R. Rosen and T. A. Dick.  1984.  Orientation of procercoids of Triaenophorus crassus Forel in Cyclops bicuspidatus thomasi Forbes:  Effects on growth and development.  Canadian Journal of Zoology.  62: 1373-1377.

    Rosen, R. and T. A. Dick.  1984.  Experimental transplants of plerocercoids of Triaenophorus crassus Forel into the body cavity of whitefish, Coregonus clupeaformis (Mitchill). Transactions of the Kentucky Academy of Science.  45: 156-157.

    Rosen, R. and T. A. Dick.  1983.  Development and infectivity of the procercoid of Triaenophorus crassus Forel and mortality of the first intermediate host. Canadian Journal of Zoology.  61: 2120-2128.

    Dick, T. A. and R. Rosen.  1982. Experimental infections of whitefish, Coregonus clupeaformis (Mitchill), with Triaenophorus crassus Forel. Journal of Fish Diseases.  5: 83-86.

    Dick, T. A. and R. Rosen.  1981.  Identification of Diplostomum spp. from the eyes of lake whitefish, Coregonus clupeaformis (Mitchill) based on experimental infection of herring gull chicks, Larus argentatus Pontoppidan.  Canadian Journal of Zoology.  59: 1176-1179.

    Rosen, R. and W. C. Marquardt.  1978.  Helminth parasites of the red-eared turtle (Pseudemys scripta elegans) in central Arkansas. Journal of Parasitology. 64: 1148-1149.

    Rosen, R. and R. Manis.  1976.  Trematodes of Arkansas amphibians. Journal of Parasitology.  62: 833-834.

    Clark, T., S. Acres, S. Bailey, B. Freeman, M. Hill, S. Lloyd, L. Lowman, B. Randall, R. Rosen and J. Workman.  1974.  A preliminary ecological study of Crowley’s Ridge.  In Arkansas Natural Area Plan, Charles T. Crow, Director.  Arkansas Department of Planning. 213-241.

    Rosen, R., I. Dalton, and M. Collins. 2023. Survey of parasites found in the fat mucket, Lampsilis siliquoidea, at North Elkhorn Creek, Scott County, Kentucky, U.S.A. Comparative Parasitology 90:101—105. (includes 2 student co-authors)

    Gosho, M., S. Itsukushima, M. H. Collins, I. T. Dalton, R. B. Rosen, and M. Urabe. 2024.
    Molecular phylogenetic position and the life cycle of Phyllodistomum cyprini Feng et Wang, 1995 in Japan, with a note of a larval Phyllodistomum sp. from unionid mussels in North America. Parasitology International 98:1–8. (includes 2 student co-authors)

    Rosen, R., I. Dalton, M. Collins, S. Staat, M. Andrews, Y. Budhathoki, H. Jackson, B. Kwisera, and J. Mecham. 2024. Crayfish as predators (nonhosts) of the digenetic trematode cercaria, Proterometra macrostoma, at North Elkhorn Creek, Kentucky, U.S.A. Comparative Parasitology 91:37—43. (includes 8 student co-authors)

    Rosen, R., S. Staat, M. Andrews, Y. Budhathoki, B. Kwisera, H. Jackson, and J. Mecham. 2024. Evidence for cercarial development of Proterometra macrostoma (Digenea: Azygiidae) within the snail intermediate host, Elimia semicarinata, under simulated winter temperature conditions. Comparative Parasitology 91:55—59. (includes 6 student co-authors)