Michael Robinsons Lab

Teaching Research

• Contact

  Michael P. Robinson
  Department of Biology
  Barry University
  Miami Shores FL 33161 USA
  305-899-4930; fax: 305-899-3225
  mprobinson@barry.edu

  My office hours for Spring 2012 are:
  Monday 9-10 and 1-3; Wednesday 1-2

People

• Michael Robinson

   I graduated from the Univ of Miami in 1994 with a B.S. in Marine Science/Biology, from the Univ of South Florida in 1998 with an M.S. in Zoology, and again from UM in 2005 with a Ph.D. in Biology. I then worked for six years on the UM faculty eventually becoming a Senior Lecturer. My biological research focuses primarily on behavioral ecology and evolution. A second component of my research effort concentrates on techniques to improve scientific teaching at the university-leve

• Silvia Maciá, Dept. Biology, Barry U.

  I graduated from the Univ of Miami with a Ph.D. in Marine Biology and Fisheries. After a two-year stint in Jamaica, I joined the Barry faculty. We have collaborated on a number of studies including reef urchin conservation, parrotfish grazing behavior and the evolution of color and of the social system in a shrimp living on sea urchins. But our most important collaboration is our two boys, Javier and Diego.

• Yunqiu (Daniel) Wang, Dept. Biology, Univ.. Of Miami

  We shared an office annex for six years at UM, and over that time we shared and developed a number of pedagogical techniques. We are currently collaborating on a project to analyze the importance of formative pedagogical techniques in large science classrooms.

Research

• Predator Approach Behavior in Mosquito Fish

  This project aims to determine the functions of predator approach (aka predator inspection) behavior in mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis). Predator approach is when a potential prey moves towards a potential predator. There are several possible explanations including: 1) information gathering by the prey, 2) deterring pursuit by the predator by demonstrating the prey's knowledge or quality, 3) approaching advertises the prey's quality and attracts mates. We will also examine the role, if any, of male color variation in their behavior.

• Vocalization Diversity in Damselfishes

  Damselfishes are very common and soniferous coral reef fishes. Only recently, however, has the mechanism for their vocalizations been discovered. Our lab is looking at the variability in this mechanism and the effects it has on vocalizations.

• Recall's Influence on Learning in Biology

  Reconstructing information appears to benefit learning, and in many courses students take quizzes before lecture and during class. I have been collecting data to determine whether these quizzes are effective because they necessitate recall and/or because they necessitate studying. This research will help me (and hopefully other instructors) plan more efficient courses with better learning outcomes.

Advice to Students

• General Advice

  1. don't just pass your courses, excel—you will need to do more than just squeak by; you're not at college just to get a piece of paper that says "You're Educated!" Real education is something you carry in your head and can apply to your life. The purpose of college is to give you the real knowledge, experience and skills to get into and excel during the next stage of your life.

  2. know how you learn—really pay attention to which techniques help you learn best and use them. Watch successful people and try what they do. It's not a guarantee you'll do well with their techniques, but it's a start. Things that don't work, drop them. Things that do work, keep them.

  2.1 test yourself!!!— one of the biggest mistakes students make is not evaluating their understanding of the material BEFORE an exam. As you study you need to assess continually how well you understand the material—give yourself little quizzes as you go. Be hard on yourself and be honest. If you wait until the test to find out what you really, truly know, by then it will be too late.

  3. work hard

  4. enjoy challenges & learning & seek out new experiences & people

  5. have clear long-term goals and clear short-term milestones

  6. become who you want to be—high school's over. No one cares any more if you were the class president or class clown. You will be assessed based on what you do from here on out. You can choose to reinvent yourself (or continue) as a success—if you want to be a doctor, then perform well from here on out.

  7. remember you are surrounded by people who care, let them help you—seek out your friends, tutors, TA's & faculty. See them BEFORE things become difficult and things might never become overwhelming!

  8. do research!!!!

• Interacting with Faculty

  Always address the faculty as "Dr. So-and-So" or "Professor So-and-So." Some of them might not be doctors or professors, but most of them will be. You're not in high school any more. Show the faculty that you understand that. Use a different greeting only after they have told you to do so.

  Any time you contact the faculty, you should be professional. If you are emailing them, use a salutation (Dear Dr. So-and-So), be clear about what you want, and sign your name. Remember, the faculty are super busy (even though you might only see them 3 hours a week!), and if you don't put in even the most rudimentary effort when asking something of them, your request will probably be put on the bottom of a very tall pile. Also, don't expect your instructors to be tied to email. You should expect at least a 24-hour delay between the time they receive your email and the time they get back to you.

  "what chapter are we doing?" or "when's the test?" this makes it look like you are not willing to put in even the simplest amount of effort to check a piece of paper. Not the best impression you want to put forth.

   

• Do Research

  This is not necessarily a requirement for graduate school or medical school, but it practically is. Doing research teaches you a ton about yourself, but it also demonstrates that you are smart, able to work hard and long for delayed gratification, you can work with a team, and you can think properly and logically. If you are going to grad school, research demonstrates to your potential advisor that you already have what it takes for grad school. Research is a great way to meet potential graduate school advisors, a very important step. Good research really makes a big difference when it comes to advancing to the next level. In addition, research is a great way to get an excellent letter of recommendation

• What you want to do

  You want a research project that is YOURS. You don't want just to be washing test tubes. That might be part of your training, especially early on, but if you are working in someone's lab, you should be working towards the time when you will be the lead researcher on a project, even if it's a small one. You want to be an author (if not the lead author) on abstracts and publications and maybe write up a thesis, too (although pubs are more important). Make sure you express this desire to your research mentor.

  Start early! You want to be far enough along with your research when you apply to graduate schools. A publication or abstract by the time you apply is a great plus. So start doing research as soon as you can fit it into your schedule. The Spring of your Freshman year is a good idea, but make sure you can comfortably fit it into your schedule. Don't feel like you're unable to do the work, because you're a freshman. Faculty will be much happier to have someone work in their lab for 3-4 years than 1 year. And they will teach you everything you need to know.

  To get into research, it's easy. Find someone who does research you think is interesting (if it's dull, you'll hate it and do a horrible job). Send them a short email saying who you are, that you like their research on X, Y & Z, and you were hoping they'd have a position in their lab for you. After that, you sort of "negotiate" the expectations: what kind of project you'd do, how many hours and when, timeline, etc. Don't expect to be paid—you're being paid in experience and publications. You should be able to get research credits for your work, but if you can arrange to get paid, that's good, too. But the bottom line is, whether or not you are paid or get credits, research is well worth it!

   

Letters of Recommendation

• How to get a good letter from someone

  There's no formula for getting a good recommendation. It should go without saying that you have to impress a recommender with your intelligence, hard-work, and good attitude. You also want to know a recommender well enough that they feel comfortable writing you a recommendation. This is especially important so they can write some personal anecdotes about you.

  How do you get into such a position? Well, doing what you should already be doing: working hard and doing well in your classes, asking questions and showing an interest in those classes, doing research and working closely with a faculty member.

  One thing to consider is that in large classes (here at Barry, that's 20+ students—really, quite a good number), it's harder to distinguish yourself. Honestly, it's not that hard at Barry given our small class sizes, but 20 students is still twice as many as 10. So, consider taking a small class (that's fewer than 15 students) some time before you need a recommendation. (If you're a pre-med, then take one your junior year—don't leave them all until your senior year.) You can make a much better impression and get a better rec in this situation. (And your education can also be more fun that way.)

  Also, you should be doing research, Research, RESEARCH!!! Research is important to your career for so many different reasons that a good letter by itself is kind of a silly reason to consider doing research, but it is one of the benefits. And remember, the earlier you start the better.Start research your freshman year. Trust me, you'll be much better off.

   

• Getting a letter from me

  If you would like a recommendation from me, please read the following and consider whether or not you should ask for one. This information is just meant to be helpful and save us all time. It is NOT meant to scare you off. If after reading this you are still not sure if you should ask me or you still wonder whom you should ask, then please do ask!

  I also mean this page as an information source for beginning students who might not know what letters of rec involve. Good letters of recommendation are needed for scholarships and entry into grad school, med school, etc. And letters take a long time, so while faculty are generally happy to help with letters of rec, they also want to see that you are taking this seriously and doing your fair share. Remember, there is no rule that someone has to write you a letter.

  Consider the thoughts below when you are thinking about whom to ask for a recommendation, but also consider them well before you need to ask for one. Even if you are a freshman and 3 years away from needing a recommendation, you should put yourself into a position to get a good one. That is, take a science class with low enrollment so you can stand out more easily and get to know a professor better. Do research (a great way to get a great rec). Be friendly with the faculty. Don't be fake, but treat the faculty like human beings not some person whose job is to show up and lecture at you 3 hours a week. You don't have to do all of this your 1st year, but work it into your long-term plans. (But you should always treat the faculty like human beings!)

• Should you ask me for a recommendation?

  Are you better off asking someone else? Essentially, you need to consider what kind of a recommendation I will write and weigh that against the kind of recommendation someone else would write. These questions should help you decide.

  1. How well did you do in my course(s)? Did you get at least a B? If you didn't get at least a B, then it's really hard to write you a recommendation! Were there mitigating circumstances? Well, maybe that will make the difference. But if you didn't get at least a B, you should consider asking someone in whose class you got a B or better.

  2. How well do I know you? If disappeared in class and never participated, and I don't really know you, well I can write a nice recommendation for you, but it won't be great. I won't be able to say much other than your grade and rank in class. I could highlight your accomplishments outside of class, but anyone else can do that.

  What really helps with letters of rec is a personal relationship. Really knowing someone and being able to relate some anecdotes is important. I'm not saying that you need to hang out! I just mean that being able to write something specific about you related to your abilities or personality really makes a letter go over well. If you were just another face-in-the-crowd, then that will be pretty difficult to do. If I don't really know you, consider asking someone who does, especially from a smaller class where you got to interact more often with the instructor or from a research mentor.

  3. Is there enough time? I need at least 2 weeks to write a good letter of rec from the date I agree to write it.

• If you decide to ask me for a recommendation

  Please do the following:

  1. Send me an email to ask. Make sure you include this file completely filled out. Rename the file with your last name in the file name (e.g., Smith questionnaire.doc).

  • PDF format
  • Microsoft Word format

  This is not a guarantee I will write you a rec! This will help me decide whether or not to write one.

  2. Arrange a meeting with me to discuss your recommendation. At this point I will determine whether or not to write it for you.

  3. If I agree to write you a rec, follow the directions in the info sheet and here:

  a. If these are hard copy letters, send me self-addressed and stamped envelopes for each recommendation. Make sure you include my return address on the envelope, too:

  Michael Robinson
  Dept. Biology
  Barry University
  Miami Shores FL 33161 USA

  b. If this is an online recommendation, use the above plus the following to fill in any information that the site requests for me:
  title: Asst. Professor
  phone: 305-899-4930

  4. Make sure you give me at least 2 weeks to write it once I agree to (not once you request it).

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