PERSONAL:
Born; Hartford,
Connecticut, USA ( April 7, 1941); Graduated,
Farmington High School (1959); married - Dorinne
Boisseau (1964); children - Philip (1965), Rebecca
(1968), Paul (1970)
EDUCATION:
B.S. Central Connecticut State College, New Britain
(1965); Majors in Biology and Math
Ph.D. University of Connecticut, Storrs (1969);
Bioengineering/Comparative Neurophysiology
Post-Doctoral Training; Institute for Quantitative
Biology, Univ. of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
(1969-70); Neural Control of Posture and Locomotion
PROFESSIONAL HISTORY:
University of Virginia, Charlottesville; 1970-76;
Assistant Professor of Biology
Ohio University, Athens; 1976-79; Associate Professor
of Zoology and Biomedical Sciences
University of New England, Biddeford; 1979- Associate
Professor of Physiology; 1979- 2007 (Tenured 1986)
Chairperson, Dept. of Physiology; 1983-1988
Director, MS - Nurse Anesthesia Program; 1988-1993
Director, School of Nurse Anesthesia; 1993-2000
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
Undergraduate College Level; (11 years) courses in
Biology, Neurophysiology, and Animal Behavior.
Curriculum Design and Implementation.
Medical School Level; (20 years) several courses and
team-teaching in Physiology, Student Advising, and
Organ System Course Direction.
Graduate School Level; (23 years) courses in Human,
Comparative and Invertebrate Physiology, Animal
Behavior, Research Methods, Biology Seminars,
Advising and
Supervision: Several MS and PhD Graduate Student
Research. Spent 3 years as Graduate Department
Chairperson (Ohio University).
(additional details available on request)
ADMINISTRATIVE/SERVICE EXPERIENCE:
Graduate Chairperson, Dept. of Zoology; 1977-79
Interim Associate Dean for Basic Sciences, 1983-84
Chairperson, Dept. of Physiology; 1983-88
Program Director, Master of Science - Nurse
Anesthesia; 1988-93
Director, School of Nurse Anesthesia; 1993-2000
Faculty Representative to University Board of
Trustees; 1979-85
College of Medicine Research Committee, Chairperson;
1981-83
University Computer Resource Committee, Chairperson;
1983-89
Faculty Senate Academic Computing Committee, 1991-
Chairperson; 1999-
University Faculty Promotion and Tenure Committee,
Chairperson, 1992-94
University Information Technology Policy Committee,
1994-
University Strategic Planning Committee; 1996-98
College of Health Professions, Dean Search Committee,
Chairperson, 1998-99
University Feasibility Study Committee for College of
Pharmacy, Chairperson, 1998-99
Other University and College Committees; Bylaws,
Tenure Policy, Curriculum, Budget and Finance, Student
Advising, Graduate Studies, Etc.
HONORS AND AWARDS:
Sigma Xi President's and Visitors' Research Prize in
Science and Mathematics; 1972, University of Virginia,
Charlottesville, Virginia. Awarded for my research
work in comparative invertebrate locomotion.
CPCS College Award for Outstanding Leadership and
Service to UNE and its Students; May, 1994; University
of New England, Biddeford, Maine. Awarded in
recogniton of 14 years of Teaching, Administration,
and Service to the University and its students.
SCHOLARLY ACTIVITY:
My scholarly activity has been in two related areas,
both based on my graduate and postgraduate training in
Comparative Physiology, Computer Science, and
Bioengineering (the application of engineering
principles to biological research problems). The
Physiological and Behavioral study of the neural
control of locomotion and and other coordinated
movement in animals has always been the dominant
theme, supplemented by computer simulations, used as
modeling tools. Recently, I have been exploring the
field of Robotics, particularly walking autonomous
robotis, as a modeling tool to enhance my study of
locomotion.
Both of these activities continue to share my
interest, and I recently completed a sabbatical leave
at the University of Genova, Italy, in the Laboratory
of Informatics and Advanced Robotics (LIRA). There, I
learned a great deal about Artificial Intelligence and
Robotics, and collaborated on the design and study of
robots with Professor Giulio Sandini and his group. My
role was to provide a "biological" perspective for a
team of computer scientists and engineers, focused
primarily on visual tracking, and visually guided
movements of robotic limbs.
Throughout my career, I have also pursued an interest
in the development of specialized commercial
computer/video technology for use in biological and
medical research applications. This work has resulted
in the marketing of two commercial systems. Below are
listed some of my accomplishments in these areas.
A. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH EXPERIENCE AND ACTIVITY:
Areas of Interest:
Neural Control of Invertebrate Posture and Movement.
Comparative Biomechanics and Neuroethology of
Locomotion.
Robotics and Simulation.
Sponsorships and Funding:
NIH predoctoral traineeship 1965-69
NIH postdoctoral traineeship 1969-70
NIMH Research Grants 1973-75, 1975-76
NSF Research Grant 1977-79
Thesis/Dissertation Major Advisor for 3 M.S. students
and 1 Ph.D. student.
Associate Research Advisor for several other graduate
students
Society Membership:
American Society of Zoologists
Society for Neuroscience
International Society for Neuroethology
B. COMPUTER SCIENCE EXPERIENCE AND ACTIVITY:
Formal Training
Graduate level courses in electrical and mechanical
engineering, systems theory, biomedical
instrumentation, math, and computer programming. My
Ph.D. dissertation included the design of an analog
electronic simulation of the crustacean limb
nerve-muscle system.
Related Skills and Experience:
FORTRAN programming on IBM 360/370 systems
CSMP (Continuous Systems Modeling Program), for
simulation studies
VISUAL BASIC and assembly language programming, on
micro-computers
"C" and Pascal Language programming in graphics and
image analysis
Major Projects:
Private Consulting (1981- ): Projects for both
Scientific (Bigelow Laboratory, The Smithsonian
Institution, several Universities, the New England
Aquarium) and Industrial (GTE-Sylvania, Sprague
Electric, Costar-Nucleopore) clients on the use of
video/computer image analysis in research and quality
control.
Scientific Image Analysis Systems (1983-): designed
and developed two distinct computerized video image
analysis systems for use in biological, industrial,
and medical research. I wrote the software
(Copyrighted) and helped to design and integrate
custom hardware.
University Computer Resource Committee (1984-88): As
chairperson of this committee, I directed a complete
review and analysis of computer needs on campus. A
plan was developed,several bids were processed, and a
Data General computer system was purchased, which is
still in operation after several upgrades. This system
operates all aspects of financial and student
record-keeping for the University.
C. PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS:
Spirito, C.P. (1969) Neural Control of the Opener and
Stretcher Muscles of the Fiddler Crab, Uca pugnax. Zeit.
fur Vergl. Physiol. 68:211-228
Spirito, C.P., W.H. Evoy, and W.J.P. Barnes (1972)
Nervous Control of Walking in the Crab I. Resistance
Reflexes. Zeit. fur Vergl. Physiol. 76:1-15
Barnes, W.J.P., C.P. Spirito, and W.H. Evoy (1972)
Nervous Control of walking in the Crab. II. Reflexes
in Walking. Zeit. fur Vergl. Physiol. 76:16-31
Spirito, C.P., W.H. Evoy, and C.R. Fourtner (1973)
Considerations of Proprioception and Neuromuscular
Integration in Crustacean Locomotion. American
Zoologist 13:427-434
White, A.Q. and C.P. Spirito (1973) Anatomy and
Physiology of the Swimming Leg Musculature of the Blue
Crab, Callinectes sappidus. Marine Behavior and
Physiology 2:141-153
Spirito, C.P. (1975) The Organization of the Crayfish
Oesophogeal Nervous System. J. Comp. Physiol.
102:237-249
Spirito, C.P. and D.L. Mushrush (1979) Interlimb
Coordination During Slow Walking in the Cockroach. I.
Effects of Substrate Alterations. J. Exper. Biol.
78:233-243
Greene, S.I. and C.P. Spirito (1979) Interlimb
Coordination During Slow Walking in the Cockroach. II.
Effects of CNS Lesions. J. Exper. Biol.
78:245-253
Earnhardt, J.T., R. Bessete, and C.P. Spirito (1985)
Postural and Neurochemical Correlates: Serotonin J.
Amer. Osteopathic Assn. 85:108-109
Koester, D. and C.P. Spirito (2003) Punting: An
Unusual Mode of Locomotion in the Little Skate. Copeia
2003(3): 553-561
Spirito, C.P.,
Comparative Biomechanics of the Walking Legs in Crabs.
(in Manuscript)
D. INVENTIONS AND COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS:
Spirito, C.P. (1983-86) The IDEAS Commercial Image
Processing System. A complete, commercial, Personal
Computer Graphics/Video system marketed and sold by
Fredrick Haer Instrument Co. I wrote and Copyrighted
all Software, and co-designed special hardware. The
system was demonstrated and sold at the Society for
Neuroscience Convention (1983-86). Overall, 20 systems
were sold (at $12,000 ea.) to Universities and
Research Centers such as Harvard University, the
University of Chicago, University of Connecticut, etc.
Spirito, C.P. (1989-93) dVS - A digital Video System.
An original commercial system for combining Video and
Computer Gaphics on a Personal Computer. I designed
the integrated hardware system and wrote Copyrighted
Software. The system is used to make rapid accurate
measurements from microscopic or other video images.It
was marketed and sold by Precision Graphics Systems,
my own consulting company. Systems were sold for
Research (e.g. Bigelow Laboratory, Smithsonian
Institution, Univ. Massachusettes, U.S. Forestry
Service, James Madison Univ.) and Industrial use
(Sprague Electric, GTE, Costar-Nucleopore).
E. SABBATICALS, SYMPOSIA, AND OTHER SCHOLARLY
ACTIVITIES:
Sabbatical Leave: University of Georgia (1986) The
development of a Computerized Patient Simulator for
use in medical education. I collaborated on research,
development and testing of this software, called
"PROF", which was a text-based patient simulator for
use in testing medical students. My sponsor was Dr. A.
Abdulla; University of Georgia Medical Center,
Augusta.
Sabbatical Leave: University of Genova, Italy (1997)
The design and study of autonomous robots with
Professor Giulio Sandini and his group in the
Laboratory of Integrated and Advanced Robotics (LIRA
Lab). I provide a "biological" perspective for a team
of computer scientists and engineers, studying the
motor-control of robotic limbs, and robot vision.
"Invertebrate Neuromuscular Systems", (1972). American
Society of Zoologists International Symposium, State
College, PA. (invited participant)
"Age Related Changes in Avian Neuromuscular
Interactions", (1977-79). Co-investigator on NSF
Research Grant with Dr. Robert Hikida, Ohio
University.
Summer Osteopathic Research Conference, (1979-83).
Developer and coordinator of annual Conference of
Scientists and Physicians interested in research and
theory related to Osteopathic Manipulation, Diagnosis,
and Therapy.
"Symposium on Computer Applications in Medicine",
(1986). invited participant for symposium sessions on
Computer Imaging applications in Medicine.
Electronic Imaging International Conference,
(1986-present). Participate in Discussion Groups on
computer/video imaging in science and medicine.
"The Blue Crab", (1988). An educational videotape
produced by Dr. Taylor Schoettle, University of
Georgia, for use biology and ecology courses. I was
invited to serve as locomotion and behavior advisor,
and supplied my own extensive film footage for use in
the videotape.
National Science Foundation Grant Reviews (1979-91) I
serve as an outside reviewer for 2-5 major proposals
annually, in the areas of locomotion, robotics, and
comparative neurophysiology.
COMMUNITY SERVICE:
School Board Member, Saco, Maine, USA (1981-82)
Finance Committee, Arts Reachout Team in Saco (ARTS)
(1983-85)
Member, Saco Drug and Alcohol Abuse Task Force (1988)
Thornton Academy, Private Secondary School, Saco,
Maine, USA Board of Trustees, (1986-92)
Chair, Long-Range Planning Committee, (1987-92)
Unitarian Universalist Church of Saco-Biddeford, Maine
(Member 1987- ) Board of Trustees, (1989-93, 2002-
2006)
Long Range Planning Committee, (1995-96)
AVOCATION:
Railroad History, Restoration, and Scale Model
Building:
Charter Member, Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad and
Museum, Portland, Maine, 1992-94
Member, Wiscasset, Waterville, and Farmington Railroad
Museum, Alna, Maine, 1994-
Fine-scale Modelbuilder; accurate fine-scale models of
historically significant Narrow Gauge Railroads,
Architecture, and Vehicles.
Sculptor of human figures and other items to exact
scale. Some of these pieces are used by manufacturers
as master patterns for commercial castings.
A Sample of Avocation-Related Publications:
Spirito, C.P. (1977) Eastern Logging - A New Frontier.
Narrow Gauge and Shortline Gazette. January,
1977: 30-31
Spirito, C.P. (1981) Observations - Fear of Shining. Railroad
Model Craftsman. July, 1981: 126-127
Spirito, C.P. (1988) Cover Photo Narrow Lines,
Journal of the Narrow Gauge Railway Society,
London, England
Spirito, C.P. (1993) Modifying a 1:20 Scale Caboose
Kit Outdoor Railroader. December, 1993:
Spirito, C.P. (1994) Kitbashing a Bachmann Porter
Locomotive to 1:20 Scale. Outdoor Railroader.
December, 1994: 78-80
Spirito, D.B. and C.P. (1995) Fresh Cuttings; a
Southern Maine Garden Railway. Garden Railways.
May-June, 1995: 28-29
Spirito, C.P. (1999) Sculpting Scale Figures for
Garden Railways. Garden Railways. March-April,
1999: 72-78
Spirito, C.P. (2000) Introduction to 7/8" Scale Garden
Railways. Garden Railways. January-February,
2000: 72-78
Spirito, C.P. (2002) Two Crickets Grow Up, Finescale
Railroader, March, 2002: 40-42
Click your browser's "BACK" button to
return from whence you came.
|
I have been a
Professional Scientist since 1965, and was a Physiology
Professor at the University
of New England for 27 years. I teach Human
Physiology to medical and graduate health science
students.