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Clinical Assistant Professor of Biology
B.S., 1984 (Biology), University of the Philippines; Ph.D., 1995 (Zoology), Duke University.
Office Address:
| New York University |
| Department of Biology |
| 1009 Silver Center |
| 100 Washington Square East |
| New York, NY 10003-6688 |
Email:
Phone: (212) 998-8232
Fax: (212) 995-4015
Personal Homepage
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Research
I am a comparative biologist interested in morphological change. I
seek to understand how the differences, as well as the similarities, in
structure among organisms arise in developmental and evolutionary time.
Most of my work has been on developmental anatomy in snakes, particularly
the thamnophiines (garter snakes and their closest relatives). I am currently
examining how interspecific differences in cranial development lead to
variation in cranial morphology. I will expand my work to include other
tissues and squamate species. I am also interested in the developmental
basis of sexual dimorphism in snakes and in methods for comparing developmental
sequences.
Teaching:
Courses for Biology majors
- Principles of Biology I and II (V23.0011 and V23.0012)
- Vertebrate Anatomy (V23.0023)
Courses for non-majors
- Human Reproduction and Development (V23.0003)
- Human Physiology (V23.0004)
- The Living Environment (V23.0008/V49.0008)
Information about my classes can be found on my personal web site.
Biosketch:
- 2002 - present: Clinical Assistant Professor of Biology, New York University
- 1999 - 2002: Assistant Professor of Biology, Longwood University
- 1995 - 1999: Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology, James Madison University
- 1988 - 1995: Ph.D. (Zoology), Duke University
- 1986 - 1988: Ph.D. (Biology) credits, University of the Philippines
- 1984 - 1986: M.D. credits, University of the Philippines
- 1980 - 1984: B.S. (Biology), University of the Philippines
Areas of Research/Interest
Development and morphological evolution in vertebrates, especially snakes
Publications
Velhagen, W. A. 1997. Analyzing developmental sequences using sequence units. Systematic Biology 46(1): 204-210.
Velhagen, W. A. and V. L. Roth. 1997. The scaling of the mandible in squirrels. Journal of Morphology 232(2): 107-132.
Velhagen, W. A. and A. H. Savitzky. 1998. Evolution of embryonic growth in thamnophiine snakes. Copeia 1998(3): 549-558.
