Robert J. Denver, Ph.D., co-founded and served as first president of the North American Society for Comparative Endocrinology (NASCE). He chaired the organizing committee for the first biannual NASCE conference held at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in July, 2011, then he later served as the NASCE Banker. In 2017 he was selected for the NASCE Gorbman-Bern Memorial Lecturership. He was professor of molecular, cellular and developmental biology (MCDB), and professor of ecology and evolutionary biology (EEB) in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts at the University of Michigan until his retirement from active faculty status on December 31, 2021. He is now professor emeritus of MCDB and EEB.
Robert Denver attended Rutgers University and received the Bachelor of Science with High Honors in 1984, and the Doctorate in Zoology at the University of California, Berkeley in 1989. He conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, the University of California, Berkeley, and the National Institutes of Health, then he joined the faculty at the University of Michigan as assistant professor in 1994 and was promoted through the ranks to professor in 2006. He served as Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies and Associate Chair for Research and Facilities, then as Chair of MCDB from 2014 to 2019 when he led his department in the design, construction and habitation of the Biological Sciences Building.
During his academic career Professor Denver taught courses for undergraduate and graduate students in introductory biology, animal physiology, endocrinology and experimental design. He played a central role in the establishment of the Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience. Professor Denver’s scholarly work is internationally recognized for discoveries on the molecular mechanisms of hormone action during brain development, and the pivotal roles of hormones in mediating the interaction between genes and the environment. His research has spanned topics from molecular neuroscience to evolutionary ecology. During his career he published over 130 scientific articles, and he was very active in scientific societies and editing scientific journals. He was Chair of the Division of Comparative Endocrinology of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, and he was president of the International Federation of Comparative Endocrinological Societies. He served on grant proposal review panels for the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, and on scientific advisory panels for the Endocrine Disrupter Screening Program, and others, for the US Environmental Protection Agency. In 2018 he was elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Robert Denver attended Rutgers University and received the Bachelor of Science with High Honors in 1984, and the Doctorate in Zoology at the University of California, Berkeley in 1989. He conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, the University of California, Berkeley, and the National Institutes of Health, then he joined the faculty at the University of Michigan as assistant professor in 1994 and was promoted through the ranks to professor in 2006. He served as Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies and Associate Chair for Research and Facilities, then as Chair of MCDB from 2014 to 2019 when he led his department in the design, construction and habitation of the Biological Sciences Building.
During his academic career Professor Denver taught courses for undergraduate and graduate students in introductory biology, animal physiology, endocrinology and experimental design. He played a central role in the establishment of the Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience. Professor Denver’s scholarly work is internationally recognized for discoveries on the molecular mechanisms of hormone action during brain development, and the pivotal roles of hormones in mediating the interaction between genes and the environment. His research has spanned topics from molecular neuroscience to evolutionary ecology. During his career he published over 130 scientific articles, and he was very active in scientific societies and editing scientific journals. He was Chair of the Division of Comparative Endocrinology of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, and he was president of the International Federation of Comparative Endocrinological Societies. He served on grant proposal review panels for the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, and on scientific advisory panels for the Endocrine Disrupter Screening Program, and others, for the US Environmental Protection Agency. In 2018 he was elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.