David Penning
Department of Biology & Environmental Health ● Missouri Southern State University ● 3950 E Newman Road, Joplin, MO 64801 ● (417) 625-9764 ● davidapenning@gmail.com
EDUCATION
● Ph.D (Environmental and Evolutionary Biology): University of Louisiana at Lafayette 2016
Advisor: Brad Moon
● M.S. (Biology): University of Central Missouri 2012
Advisor: Stefan Cairns
● B. S. (Biology): University of Central Missouri 2010
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Missouri Southern State University, Department of Biology and Environmental Health
Assistant Professor (2016-current)
● Principles of Biology I, Principles of Biology II, Introduction to Biological Research, Independent Research in Biology, Laboratory Assistant Practicum, Internship in Biology, General Ecology, Research and Statistical Methods in Biology, Herpetology, Mammalogy, Biomes: The Wildlands of Africa
University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Department of Biology
Guest Lecturer (all senior- and graduate-level courses; 2012–2014)
● Behavioral Ecology, Biogeography, Comparative Physiology, Conservation Biology, Herpetology, Mammalogy
University of Central Missouri, Department of Biology and Agriculture
Graduate Teaching Assistant (Anatomy & Physiology, Animal Biology, Ecology; 2011–2012)
● Taught a total of 13 lab sections and trained new teaching assistantsGraduate Teaching Internship (Ichthyology; senior- and graduate-level course; 2011)
Graduate Teaching Internship (Herpetology; senior- and graduate-level course; 2012)
Laboratory Technician: Entomology/Agricultural Pest Management (2010–2011)
Guest Lecturer (Herpetology; 2010)
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant (Plant Biology; 2010)
GRADUATE FACULTY STATUS
● Missouri State University
● Emporia State University
MENTORSHIP
Missouri Southern State University, Department of Biology & Environmental Health
Whitney B.— MSSU student
● Quantifying the prevalence of pseudoreplication and poor experimental analysis in the anatomical sciences
Gil J.— MSSU student
● Quantifying the prevalence of pseudoreplication and poor experimental analysis in the anatomical sciences
Ashley G.--Missouri State University graduate student
● Collaborative research on bite performance in head-started and wild-caught alligator snapping turtles
Jainee C.— MSSU student
● Testing for elastic recoil structures in ratsnakes
● $200 in Undergraduate Research Grants awarded
● $300 Alan Kamb Grant for Research on Kansas Snakes from the Kansas Herpetological Society
Jillian H.-- MSSU honors student
● Research on muscle-level tradeoffs between constriction and striking in Borneo pythons
● $1000 in Undergraduate Research Grants awarded
Elizabeth B.—UL at Lafayette graduate student
● Collaborative research on subterranean predation performance in kingsnakes
Jeff A.—Emporia State University graduate student
● Collaborative research on constriction across a wide thermal range
Veronica N.—MSSU honors student
● Research on the mechanisms of striking in cottonmouth vipers
● $1000 in Undergraduate Research Grants awarded
Nathan P.—MSSU honors student
● Research on cottonmouth strike and venom delivery performance
● $800 in Undergraduate Research Grants awarded
Elva W.—MSSU student:
● Research on strike performance in Sand Boas
● $200 Undergraduate Research Grants awarded
Christian N.—MSSU student
● Research on cardiovascular physiology and constriction performance:
● $1200 in Undergraduate Research Grants awarded
Ashley B.—MSSU honors student
● Research on the behavioral modulation of strike performance in ratsnakes
● $200 Undergraduate Research Grants awarded
Teddy P.--MSSU student
● Research on snapping turtle bite performance
● $750 in Undergraduate Research Grants awarded
Levi P.--MSSU student
● Research on snake strike performance in the Green Tree Python
Zadok S.--MSSU honors student
● Research on the effects of hunger on snake predation performance
● $750 in Undergraduate Research Grants awarded
Joshua N.--MSSU student
● Preliminary research on ratsnake strike performance: mentee and collaborator on one project (2016)
University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Department of Biology
Gabriel F.--mentee and collaborator on one project (2015–current)
● Research on the underground predation performance in kingsnakes
CJ H.--mentee and collaborator on two projects (2015–current)
● Impacts of temperature on snake strike performance
Baxter S.—mentee and collaborator–coauthor on three projects (2013–current)
● Research on snake strike and constriction performance
University of Central Missouri, Department of Biology and Agriculture
Eva G.—mentee and collaborator–coauthor on two projects (2010–2013)
● Worked together on two projects involving the thermal ecology of overwintering snakes in a cave and the effects of diet on growth in snakes
● $750 in Undergraduate Scholars Grants
● $1,750 in Undergraduate Honors Grants
William T.—mentee and collaborator–coauthor on one project (2011)
● Worked together on a project evaluating the effects of prey type on aquatic feeding snakes
● $750 in Undergraduate Scholars Grants
Tyler C.—mentee and collaborator–coauthor on one project (2011)
● Worked together on a project evaluating the effect of prey type on constriction behavior in Rainbow Boas
● $750 Undergraduate Scholars Grant awarded
GRANTS AND OTHER FUNDING SOURCES
● Faculty and Student (9x) Travel Grants, International & Domestic Grants Committee at Missouri Southern State University
(2018; $12,500 in total)
● Private Trust Donation, funded the creation of the Reptile Physiology lab research technician position (2017; $12,000)
● Prairie Biotic Small Research Grant, Prairie Biotic Research (2017; $1,000)
● Research Grant, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) Equipment Grant (2016; $2,500)
● Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (2014–2016; $6,000) ● Equipment Grant, Graduate Student Organization at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (2012–2015; $1,020)
● Travel Grant, Graduate Student Organization at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (2012–2015; $1,440)
● Equipment, Specimen, and Research Donations, Mr. Reptiles llc, BHB Reptiles, Cajun Colubrids, and Miles of Exotics
(2010–2014; $2,390)
● Ecology Center Grant, space use, University of Louisiana at Lafayette (2012–2015; $3,750)
● Ecology Center Grant, equipment, University of Louisiana at Lafayette (2012–2015; $500)
● Biology Research Grant, University of Central Missouri (2010; $160)
COMPETITIVE AWARDS AND HONORS
● Research Excellence Award from MSSU (August 2019; $1,000)
● MSSU Kappa Alpha Order Professor of the Month (November 2018)
● Stefan Cairns Alumni Award from the University of Central Missouri (2018)
● Walter E. Meshaka Award for best poster presentation, KS Herp Society (2016; $100)
● Gans Collections and Charitable Fund Travel and Registration Award for the 8th World Congress of Herpetology (2016; $2,000)
● Travel Grant, 8th World Congress of Herpetology, Hangzhou, China (2016; $1,500)
● Gans Collections and Charitable Fund Travel and Registration Award for the Society for the Study of Amphibians and
Reptiles 2015 Meeting (2015; $710)
● Board of Regents Doctoral Fellowship, UL at Lafayette (2012–2016; $108,000)
● Frederick H. Stoye Award for best oral presentation in physiology/physiological ecology from the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (2016; $200)
● Alan H. Kamb Grant for Research on Kansas Snakes, KS Herp Society (2015; $300)
● Henri Seibert Award for best paper in physiology/morphology, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (2015; $200) ● Graduate Research Award for best paper, The Herpetologists’ League (2015; $750)
● People’s Choice Award for best presentation, UL at Lafayette Graduate 3MT® (2015)
● 3MT® 2nd Place Award, UL at Lafayette Graduate 3MT® Competition (2015; $300)
● Outstanding Poster Award for graduate research in the STEM category, UL at Lafayette’s Graduate Research Showcase (2015; $400)
● Howard Kay Gloyd–Edward Harrison Taylor Award for contributions to herpetology, KS Herp Society (2014; $300)
● Singh Award for outstanding poster, UL at Lafayette (2014)
● Outstanding Poster Award for graduate research in the STEM category, UL at Lafayette’s Graduate Research Showcase (2014: $400)
● Undergraduate Research Mentor Award, University of Central Missouri (2012)
● Outstanding Graduate Student Award, University of Central Missouri, Department of Biology and Earth Science (2012)
● Graduate Assistantship, University of Central Missouri (2010–2012; $11,250)
● Outstanding Undergraduate Biology Student Award, University of Central MO (2010)
HONORS AND AWARDS (TO UNDERGRADUATE MENTEES)
● Alan H. Kamb Grant for research on Kansas Snakes (2019; $300): Awarded to Jainee Cowen
● Student Research Award from MSSU (2019) o Awarded to Jillian Hackney ($400), Veronica Nguyen ($400), Jainee Cowen ($200), and Nathan Piccoli ($200)
● Cave Young Investigator Prize (runner-up), The International Federation of Associations of Anatomists: Awarded to Gil Johnson and Whitney Blodgett (£100)
● Sandy Marks Junior Student Poster Presentation Award for best presentation in Education, The American Association of Clinical Anatomists: Awarded to Gil Johnson and Whitney Blodgett ($600)
● Walter E. Meshaka Award for best poster presentation, KS Herp Society (2018): Awarded to Nathan Piccoli ($100)
● Student Research Award from MSSU (2018) o Awarded to Jillian Hackney ($600), Veronica Nguyen ($600), Christian Neff ($600), and Nathan Piccoli ($600)
● Excellence in Research Award and Excellence in Service Award from the Department of Biology and Environmental Health at Missouri Southern State University: Awarded to Teddy Pashia
● 2nd place poster award in the Biological and Physical Sciences category at the MSSU Student Research Symposium (2018): Awarded to Ashley Burns ($100)
● Student Research Award from MSSU (2017) o Awarded to Ashley Burns ($700), Christian Neff ($600), and Teddy Pashia ($600)
● Alan H. Kamb Grant for research on Kansas Snakes (2017; $300) o Awarded to Ashley Burns
● George Toland Award for Ecological Research on North American Herpetofauna ($200) o Awarded to Ashley Burns
● Excellence in Service Award from the Department of Biology and Environmental Health at Missouri Southern State University: Awarded to Levi Parker
● Gans Collections and Charitable Fund travel award: Awarded to Joshua Newhouse ($1,000; declined)
● Excellence in Research Award from the Department of Biology and Environmental Health at Missouri Southern State University: Awarded to Zadok Self
● 1st place poster award in the Biological and Physical Sciences category at the MSSU Student Research Symposium (2017): Awarded to Zadok Self ($200)
● Student Research Award from MSSU (2016): Awarded to Zadok Self ($750)
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS (*DENOTES UNDERGRADUATE, **DENOTES GRADUATE)
Book Chapters
● Moon, B.R., Penning, D.A., Segall, M., & Herrel, A. 2019. Feeding in snakes: form, function, and evolution of the feeding system. In Feeding in Vertebrates: Anatomy, Biomechanics, and Evolution (ed. V. Bels). Springer Publishing (New York).
Peer-Reviewed Publications
● Penning, D.A., Micklich III, R.A., & *Neff, C. in press. Plestiodon fasciatus (Common fivelined skink). Jasper County, MO Record. Herpetological Review
● Penning, D.A., **Sawvel, B., & Moon, B.R. 2019. The scaling of terrestrial striking performance in western ratsnakes (Pantherophis obsoletus). Journal of Experimental Zoology A
● Penning, D.A. (2018). Quantitative axial myology in two constricting snakes: Lampropeltis holbrooki and Pantherophis obsoletus. Journal of Anatomy 232: 1016–1024.
● Penning, D.A., & Moon, B.R. 2017. The king of snakes: performance and morphology of intraguild predators (Lampropeltis) and their prey (Pantherophis). The Journal of Experimental Biology 220: 1154–1161.
● Photo and research featured in 2018 calendar
● Penning, D.A. 2017. The gluttonous king: The effects of meal size and repeated feeding on constriction performance in kingsnakes (Lampropeltis getula). Journal of Zoology 302: 119– 125.
● Penning, D. A. 2017. The scaling of bite force and constriction pressure in kingsnakes (Lampropeltis getula): proximate determinants and correlated performance. Integrative Zoology 12: 121–131.
● Penning, D.A., *Sawvel, B., & Moon, B.R. 2016. Debunking the viper’s strike: harmless snakes kill a common assumption. Biology Letters
- Photo and research featured on cover
● Penning, D.A., & Dartez, S.F. 2016. Size, but not experience, affects the ontogeny of constriction performance in ball pythons (Python regius). Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological Genetics and Physiology
● Penning, D.A. & Cairns, S. 2016. Prey-handling behaviors of naïve Pantherophis guttatus. Journal of Herpetology 50: 196–202.
● Penning, D.A., Dartez, S.F., & Moon, B.R. 2015. The big squeeze: scaling of constriction pressure in two of the world’s largest snakes,
Python reticulatus and P. molorus bivittatus. Journal of Experimental Biology 218(21): 3364–3367.
- Photo and research featured on cover and 2016 calendar
● Penning, D.A., *Gann, E., *Thomas, W., *Carlson, T., Mittelhauser, J., Bilbrey, L., & Cairns, S. 2013. An evaluation of measurement techniques for measurements of snake length. Collinsorum: The Journal of Kansas Herpetology 2: 20–24.
● Penning, D.A., & Cairns, S. 2012. Growth rates of neonate corn snakes, Pantherophis guttatus (Colubridae) when fed in mutually exclusive mass-ratio feeding categories. Herpetological Review 4:605–607.
Published Abstracts
● Penning, D.A. & Moon, B.R. 2017. Identifying the mechanisms of predation: in vivo measurements of force and endurance in epaxial muscles of kingsnakes (Lampropeltis) and one of their prey snakes (Pantherophis). Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology annual meeting (SICB), New Orleans, LA.
● Moon, B.R., *Ferreira, G.F., & Penning, D.A. 2017. High performance in a tight spot: kingsnake pinioning pressures in simulated tunnels. SICB, New Orleans, LA.
● *Hillard, C.J., Penning, D.A., & Moon, B.R. 2017. Quantitative effects of body temperature on snake strike performance: new insights into the elastic recoil hypothesis. SICB, New Orleans, LA.
● Fullbright, M., Penning, D.A., & *Hillard, C.J. 2017. Scaling of terrestrial and arboreal defensive strikes by ratsnakes. SICB, New Orleans, LA.
Popular Publications
● Penning, D.A. 2012. Burmese Mountain Tortoises. REPTILES USA: 2013:28–35.
● Penning, D.A. 2009. Go Long: How to Breed the Elongated Tortoise. REPTILES. July: 20–23.
Presentations
● *Johnson, G., *Blodgett, W., Barry, A., & Penning, D.A. 2019. Etiology of Pseudoconclusion: Phenomenon of Pseudoreplication in Human Anatomical Research. The 19th Congress of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists. London, UK. Poster.
● *Johnson, G., *Blodgett, W., Barry, A., & Penning, D.A. 2019. Etiology of Pseudoconclusion:
Phenomenon of Pseudoreplication in Human Anatomical Research. The 36th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Clinical Anatomists. Tulsa, OK. Poster
● Penning, D.A, & *Neff, C. 2019. They keep using constriction: I don’t think it means what we think it means. 46th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Hays, KS. Oral
● *Piccoli, N., *Nguyen, V., Greene, B., & Penning, D.A. 2019. Baby got bite? Changes in venom delivery and strike performance in cottonmouth vipers (Agkistrodon piscivorus). 46th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Hays, KS. Oral.
● *Nguyen, V., *Piccoli, N., Greene, B., & Penning, D.A. 2018. Temperature impacts on striking and venom delivery in cottonmouth vipers (Agkistrodon piscivorus). 46th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Hays, KS. Oral.
● *Hackney, J., *Piccoli, N., & Penning, D.A. 2018. How the use of one body impacts biomechanical performance in Borneo pythons (Python breitensteini). 46th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Emporia, KS. Poster.
● Penning, D.A. 2018. Collaboration Station: Crossing disciplines and Universities to understand how reptiles work. 46th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Hays, KS. Poster.
● **Gagnon, A., Ligon, D. B., & Penning, D.A. 2019. Effects of captivity on bite performance in alligator snapping turtles (Macrochelys temminckii). 32nd Annual Meeting of the Missouri Herpetological Association. Oral.
● **Anderson Jr., J., Sievert, L., & Penning, D.A. 2019. The effects of temperature on
Pantherophis guttatus prey-handling behavior. Kansas Natural Resources Conference. Manhattan, KS. Oral.
● **Anderson Jr., J., Sievert, L., & Penning, D.A. 2018. The effects of temperature on Pantherophis guttatus prey-handling behavior. 45th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Emporia, KS. Oral.
● Penning, D.A., *Pashia, T., Voves, K., & Ligon, D. 2018. Silver-spoon snappers? Comparing bite forces in head-started and wild alligator snapping turtles (Macrochelys temminckii). 45th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Emporia, KS. Poster.
● Penning, D.A., & *Self, Z. 2018. Facing fears for food: does hunger modify snake behavior? 45th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Emporia, KS. Oral.
● *Wright, E., & Penning, D.A. 2018. Analysis of strike kinematics in Kenyan sand boas (Gongylophis colubrinus). 45th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Emporia, KS. Poster.
● *Neff, C., & Penning, D.A. 2018. Prey under pressure: An analysis of the thoracic and intracranial pressures during constriction by kingsnakes. 45th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Emporia, KS. Oral.
● *Piccoli, N., & Penning, D.A. 2018. Fat, feisty, and fast? High-speed strike performance from Borneo pythons (Python breitensteini). 45th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Emporia, KS. Oral.
● *Nguyen, V., Hackney, J., & Penning, D.A. 2018. Manipulating body temperature to test for elastic recoil mechanisms in an Australian python (Morelia spilota). 45th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Emporia, KS. Poster.
● *Hackney, J., Piccoli, N., & Penning, D.A. 2018. Biomechanical tradeoffs across ontogeny? Striking and constriction performance in Rosy Boas (Lichanura trivirgata). 45th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Emporia, KS. Poster.
● Penning, D.A. 2018. Research activities of the reptile physiology lab. MSSU-KCU research collaboration meeting. MSSU campus. Oral.
● **Barron, E., Moon, B.R., & Penning, D.A. 2018. When push comes to shove: How tunnel width and darkness affect predation performance in the Florida Kingsnake. Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Rochester, NY. Poster
● *Burns, A., & Penning, D.A. 2018. When predators become prey: testing for differences in striking behavior of western ratsnakes. The Missouri Southern State University Undergraduate Research Symposium, Joplin, MO. Poster
● *Pashia, T. & Penning, D.A. 2018. Putting the snap in snapping turtle: proximate determinants of bite force in Chelydra serpentina. The Missouri Southern State University Undergraduate Research Symposium, Joplin, MO. Poster
● *Neff, C., & Penning, D.A. 2018. An analysis of the intracranial pressure of mice during constriction. The Missouri Southern State University Undergraduate Research Symposium, Joplin, MO. Poster
● *Penning, D.A. 2018. Tube Wrestling: Using Integrative Approaches to Understand How Snakes eat Snakes. The Annual Meeting of the Missouri Academy of Science, Rolla, MO. Oral
● *Pashia, T. & Penning, D.A. 2018. Putting the snap in snapping turtle: proximate determinants of bite force in Chelydra serpentina. The Annual Meeting of the Missouri Academy of Science, Rolla, MO. Oral
● *Neff, C., & Penning, D.A. 2018. An analysis of the intracranial pressure of mice during constriction. The Annual Meeting of the Missouri Academy of Science, Rolla, MO. Oral
● *Neff, C., & Penning, D.A. 2018. A multi-species comparison evaluating the constriction performance of the Borneo python (Python breitensteini). The Annual Meeting of the Missouri Academy of Science, Rolla, MO. Poster
● *Pashia, T. & Penning, D.A. 2017. Putting the snap in snapping turtle: proximate determinants of bite force in Chelydra serpentina. Missouri Association of Physics Teachers Fall Meeting. Joplin, MO. Oral
● *Neff, C. & Penning, D.A. 2017. Preliminary constriction performance of the Borneo python (Python breitensteini): why size and shape matter. Missouri Association of Physics Teachers Fall Meeting. Joplin, MO. Poster
● Penning, D.A. 2017. The comparative biomechanics of snake strikes. Missouri Association of Physics Teachers Fall Meeting. Joplin, MO. Oral.
● *Parker, L. & Penning, D.A. 2017. The forest for the trees: comparisons of arboreal and terrestrial strike performance in green tree pythons. 44th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Wichita, KA. Oral.
● *Burns, A. & Penning, D.A. 2017. When Predators Become Prey: Testing for Differences in Striking Behavior of Western Ratsnakes. 44th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Wichita, KA. Oral.
● *Pashia, T. & Penning, D.A. 2017. Putting the snap in snapping turtle: proximate determinants of bite force in Chelydra serpentina. 44th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Wichita, KA. Oral.
● *Neff, C. & Penning, D.A. 2017. Don’t let it go to your head: understanding the mechanisms of constriction. 44th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Wichita, KA. Oral.
● *Neff, C. & Penning, D.A. 2017. Preliminary constriction performance of the Borneo python (Python breitensteini): why size and shape matter. 44th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Wichita, KA. Poster.
● Penning, D.A. 2017. When Noodles Wrestle, Things Get Weird: Whole-body and muscle-level performance in kingsnakes and ratsnakes. 44th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Wichita, KA. Oral.
● Penning, D.A. 2017. Stop, collaborate, and listen: A new reptile physiology lab at Missouri Southern State University. 44th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Wichita, KA. Poster.
● *Ferreira, G.F., Moon, B.R., & Penning, D.A. 2017. The strength of constrictor snakes underground. VIII Congresso Brasileiro de Herpetology, Campo Grande Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Poster.
● Moon, B.R., *Ferreira, G.F., & Penning, D.A. 2017. High performance in a tight spot: kingsnake pinioning pressures in simulated tunnels. JMIH annual meeting, Austin, TX. Poster.
● *Self, Z. & Penning, D.A. 2017. Hungry for more: testing the effects of prey frequency on predation performance in kingsnakes. The Missouri Southern State University Undergraduate Research Symposium, Joplin, MO. Poster.
● *Newhouse, J., Penning, D.A., **Sawvel, B., & Moon, B.R. 2017. Is there always a need for speed? Can ratsnakes modulate their strike performance? The Missouri Southern State University Undergraduate Research Symposium, Joplin, MO. Poster.
● *Pashia, T., & Penning, D.A. 2017. Assembly of a compliant sensor capable of withstanding catastrophic damage: measuring high bite forces in snapping turtles. The Missouri Southern State University Undergraduate Research Symposium, Joplin, MO. Poster.
● Penning, D.A., & Moon, B.R. 2017. The king of snakes: performance and morphology of intraguild predators (Lampropeltis) and their prey (Pantherophis). The Annual Meeting of the Missouri Academy of Science, St. Charles, MO. Oral.
● *Self, Z., & Penning, D.A. 2017. Hungry for more: testing the effects of prey frequency on predation performance in kingsnakes. The Annual Meeting of the Missouri Academy of Science, St. Charles, MO. Oral.
● *Newhouse, J., Penning, D.A., **Sawvel, B., & Moon, B.R. 2017. Always fast and furious? Can ratsnakes modulate their strike performance? The Annual Meeting of the Missouri Academy of Science, St. Charles, MO. Poster.
● *Pashia, T., & Penning, D.A. 2017. Assembly of a compliant sensor capable of withstanding catastrophic damage: measuring high bite forces in snapping turtles. The Annual Meeting of the Missouri Academy of Science, St. Charles, MO. Poster.
● Fulbright, M., Penning, D.A., & *Hillard, C. 2017. Going out on a limb: scaling of terrestrial and arboreal defensive strike performance by ratsnakes. UL at Lafayette Graduate Student Research Symposium, Lafayette, LA. Oral.
● Fulbright, M., & Penning, D.A. 2017. Performance in two worlds: defensive striking of semiarboreal ratsnakes. UL at Lafayette Graduate Student Research Symposium, Lafayette, LA. Poster.
● Fulbright, M., Penning, D.A., & *Hillard, C. 2017. Going out on a limb: scaling of terrestrial and arboreal defensive strike performance by ratsnakes. The Annual Meeting of the Louisiana Academy of Science, Ruston, LA. Poster.
● Penning, D.A. & Moon, B.R. 2017. Identifying the mechanisms of predation: in vivo measurements of force and endurance in epaxial muscles of kingsnakes (Lampropeltis) and one of their prey snakes (Pantherophis). SICB annual meeting, New Orleans, LA. Poster.
● Moon, B.R., *Ferreira, G.F., & Penning, D.A. 2017. High performance in a tight spot: kingsnake pinioning pressures in simulated tunnels. SICB annual meeting, New Orleans, LA. Poster.
● *Hillard, C.J., Penning, D.A., & Moon, B.R. 2017. Quantitative effects of body temperature on snake strike performance: new insights into the elastic recoil hypothesis. SICB annual meeting, New Orleans, LA. Poster.
● Fullbright, M., Penning, D.A., & *Hillard, C.J. 2017. Scaling of terrestrial and arboreal defensive strikes by ratsnakes. SICB annual meeting, New Orleans, LA. Poster.
● Fullbright, M., & Penning, D.A. (2017). Integrating ecology into strike performance. UL Lafayette Biology Symposium, Lafayette, LA. Poster.
● Penning, D.A., *Hillard, C.J., & Moon, B.R. 2016. When hypotheses collide: Understanding the contractile mechanisms that drive snake strike performance. 43rd Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Kansas City, MO. Oral.
● Penning, D.A., & Moon, B.R. 2016. Unravelling a biomechanical paradox: Using functional morphology to understand how an intraguild predator (Lampropeltis) defeats intraguild prey (Pantherophis). 29th Meeting of the Missouri Herpetological Association. Bull Shoals Field Station, MO. Oral.
● Penning, D.A. 2016. Here be a giant: using living snakes to predict the performance of a prehistoric apex predator (Titanoboa cerrejonensis). 43rd Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Kansas City, MO. Poster.
● Penning, D.A., & Moon, B.R. 2016. The king of snakes: performance and morphology of intraguild predators (Lampropeltis) and their prey (Pantherophis). 8th World Congress of Herpetology. Hangzhou, China. Oral.
● Penning, D.A. 2016. The scaling of bite force and constriction pressure in kingsnakes (Lampropeltis getula): proximate determinants and correlated performance. 8th World Congress of Herpetology. Hangzhou, China. Poster.
● Penning, D.A. 2016. The scaling of bite force and constriction pressure in kingsnakes (Lampropeltis floridana): proximate determinants and correlated performance. 8th World Congress of Herpetology. Hangzhou, China.
● Penning, D.A., & Moon, B.R. 2016. The king of snakes: performance and morphology of intraguild predators (Lampropeltis) and their prey (Pantherophis). Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists 2016. New Orleans, LA.
● Penning, D.A. 2016. The scaling of bite force and constriction pressure in kingsnakes (Lampropeltis floridana): proximate determinants and correlated performance. Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists 2016. New Orleans, LA.
● Fullbright, M., Penning, D.A., & *Hillard, C.J. 2016. Going out on a limb: striking constraints on a semi-arboreal ratsnake (Pantherophis obsoletus). Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists 2016. New Orleans, LA.
● Penning, D.A., & *Hillard, C.J. Quantitative effects of body temperature on snake strike performance: new insights into the elastic recoil hypothesis. Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists 2016. New Orleans, LA.
● Penning, D.A., **Sawvel, B., & Moon, B.R. 2016. The ontogeny of strike performance in Texas ratsnakes (Pantherophis obsoletus). The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology 2016 Meeting. Portland, OR.
● Penning, D.A., Dartez, S.F., & Moon, B.R. 2015. From fighter jets to giant snakes: using aerospace physiology to understand snake constriction. 42nd Meeting of the Kansas Herpetological Society. Hays, KS.
● Penning, D.A., **Sawvel, B., & Moon, B.R. 2015. Debunking the viper’s strike: high-speed behavior and the killing of a classic assumption. 42nd Meeting of the Kansas Herpetological Society. Hays, KS.
● Penning, D.A., & Dartez, S.F. 2015. The ontogeny of constriction in ball pythons (Python regius): performance, experience, and growth. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles 2015 Meeting. Lawrence, KS.
- Won The Graduate Research Award from The Herpetologists’ League
● Penning, D.A., *Sawvel, B., & Moon, B.R. 2015. The scaling of strike performance in Texas ratsnakes (Pantherophis obsoletus). Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles 2015 Meeting. Lawrence, KS.
● Penning, D.A., Dartez, S.F., & Moon, B.R. 2015. The big squeeze: scaling of constriction pressures in two of the world’s giant snakes (Genus: Python). Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists 2015 Meeting. Reno, NV.
● Penning, D.A., *Sawvel, B., & Moon, B.R. 2015. Is there always a need for speed? How fast can ratsnakes strike? Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists 2015. Reno, NV.
- Won The Henri Seibert Award for outstanding presentation in physiology/morphology from The Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
● Penning, D.A. 2015. Rattlesnake strikes: the bite and the bullet. Graduate Research Symposium 3MT® Competition, University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Lafayette, LA.
- Won People’s Choice Award for best talk from the UL Lafayette Graduate School
- Won 2nd Place Award from the UL Lafayette Graduate School
● Penning, D.A., Dartez, S.F., & Moon, B.R. 2015. Understanding constriction pressures of giant pythons: a new mechanism. Graduate Research Symposium, UL at Lafayette. Lafayette, LA.
- Won Outstanding Poster Award from the UL Lafayette Graduate School
● Penning, D.A. 2014. Hail to the king: peak constriction pressures in two genera of colubrid snakes. 41st Meeting of the Kansas Herpetological Society. Kansas State University. Manhattan, KS.
● Penning, D.A. 2014. The ontogeny of strike kinematics in a rat snake: testing theories of motion. UL at Lafayette Biology Graduate Student Symposium. Lafayette, LA.
● Penning, D.A., & *Sawvel, B. 2014. Always Fast and Always Furious? Do ratsnakes modulate their strikes when encountering offensive and defensive scenarios? Department of Biology Graduate Student Symposium, UL Lafayette. Lafayette, LA.
- Won Singh Award for outstanding poster from the UL Lafayette Department of Biology
● Penning, D.A. 2014: Hail to the king: peak constriction pressures in two colubrid snakes. Graduate Research Symposium, UL Lafayette. Lafayette, LA.
-Won Outstanding Poster Award from the UL Lafayette Graduate School
● *Gann, E., & Penning, D.A. 2013. Variation in growth as a function of diet in Lampropeltis getula and Pantherophis guttatus (Colubridae). 40th Meeting of the Kansas Herpetological Society. Great Plains Nature Center. Wichita, KS.
● Penning, D.A. 2013. Prey-handling behavior of hatchling corn snakes. Ernest A. Liner Louisiana Herpetology Conference. Cocodrie, LA.
● *Gann, E., & Penning, D.A. 2012. Thermal ecology of overwintering snakes in a cave hibernaculum in Johnson County, Missouri. 39th Meeting of the Kansas Herpetological Society. Fort Hays State University. Hays, KS.
● *Gann, E., & Penning, D.A. 2012. Thermal ecology of overwintering snakes in a cave hibernaculum. University of Central Missouri Research Symposium. Warrensburg, MO.
● Penning, D.A., *Gann, E., & Mittelhauser, J. 2012. Thermal ecology of overwintering snakes in a cave hibernaculum. Undergraduate Research Symposium, Department of Biology and Earth Science, University of Central Missouri. Warrensburg, MO.
● Penning, D.A. 2012. Growth rates and prey-handling behaviors of hatchling corn snakes, Pantherophis guttatus (Colubridae). Public thesis defense, University of Central Missouri Department of Biology and Earth Science. Warrensburg, MO.
● Jackson, V., Mittelhauser J., Scrutchfield, M., Batchelett, S., Pabst, B., Zimmerman, C., Penning, D.A., Lisek, J., & Scrutchfield, H. 2011. African Conservation Experience. University of Central Missouri Department of Biology and Earth Science. Warrensburg, Mo.
● Mertz, A., Mittelhauser, J., Bossert, A., & Penning, D.A. 2010. Responses of amphibians to restoration of a wetland site in Blue Springs, Missouri: species survey and marking for longterm study. Missouri Natural Resources Annual Conference. Osage Beach, MO.
Invited Seminars
● Penning, D.A. 2020: Most terrible and vile: crossing disciplines and universities to understand how reptiles work and why it matters. Missouri Academy of Science Annual Meeting, Joplin, MO.
● Penning, D.A. 2019: How snakes work. Ozark Gateway Audubon Society Meeting. Joplin, MO.
● Penning, D.A. 2018: Amphibians as indicators of environmental pollutants: The canary in the coal mine. MSSU Earth Day, Joplin, MO.
● Penning, D.A. 2018. The behavior and biomechanics of snake predation. South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD.
● Penning, D.A. 2018. Behavior and functional morphology of snakes. Wichita State University, Wichita, KS.
● Penning, D.A. 2017. Why’d it have to be snakes? Interdisciplinary studies of limbless reptiles. Missouri Southern State University Ideas That Stick Seminar Series, Joplin, MO.
● Penning, D.A. 2017. High pressure in a fast-paced world: understanding the biomechanics of constriction and striking behavior in snakes. University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO.
● Penning, D.A. 2017. Strike, bite, squeeze: the biomechanics of snake predation. Missouri State University Seminar Series, Springfield, MO.
● Penning, D.A. 2017. If you build it, they will come: establishing a student research program using snakes. Joplin Noon Rotary Club, Joplin, MO.
● Penning, D.A. 2017. Chasing ghosts: using living snakes to understand prehistoric beasts. Joplin Daybreak Rotary Club, Joplin, MO.
● Penning, D.A., Gober, C., & Nicoletti, N. 2017. Getting started in research. The Missouri Southern State University Undergraduate Research Symposium, Joplin, MO.
COLLEGE SERVICE
● Occupational Health and Safety Committee (university) 2019-current
● Research curriculum committee (department) 2019-current
● Biology curriculum ad-hoc committee (department) 2019-current
● MSSU-KCU research collaboration committee (university) 2018–current
● Writing assessment committee (department) 2018–current
● BIO and EH scholarship committee (department) 2018–current
● Institutional Review Board Committee member (university) 2017–current
● BIO 455 and 499 assessment committee (department) 2017–current
● MSSU Reptile Physiology Lab manager (department) 2017–current
● Reynolds Hall 1st floor display case design team (department) 2017–current
● Biology and Environmental Health certification committee (department) 2017–current
● BIO 110 and Reptile Physiology lab student worker supervisor (department) 2017–current
● General/Aquatic Ecology writing assessment committee (department) 2017–current
● Invited Speaker for the New Faculty Panel Q&A (university) 2017
● BIO 110 lab coordinator; Fall 2017 (department) 2017
● Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee member (university) 2016–current
● Became committee chair Aug 2017
● Significantly redesigned portions of the MSSU guidelines for animal use
● Research supervisor—multiple research projects (university) 2016–current
● Missouri Junior Academy of Sciences judge (university) 2016–current
● Regional Science Fair session judge (university) 2016–current
● Active booth participant at Third Thursday (university) 2016–current
● My lab sets up interactive live animals displays for the public
● Active participant in the Great Game of Education (university) 2016–current
● BIO 111 writing assessment committee (department) 2016–current
● Conservation committee (department) 2016–current
● MSSU herpetology collections manager (department) 2016–current
● Active participant at the Biology Club student social (department) 2016–current
● Biology Club co-supervisor 2017–2019
● Planned and participated in club activities: Third Thursday,
● Stream Team clean up, MDC Deer harvest, Biology Picnic
● Biology travel budget committee (department) 2016–2019
● Active booth participant at October 2016, Major Fair (university) 2016
PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Professional service
● Journal/Book Reviewer:
● Acta Zoologica, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, Functional Ecology (3X), Herpetologica, Integrative Zoology (3x), Journal of Morphology (2X), Journal of Comparative Physiology–B, The Herpetological Journal, The Journal of Experimental Biology (3X), Journal of the Royal Society Interface, Journal of Zoology, Review of General Psychology, Snakes of the Southeast, Zoo Biology, Zoology (3X)
● External Reviewer for the National Science Foundation, 2017
- I am responsible for reviewing selected grants
● Snake biomechanics expert (consultant work for Eel River Lodge), 2017
- Provided research-driven data on snake strike distances to better inform safety management during human and snake encounters
● Oral Presentation Session Moderator, KS Herp Society’s 43rd Annual Meeting, 2016
● Grant Reviewer for Herpetologists League E.E. Williams Graduate Research Grant, 2016
Public service
● Aquatic BioBlitz Booth Presenter, June 2018
- Presented herpetological diversity to the community at an annual BioBlitz Day at George Washington Carver National Monument
● MSSU Third Thursday Booth Presenter, 2016–present
- Held a live animal demonstration where the public learned about turtles and giant tortoises
● Prairie Day Booth Presenter, September 2017
- Presented herpetological diversity to the community at the annual Prairie Day at George Washington Carver National Monument
● BioBlitz Booth Presenter, 2017
- Presented herpetological diversity to the community at an annual BioBlitz at George Washington Carver National Monument
● Invited Panel Member (UL Lafayette): Making the transition to doctoral studies (2015)
● Louisiana Science and Engineering Fair (Region VI) judge for junior and senior division projects on animal behavior, ecology, and conservation (annually 2012 to 2016)
● Graduate Student Representative for the Department of Biology (UCM: 2011–2012)
● BioBlitz (The Wildlife Society; 2010–2012): Setup booth where I displayed and taught amphibian and reptile diversity and identification to the public
● Fall Festival (The Wildlife Society; 2011): Displayed and taught amphibian and reptile diversity and thermal ecology
BROADER RESEARCH IMPACTS: FILM, TELEVISION, AND RADIO
● Southern Nights interview (Southern Broadcaster’s Club)
- Discussed the importance of undergraduate research and showed the lab to the student film group
● World snake day interviewer (KOAM 7; Fox 14)
- Discussed the importance of undergraduate research and snake conservation
● Large constrictor expert (consultation for LiveScience), 2018
- Discussed the mechanisms of constriction and consumption in large snakes
● Venomous snake expert (consultation for LiveScience), 2018
- Discussed the mechanisms of venom, and ectotherm physiology
● Snake biomechanics expert (consultant work for The Travel Channel), 2018
- Discussed the behavior and performance of constriction and striking in Anacondas
● Snake biomechanics expert (consultant work for The Science Channel), 2018
- Provided information about snake skull morphology and function
● Snake expert (MSSU Profiles in Research; 2018)
● Snake predation expert (consultant work for Discovery Channel), 2017
- Consulted on project dealing with giant pythons
● Snake predation expert (Discovery Channel), 2017
- Participated in and narrated documentary: How the Kingsnake Earned its Crown
● Snake predation expert (consultant work for Smithsonian Channel), 2017
- Consulted on project feasibility, implementation, and analysis
● Snake predation expert (PBS and Channel 4: 2016)
- Documentary: Secrets of the Dead: Graveyard of Giant Beasts
- Duties included the reconstruction of constriction and striking performance of Titanoboa cerrejonensis
● Snake predation expert (Discovery Channel), 2016
- Participated in and narrated documentary: Debunking the Viper’s Strike
● Interviews with over 2 dozen professional reporters for articles from the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, National Geographic, Nature, Science, Yahoo News, The Atlantic, and many others
● Scientific consultant (provided details on the anatomy and physiology of snake strikes; 2016)
● Discovery Channel’s Outrageous Acts of Science (2015)
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
● China (2016) Attended the 8th World Congress of Herpetology in Hangzhou, China
● Belize (2011)
- Participated in projects on the biodiversity of barrier reef and coastal ecosystems
● Botswana (2011)
- Trained in animal tracking and wildlife monitoring
- Aided in Elephant and large mammal population monitoring
● South Africa (2011)
- Participated in a class on ecosystem biodiversity near Kruger National Park
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS (CURRENT)
● The Herpetologists’ League (2012–present)
● Kansas Herpetological Society (2011–present)
● Missouri Academy of Sciences (2016–present)
Department of Biology & Environmental Health ● Missouri Southern State University ● 3950 E Newman Road, Joplin, MO 64801 ● (417) 625-9764 ● davidapenning@gmail.com
EDUCATION
● Ph.D (Environmental and Evolutionary Biology): University of Louisiana at Lafayette 2016
Advisor: Brad Moon
● M.S. (Biology): University of Central Missouri 2012
Advisor: Stefan Cairns
● B. S. (Biology): University of Central Missouri 2010
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Missouri Southern State University, Department of Biology and Environmental Health
Assistant Professor (2016-current)
● Principles of Biology I, Principles of Biology II, Introduction to Biological Research, Independent Research in Biology, Laboratory Assistant Practicum, Internship in Biology, General Ecology, Research and Statistical Methods in Biology, Herpetology, Mammalogy, Biomes: The Wildlands of Africa
University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Department of Biology
Guest Lecturer (all senior- and graduate-level courses; 2012–2014)
● Behavioral Ecology, Biogeography, Comparative Physiology, Conservation Biology, Herpetology, Mammalogy
University of Central Missouri, Department of Biology and Agriculture
Graduate Teaching Assistant (Anatomy & Physiology, Animal Biology, Ecology; 2011–2012)
● Taught a total of 13 lab sections and trained new teaching assistantsGraduate Teaching Internship (Ichthyology; senior- and graduate-level course; 2011)
Graduate Teaching Internship (Herpetology; senior- and graduate-level course; 2012)
Laboratory Technician: Entomology/Agricultural Pest Management (2010–2011)
Guest Lecturer (Herpetology; 2010)
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant (Plant Biology; 2010)
GRADUATE FACULTY STATUS
● Missouri State University
● Emporia State University
MENTORSHIP
Missouri Southern State University, Department of Biology & Environmental Health
Whitney B.— MSSU student
● Quantifying the prevalence of pseudoreplication and poor experimental analysis in the anatomical sciences
Gil J.— MSSU student
● Quantifying the prevalence of pseudoreplication and poor experimental analysis in the anatomical sciences
Ashley G.--Missouri State University graduate student
● Collaborative research on bite performance in head-started and wild-caught alligator snapping turtles
Jainee C.— MSSU student
● Testing for elastic recoil structures in ratsnakes
● $200 in Undergraduate Research Grants awarded
● $300 Alan Kamb Grant for Research on Kansas Snakes from the Kansas Herpetological Society
Jillian H.-- MSSU honors student
● Research on muscle-level tradeoffs between constriction and striking in Borneo pythons
● $1000 in Undergraduate Research Grants awarded
Elizabeth B.—UL at Lafayette graduate student
● Collaborative research on subterranean predation performance in kingsnakes
Jeff A.—Emporia State University graduate student
● Collaborative research on constriction across a wide thermal range
Veronica N.—MSSU honors student
● Research on the mechanisms of striking in cottonmouth vipers
● $1000 in Undergraduate Research Grants awarded
Nathan P.—MSSU honors student
● Research on cottonmouth strike and venom delivery performance
● $800 in Undergraduate Research Grants awarded
Elva W.—MSSU student:
● Research on strike performance in Sand Boas
● $200 Undergraduate Research Grants awarded
Christian N.—MSSU student
● Research on cardiovascular physiology and constriction performance:
● $1200 in Undergraduate Research Grants awarded
Ashley B.—MSSU honors student
● Research on the behavioral modulation of strike performance in ratsnakes
● $200 Undergraduate Research Grants awarded
Teddy P.--MSSU student
● Research on snapping turtle bite performance
● $750 in Undergraduate Research Grants awarded
Levi P.--MSSU student
● Research on snake strike performance in the Green Tree Python
Zadok S.--MSSU honors student
● Research on the effects of hunger on snake predation performance
● $750 in Undergraduate Research Grants awarded
Joshua N.--MSSU student
● Preliminary research on ratsnake strike performance: mentee and collaborator on one project (2016)
University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Department of Biology
Gabriel F.--mentee and collaborator on one project (2015–current)
● Research on the underground predation performance in kingsnakes
CJ H.--mentee and collaborator on two projects (2015–current)
● Impacts of temperature on snake strike performance
Baxter S.—mentee and collaborator–coauthor on three projects (2013–current)
● Research on snake strike and constriction performance
University of Central Missouri, Department of Biology and Agriculture
Eva G.—mentee and collaborator–coauthor on two projects (2010–2013)
● Worked together on two projects involving the thermal ecology of overwintering snakes in a cave and the effects of diet on growth in snakes
● $750 in Undergraduate Scholars Grants
● $1,750 in Undergraduate Honors Grants
William T.—mentee and collaborator–coauthor on one project (2011)
● Worked together on a project evaluating the effects of prey type on aquatic feeding snakes
● $750 in Undergraduate Scholars Grants
Tyler C.—mentee and collaborator–coauthor on one project (2011)
● Worked together on a project evaluating the effect of prey type on constriction behavior in Rainbow Boas
● $750 Undergraduate Scholars Grant awarded
GRANTS AND OTHER FUNDING SOURCES
● Faculty and Student (9x) Travel Grants, International & Domestic Grants Committee at Missouri Southern State University
(2018; $12,500 in total)
● Private Trust Donation, funded the creation of the Reptile Physiology lab research technician position (2017; $12,000)
● Prairie Biotic Small Research Grant, Prairie Biotic Research (2017; $1,000)
● Research Grant, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) Equipment Grant (2016; $2,500)
● Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (2014–2016; $6,000) ● Equipment Grant, Graduate Student Organization at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (2012–2015; $1,020)
● Travel Grant, Graduate Student Organization at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (2012–2015; $1,440)
● Equipment, Specimen, and Research Donations, Mr. Reptiles llc, BHB Reptiles, Cajun Colubrids, and Miles of Exotics
(2010–2014; $2,390)
● Ecology Center Grant, space use, University of Louisiana at Lafayette (2012–2015; $3,750)
● Ecology Center Grant, equipment, University of Louisiana at Lafayette (2012–2015; $500)
● Biology Research Grant, University of Central Missouri (2010; $160)
COMPETITIVE AWARDS AND HONORS
● Research Excellence Award from MSSU (August 2019; $1,000)
● MSSU Kappa Alpha Order Professor of the Month (November 2018)
● Stefan Cairns Alumni Award from the University of Central Missouri (2018)
● Walter E. Meshaka Award for best poster presentation, KS Herp Society (2016; $100)
● Gans Collections and Charitable Fund Travel and Registration Award for the 8th World Congress of Herpetology (2016; $2,000)
● Travel Grant, 8th World Congress of Herpetology, Hangzhou, China (2016; $1,500)
● Gans Collections and Charitable Fund Travel and Registration Award for the Society for the Study of Amphibians and
Reptiles 2015 Meeting (2015; $710)
● Board of Regents Doctoral Fellowship, UL at Lafayette (2012–2016; $108,000)
● Frederick H. Stoye Award for best oral presentation in physiology/physiological ecology from the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (2016; $200)
● Alan H. Kamb Grant for Research on Kansas Snakes, KS Herp Society (2015; $300)
● Henri Seibert Award for best paper in physiology/morphology, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (2015; $200) ● Graduate Research Award for best paper, The Herpetologists’ League (2015; $750)
● People’s Choice Award for best presentation, UL at Lafayette Graduate 3MT® (2015)
● 3MT® 2nd Place Award, UL at Lafayette Graduate 3MT® Competition (2015; $300)
● Outstanding Poster Award for graduate research in the STEM category, UL at Lafayette’s Graduate Research Showcase (2015; $400)
● Howard Kay Gloyd–Edward Harrison Taylor Award for contributions to herpetology, KS Herp Society (2014; $300)
● Singh Award for outstanding poster, UL at Lafayette (2014)
● Outstanding Poster Award for graduate research in the STEM category, UL at Lafayette’s Graduate Research Showcase (2014: $400)
● Undergraduate Research Mentor Award, University of Central Missouri (2012)
● Outstanding Graduate Student Award, University of Central Missouri, Department of Biology and Earth Science (2012)
● Graduate Assistantship, University of Central Missouri (2010–2012; $11,250)
● Outstanding Undergraduate Biology Student Award, University of Central MO (2010)
HONORS AND AWARDS (TO UNDERGRADUATE MENTEES)
● Alan H. Kamb Grant for research on Kansas Snakes (2019; $300): Awarded to Jainee Cowen
● Student Research Award from MSSU (2019) o Awarded to Jillian Hackney ($400), Veronica Nguyen ($400), Jainee Cowen ($200), and Nathan Piccoli ($200)
● Cave Young Investigator Prize (runner-up), The International Federation of Associations of Anatomists: Awarded to Gil Johnson and Whitney Blodgett (£100)
● Sandy Marks Junior Student Poster Presentation Award for best presentation in Education, The American Association of Clinical Anatomists: Awarded to Gil Johnson and Whitney Blodgett ($600)
● Walter E. Meshaka Award for best poster presentation, KS Herp Society (2018): Awarded to Nathan Piccoli ($100)
● Student Research Award from MSSU (2018) o Awarded to Jillian Hackney ($600), Veronica Nguyen ($600), Christian Neff ($600), and Nathan Piccoli ($600)
● Excellence in Research Award and Excellence in Service Award from the Department of Biology and Environmental Health at Missouri Southern State University: Awarded to Teddy Pashia
● 2nd place poster award in the Biological and Physical Sciences category at the MSSU Student Research Symposium (2018): Awarded to Ashley Burns ($100)
● Student Research Award from MSSU (2017) o Awarded to Ashley Burns ($700), Christian Neff ($600), and Teddy Pashia ($600)
● Alan H. Kamb Grant for research on Kansas Snakes (2017; $300) o Awarded to Ashley Burns
● George Toland Award for Ecological Research on North American Herpetofauna ($200) o Awarded to Ashley Burns
● Excellence in Service Award from the Department of Biology and Environmental Health at Missouri Southern State University: Awarded to Levi Parker
● Gans Collections and Charitable Fund travel award: Awarded to Joshua Newhouse ($1,000; declined)
● Excellence in Research Award from the Department of Biology and Environmental Health at Missouri Southern State University: Awarded to Zadok Self
● 1st place poster award in the Biological and Physical Sciences category at the MSSU Student Research Symposium (2017): Awarded to Zadok Self ($200)
● Student Research Award from MSSU (2016): Awarded to Zadok Self ($750)
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS (*DENOTES UNDERGRADUATE, **DENOTES GRADUATE)
Book Chapters
● Moon, B.R., Penning, D.A., Segall, M., & Herrel, A. 2019. Feeding in snakes: form, function, and evolution of the feeding system. In Feeding in Vertebrates: Anatomy, Biomechanics, and Evolution (ed. V. Bels). Springer Publishing (New York).
Peer-Reviewed Publications
● Penning, D.A., Micklich III, R.A., & *Neff, C. in press. Plestiodon fasciatus (Common fivelined skink). Jasper County, MO Record. Herpetological Review
● Penning, D.A., **Sawvel, B., & Moon, B.R. 2019. The scaling of terrestrial striking performance in western ratsnakes (Pantherophis obsoletus). Journal of Experimental Zoology A
● Penning, D.A. (2018). Quantitative axial myology in two constricting snakes: Lampropeltis holbrooki and Pantherophis obsoletus. Journal of Anatomy 232: 1016–1024.
● Penning, D.A., & Moon, B.R. 2017. The king of snakes: performance and morphology of intraguild predators (Lampropeltis) and their prey (Pantherophis). The Journal of Experimental Biology 220: 1154–1161.
● Photo and research featured in 2018 calendar
● Penning, D.A. 2017. The gluttonous king: The effects of meal size and repeated feeding on constriction performance in kingsnakes (Lampropeltis getula). Journal of Zoology 302: 119– 125.
● Penning, D. A. 2017. The scaling of bite force and constriction pressure in kingsnakes (Lampropeltis getula): proximate determinants and correlated performance. Integrative Zoology 12: 121–131.
● Penning, D.A., *Sawvel, B., & Moon, B.R. 2016. Debunking the viper’s strike: harmless snakes kill a common assumption. Biology Letters
- Photo and research featured on cover
● Penning, D.A., & Dartez, S.F. 2016. Size, but not experience, affects the ontogeny of constriction performance in ball pythons (Python regius). Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological Genetics and Physiology
● Penning, D.A. & Cairns, S. 2016. Prey-handling behaviors of naïve Pantherophis guttatus. Journal of Herpetology 50: 196–202.
● Penning, D.A., Dartez, S.F., & Moon, B.R. 2015. The big squeeze: scaling of constriction pressure in two of the world’s largest snakes,
Python reticulatus and P. molorus bivittatus. Journal of Experimental Biology 218(21): 3364–3367.
- Photo and research featured on cover and 2016 calendar
● Penning, D.A., *Gann, E., *Thomas, W., *Carlson, T., Mittelhauser, J., Bilbrey, L., & Cairns, S. 2013. An evaluation of measurement techniques for measurements of snake length. Collinsorum: The Journal of Kansas Herpetology 2: 20–24.
● Penning, D.A., & Cairns, S. 2012. Growth rates of neonate corn snakes, Pantherophis guttatus (Colubridae) when fed in mutually exclusive mass-ratio feeding categories. Herpetological Review 4:605–607.
Published Abstracts
● Penning, D.A. & Moon, B.R. 2017. Identifying the mechanisms of predation: in vivo measurements of force and endurance in epaxial muscles of kingsnakes (Lampropeltis) and one of their prey snakes (Pantherophis). Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology annual meeting (SICB), New Orleans, LA.
● Moon, B.R., *Ferreira, G.F., & Penning, D.A. 2017. High performance in a tight spot: kingsnake pinioning pressures in simulated tunnels. SICB, New Orleans, LA.
● *Hillard, C.J., Penning, D.A., & Moon, B.R. 2017. Quantitative effects of body temperature on snake strike performance: new insights into the elastic recoil hypothesis. SICB, New Orleans, LA.
● Fullbright, M., Penning, D.A., & *Hillard, C.J. 2017. Scaling of terrestrial and arboreal defensive strikes by ratsnakes. SICB, New Orleans, LA.
Popular Publications
● Penning, D.A. 2012. Burmese Mountain Tortoises. REPTILES USA: 2013:28–35.
● Penning, D.A. 2009. Go Long: How to Breed the Elongated Tortoise. REPTILES. July: 20–23.
Presentations
● *Johnson, G., *Blodgett, W., Barry, A., & Penning, D.A. 2019. Etiology of Pseudoconclusion: Phenomenon of Pseudoreplication in Human Anatomical Research. The 19th Congress of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists. London, UK. Poster.
● *Johnson, G., *Blodgett, W., Barry, A., & Penning, D.A. 2019. Etiology of Pseudoconclusion:
Phenomenon of Pseudoreplication in Human Anatomical Research. The 36th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Clinical Anatomists. Tulsa, OK. Poster
● Penning, D.A, & *Neff, C. 2019. They keep using constriction: I don’t think it means what we think it means. 46th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Hays, KS. Oral
● *Piccoli, N., *Nguyen, V., Greene, B., & Penning, D.A. 2019. Baby got bite? Changes in venom delivery and strike performance in cottonmouth vipers (Agkistrodon piscivorus). 46th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Hays, KS. Oral.
● *Nguyen, V., *Piccoli, N., Greene, B., & Penning, D.A. 2018. Temperature impacts on striking and venom delivery in cottonmouth vipers (Agkistrodon piscivorus). 46th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Hays, KS. Oral.
● *Hackney, J., *Piccoli, N., & Penning, D.A. 2018. How the use of one body impacts biomechanical performance in Borneo pythons (Python breitensteini). 46th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Emporia, KS. Poster.
● Penning, D.A. 2018. Collaboration Station: Crossing disciplines and Universities to understand how reptiles work. 46th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Hays, KS. Poster.
● **Gagnon, A., Ligon, D. B., & Penning, D.A. 2019. Effects of captivity on bite performance in alligator snapping turtles (Macrochelys temminckii). 32nd Annual Meeting of the Missouri Herpetological Association. Oral.
● **Anderson Jr., J., Sievert, L., & Penning, D.A. 2019. The effects of temperature on
Pantherophis guttatus prey-handling behavior. Kansas Natural Resources Conference. Manhattan, KS. Oral.
● **Anderson Jr., J., Sievert, L., & Penning, D.A. 2018. The effects of temperature on Pantherophis guttatus prey-handling behavior. 45th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Emporia, KS. Oral.
● Penning, D.A., *Pashia, T., Voves, K., & Ligon, D. 2018. Silver-spoon snappers? Comparing bite forces in head-started and wild alligator snapping turtles (Macrochelys temminckii). 45th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Emporia, KS. Poster.
● Penning, D.A., & *Self, Z. 2018. Facing fears for food: does hunger modify snake behavior? 45th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Emporia, KS. Oral.
● *Wright, E., & Penning, D.A. 2018. Analysis of strike kinematics in Kenyan sand boas (Gongylophis colubrinus). 45th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Emporia, KS. Poster.
● *Neff, C., & Penning, D.A. 2018. Prey under pressure: An analysis of the thoracic and intracranial pressures during constriction by kingsnakes. 45th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Emporia, KS. Oral.
● *Piccoli, N., & Penning, D.A. 2018. Fat, feisty, and fast? High-speed strike performance from Borneo pythons (Python breitensteini). 45th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Emporia, KS. Oral.
● *Nguyen, V., Hackney, J., & Penning, D.A. 2018. Manipulating body temperature to test for elastic recoil mechanisms in an Australian python (Morelia spilota). 45th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Emporia, KS. Poster.
● *Hackney, J., Piccoli, N., & Penning, D.A. 2018. Biomechanical tradeoffs across ontogeny? Striking and constriction performance in Rosy Boas (Lichanura trivirgata). 45th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Emporia, KS. Poster.
● Penning, D.A. 2018. Research activities of the reptile physiology lab. MSSU-KCU research collaboration meeting. MSSU campus. Oral.
● **Barron, E., Moon, B.R., & Penning, D.A. 2018. When push comes to shove: How tunnel width and darkness affect predation performance in the Florida Kingsnake. Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Rochester, NY. Poster
● *Burns, A., & Penning, D.A. 2018. When predators become prey: testing for differences in striking behavior of western ratsnakes. The Missouri Southern State University Undergraduate Research Symposium, Joplin, MO. Poster
● *Pashia, T. & Penning, D.A. 2018. Putting the snap in snapping turtle: proximate determinants of bite force in Chelydra serpentina. The Missouri Southern State University Undergraduate Research Symposium, Joplin, MO. Poster
● *Neff, C., & Penning, D.A. 2018. An analysis of the intracranial pressure of mice during constriction. The Missouri Southern State University Undergraduate Research Symposium, Joplin, MO. Poster
● *Penning, D.A. 2018. Tube Wrestling: Using Integrative Approaches to Understand How Snakes eat Snakes. The Annual Meeting of the Missouri Academy of Science, Rolla, MO. Oral
● *Pashia, T. & Penning, D.A. 2018. Putting the snap in snapping turtle: proximate determinants of bite force in Chelydra serpentina. The Annual Meeting of the Missouri Academy of Science, Rolla, MO. Oral
● *Neff, C., & Penning, D.A. 2018. An analysis of the intracranial pressure of mice during constriction. The Annual Meeting of the Missouri Academy of Science, Rolla, MO. Oral
● *Neff, C., & Penning, D.A. 2018. A multi-species comparison evaluating the constriction performance of the Borneo python (Python breitensteini). The Annual Meeting of the Missouri Academy of Science, Rolla, MO. Poster
● *Pashia, T. & Penning, D.A. 2017. Putting the snap in snapping turtle: proximate determinants of bite force in Chelydra serpentina. Missouri Association of Physics Teachers Fall Meeting. Joplin, MO. Oral
● *Neff, C. & Penning, D.A. 2017. Preliminary constriction performance of the Borneo python (Python breitensteini): why size and shape matter. Missouri Association of Physics Teachers Fall Meeting. Joplin, MO. Poster
● Penning, D.A. 2017. The comparative biomechanics of snake strikes. Missouri Association of Physics Teachers Fall Meeting. Joplin, MO. Oral.
● *Parker, L. & Penning, D.A. 2017. The forest for the trees: comparisons of arboreal and terrestrial strike performance in green tree pythons. 44th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Wichita, KA. Oral.
● *Burns, A. & Penning, D.A. 2017. When Predators Become Prey: Testing for Differences in Striking Behavior of Western Ratsnakes. 44th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Wichita, KA. Oral.
● *Pashia, T. & Penning, D.A. 2017. Putting the snap in snapping turtle: proximate determinants of bite force in Chelydra serpentina. 44th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Wichita, KA. Oral.
● *Neff, C. & Penning, D.A. 2017. Don’t let it go to your head: understanding the mechanisms of constriction. 44th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Wichita, KA. Oral.
● *Neff, C. & Penning, D.A. 2017. Preliminary constriction performance of the Borneo python (Python breitensteini): why size and shape matter. 44th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Wichita, KA. Poster.
● Penning, D.A. 2017. When Noodles Wrestle, Things Get Weird: Whole-body and muscle-level performance in kingsnakes and ratsnakes. 44th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Wichita, KA. Oral.
● Penning, D.A. 2017. Stop, collaborate, and listen: A new reptile physiology lab at Missouri Southern State University. 44th Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Wichita, KA. Poster.
● *Ferreira, G.F., Moon, B.R., & Penning, D.A. 2017. The strength of constrictor snakes underground. VIII Congresso Brasileiro de Herpetology, Campo Grande Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Poster.
● Moon, B.R., *Ferreira, G.F., & Penning, D.A. 2017. High performance in a tight spot: kingsnake pinioning pressures in simulated tunnels. JMIH annual meeting, Austin, TX. Poster.
● *Self, Z. & Penning, D.A. 2017. Hungry for more: testing the effects of prey frequency on predation performance in kingsnakes. The Missouri Southern State University Undergraduate Research Symposium, Joplin, MO. Poster.
● *Newhouse, J., Penning, D.A., **Sawvel, B., & Moon, B.R. 2017. Is there always a need for speed? Can ratsnakes modulate their strike performance? The Missouri Southern State University Undergraduate Research Symposium, Joplin, MO. Poster.
● *Pashia, T., & Penning, D.A. 2017. Assembly of a compliant sensor capable of withstanding catastrophic damage: measuring high bite forces in snapping turtles. The Missouri Southern State University Undergraduate Research Symposium, Joplin, MO. Poster.
● Penning, D.A., & Moon, B.R. 2017. The king of snakes: performance and morphology of intraguild predators (Lampropeltis) and their prey (Pantherophis). The Annual Meeting of the Missouri Academy of Science, St. Charles, MO. Oral.
● *Self, Z., & Penning, D.A. 2017. Hungry for more: testing the effects of prey frequency on predation performance in kingsnakes. The Annual Meeting of the Missouri Academy of Science, St. Charles, MO. Oral.
● *Newhouse, J., Penning, D.A., **Sawvel, B., & Moon, B.R. 2017. Always fast and furious? Can ratsnakes modulate their strike performance? The Annual Meeting of the Missouri Academy of Science, St. Charles, MO. Poster.
● *Pashia, T., & Penning, D.A. 2017. Assembly of a compliant sensor capable of withstanding catastrophic damage: measuring high bite forces in snapping turtles. The Annual Meeting of the Missouri Academy of Science, St. Charles, MO. Poster.
● Fulbright, M., Penning, D.A., & *Hillard, C. 2017. Going out on a limb: scaling of terrestrial and arboreal defensive strike performance by ratsnakes. UL at Lafayette Graduate Student Research Symposium, Lafayette, LA. Oral.
● Fulbright, M., & Penning, D.A. 2017. Performance in two worlds: defensive striking of semiarboreal ratsnakes. UL at Lafayette Graduate Student Research Symposium, Lafayette, LA. Poster.
● Fulbright, M., Penning, D.A., & *Hillard, C. 2017. Going out on a limb: scaling of terrestrial and arboreal defensive strike performance by ratsnakes. The Annual Meeting of the Louisiana Academy of Science, Ruston, LA. Poster.
● Penning, D.A. & Moon, B.R. 2017. Identifying the mechanisms of predation: in vivo measurements of force and endurance in epaxial muscles of kingsnakes (Lampropeltis) and one of their prey snakes (Pantherophis). SICB annual meeting, New Orleans, LA. Poster.
● Moon, B.R., *Ferreira, G.F., & Penning, D.A. 2017. High performance in a tight spot: kingsnake pinioning pressures in simulated tunnels. SICB annual meeting, New Orleans, LA. Poster.
● *Hillard, C.J., Penning, D.A., & Moon, B.R. 2017. Quantitative effects of body temperature on snake strike performance: new insights into the elastic recoil hypothesis. SICB annual meeting, New Orleans, LA. Poster.
● Fullbright, M., Penning, D.A., & *Hillard, C.J. 2017. Scaling of terrestrial and arboreal defensive strikes by ratsnakes. SICB annual meeting, New Orleans, LA. Poster.
● Fullbright, M., & Penning, D.A. (2017). Integrating ecology into strike performance. UL Lafayette Biology Symposium, Lafayette, LA. Poster.
● Penning, D.A., *Hillard, C.J., & Moon, B.R. 2016. When hypotheses collide: Understanding the contractile mechanisms that drive snake strike performance. 43rd Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Kansas City, MO. Oral.
● Penning, D.A., & Moon, B.R. 2016. Unravelling a biomechanical paradox: Using functional morphology to understand how an intraguild predator (Lampropeltis) defeats intraguild prey (Pantherophis). 29th Meeting of the Missouri Herpetological Association. Bull Shoals Field Station, MO. Oral.
● Penning, D.A. 2016. Here be a giant: using living snakes to predict the performance of a prehistoric apex predator (Titanoboa cerrejonensis). 43rd Meeting of the KS Herpetological Society. Kansas City, MO. Poster.
● Penning, D.A., & Moon, B.R. 2016. The king of snakes: performance and morphology of intraguild predators (Lampropeltis) and their prey (Pantherophis). 8th World Congress of Herpetology. Hangzhou, China. Oral.
● Penning, D.A. 2016. The scaling of bite force and constriction pressure in kingsnakes (Lampropeltis getula): proximate determinants and correlated performance. 8th World Congress of Herpetology. Hangzhou, China. Poster.
● Penning, D.A. 2016. The scaling of bite force and constriction pressure in kingsnakes (Lampropeltis floridana): proximate determinants and correlated performance. 8th World Congress of Herpetology. Hangzhou, China.
● Penning, D.A., & Moon, B.R. 2016. The king of snakes: performance and morphology of intraguild predators (Lampropeltis) and their prey (Pantherophis). Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists 2016. New Orleans, LA.
● Penning, D.A. 2016. The scaling of bite force and constriction pressure in kingsnakes (Lampropeltis floridana): proximate determinants and correlated performance. Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists 2016. New Orleans, LA.
● Fullbright, M., Penning, D.A., & *Hillard, C.J. 2016. Going out on a limb: striking constraints on a semi-arboreal ratsnake (Pantherophis obsoletus). Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists 2016. New Orleans, LA.
● Penning, D.A., & *Hillard, C.J. Quantitative effects of body temperature on snake strike performance: new insights into the elastic recoil hypothesis. Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists 2016. New Orleans, LA.
● Penning, D.A., **Sawvel, B., & Moon, B.R. 2016. The ontogeny of strike performance in Texas ratsnakes (Pantherophis obsoletus). The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology 2016 Meeting. Portland, OR.
● Penning, D.A., Dartez, S.F., & Moon, B.R. 2015. From fighter jets to giant snakes: using aerospace physiology to understand snake constriction. 42nd Meeting of the Kansas Herpetological Society. Hays, KS.
● Penning, D.A., **Sawvel, B., & Moon, B.R. 2015. Debunking the viper’s strike: high-speed behavior and the killing of a classic assumption. 42nd Meeting of the Kansas Herpetological Society. Hays, KS.
● Penning, D.A., & Dartez, S.F. 2015. The ontogeny of constriction in ball pythons (Python regius): performance, experience, and growth. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles 2015 Meeting. Lawrence, KS.
- Won The Graduate Research Award from The Herpetologists’ League
● Penning, D.A., *Sawvel, B., & Moon, B.R. 2015. The scaling of strike performance in Texas ratsnakes (Pantherophis obsoletus). Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles 2015 Meeting. Lawrence, KS.
● Penning, D.A., Dartez, S.F., & Moon, B.R. 2015. The big squeeze: scaling of constriction pressures in two of the world’s giant snakes (Genus: Python). Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists 2015 Meeting. Reno, NV.
● Penning, D.A., *Sawvel, B., & Moon, B.R. 2015. Is there always a need for speed? How fast can ratsnakes strike? Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists 2015. Reno, NV.
- Won The Henri Seibert Award for outstanding presentation in physiology/morphology from The Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
● Penning, D.A. 2015. Rattlesnake strikes: the bite and the bullet. Graduate Research Symposium 3MT® Competition, University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Lafayette, LA.
- Won People’s Choice Award for best talk from the UL Lafayette Graduate School
- Won 2nd Place Award from the UL Lafayette Graduate School
● Penning, D.A., Dartez, S.F., & Moon, B.R. 2015. Understanding constriction pressures of giant pythons: a new mechanism. Graduate Research Symposium, UL at Lafayette. Lafayette, LA.
- Won Outstanding Poster Award from the UL Lafayette Graduate School
● Penning, D.A. 2014. Hail to the king: peak constriction pressures in two genera of colubrid snakes. 41st Meeting of the Kansas Herpetological Society. Kansas State University. Manhattan, KS.
● Penning, D.A. 2014. The ontogeny of strike kinematics in a rat snake: testing theories of motion. UL at Lafayette Biology Graduate Student Symposium. Lafayette, LA.
● Penning, D.A., & *Sawvel, B. 2014. Always Fast and Always Furious? Do ratsnakes modulate their strikes when encountering offensive and defensive scenarios? Department of Biology Graduate Student Symposium, UL Lafayette. Lafayette, LA.
- Won Singh Award for outstanding poster from the UL Lafayette Department of Biology
● Penning, D.A. 2014: Hail to the king: peak constriction pressures in two colubrid snakes. Graduate Research Symposium, UL Lafayette. Lafayette, LA.
-Won Outstanding Poster Award from the UL Lafayette Graduate School
● *Gann, E., & Penning, D.A. 2013. Variation in growth as a function of diet in Lampropeltis getula and Pantherophis guttatus (Colubridae). 40th Meeting of the Kansas Herpetological Society. Great Plains Nature Center. Wichita, KS.
● Penning, D.A. 2013. Prey-handling behavior of hatchling corn snakes. Ernest A. Liner Louisiana Herpetology Conference. Cocodrie, LA.
● *Gann, E., & Penning, D.A. 2012. Thermal ecology of overwintering snakes in a cave hibernaculum in Johnson County, Missouri. 39th Meeting of the Kansas Herpetological Society. Fort Hays State University. Hays, KS.
● *Gann, E., & Penning, D.A. 2012. Thermal ecology of overwintering snakes in a cave hibernaculum. University of Central Missouri Research Symposium. Warrensburg, MO.
● Penning, D.A., *Gann, E., & Mittelhauser, J. 2012. Thermal ecology of overwintering snakes in a cave hibernaculum. Undergraduate Research Symposium, Department of Biology and Earth Science, University of Central Missouri. Warrensburg, MO.
● Penning, D.A. 2012. Growth rates and prey-handling behaviors of hatchling corn snakes, Pantherophis guttatus (Colubridae). Public thesis defense, University of Central Missouri Department of Biology and Earth Science. Warrensburg, MO.
● Jackson, V., Mittelhauser J., Scrutchfield, M., Batchelett, S., Pabst, B., Zimmerman, C., Penning, D.A., Lisek, J., & Scrutchfield, H. 2011. African Conservation Experience. University of Central Missouri Department of Biology and Earth Science. Warrensburg, Mo.
● Mertz, A., Mittelhauser, J., Bossert, A., & Penning, D.A. 2010. Responses of amphibians to restoration of a wetland site in Blue Springs, Missouri: species survey and marking for longterm study. Missouri Natural Resources Annual Conference. Osage Beach, MO.
Invited Seminars
● Penning, D.A. 2020: Most terrible and vile: crossing disciplines and universities to understand how reptiles work and why it matters. Missouri Academy of Science Annual Meeting, Joplin, MO.
● Penning, D.A. 2019: How snakes work. Ozark Gateway Audubon Society Meeting. Joplin, MO.
● Penning, D.A. 2018: Amphibians as indicators of environmental pollutants: The canary in the coal mine. MSSU Earth Day, Joplin, MO.
● Penning, D.A. 2018. The behavior and biomechanics of snake predation. South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD.
● Penning, D.A. 2018. Behavior and functional morphology of snakes. Wichita State University, Wichita, KS.
● Penning, D.A. 2017. Why’d it have to be snakes? Interdisciplinary studies of limbless reptiles. Missouri Southern State University Ideas That Stick Seminar Series, Joplin, MO.
● Penning, D.A. 2017. High pressure in a fast-paced world: understanding the biomechanics of constriction and striking behavior in snakes. University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO.
● Penning, D.A. 2017. Strike, bite, squeeze: the biomechanics of snake predation. Missouri State University Seminar Series, Springfield, MO.
● Penning, D.A. 2017. If you build it, they will come: establishing a student research program using snakes. Joplin Noon Rotary Club, Joplin, MO.
● Penning, D.A. 2017. Chasing ghosts: using living snakes to understand prehistoric beasts. Joplin Daybreak Rotary Club, Joplin, MO.
● Penning, D.A., Gober, C., & Nicoletti, N. 2017. Getting started in research. The Missouri Southern State University Undergraduate Research Symposium, Joplin, MO.
COLLEGE SERVICE
● Occupational Health and Safety Committee (university) 2019-current
● Research curriculum committee (department) 2019-current
● Biology curriculum ad-hoc committee (department) 2019-current
● MSSU-KCU research collaboration committee (university) 2018–current
● Writing assessment committee (department) 2018–current
● BIO and EH scholarship committee (department) 2018–current
● Institutional Review Board Committee member (university) 2017–current
● BIO 455 and 499 assessment committee (department) 2017–current
● MSSU Reptile Physiology Lab manager (department) 2017–current
● Reynolds Hall 1st floor display case design team (department) 2017–current
● Biology and Environmental Health certification committee (department) 2017–current
● BIO 110 and Reptile Physiology lab student worker supervisor (department) 2017–current
● General/Aquatic Ecology writing assessment committee (department) 2017–current
● Invited Speaker for the New Faculty Panel Q&A (university) 2017
● BIO 110 lab coordinator; Fall 2017 (department) 2017
● Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee member (university) 2016–current
● Became committee chair Aug 2017
● Significantly redesigned portions of the MSSU guidelines for animal use
● Research supervisor—multiple research projects (university) 2016–current
● Missouri Junior Academy of Sciences judge (university) 2016–current
● Regional Science Fair session judge (university) 2016–current
● Active booth participant at Third Thursday (university) 2016–current
● My lab sets up interactive live animals displays for the public
● Active participant in the Great Game of Education (university) 2016–current
● BIO 111 writing assessment committee (department) 2016–current
● Conservation committee (department) 2016–current
● MSSU herpetology collections manager (department) 2016–current
● Active participant at the Biology Club student social (department) 2016–current
● Biology Club co-supervisor 2017–2019
● Planned and participated in club activities: Third Thursday,
● Stream Team clean up, MDC Deer harvest, Biology Picnic
● Biology travel budget committee (department) 2016–2019
● Active booth participant at October 2016, Major Fair (university) 2016
PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Professional service
● Journal/Book Reviewer:
● Acta Zoologica, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, Functional Ecology (3X), Herpetologica, Integrative Zoology (3x), Journal of Morphology (2X), Journal of Comparative Physiology–B, The Herpetological Journal, The Journal of Experimental Biology (3X), Journal of the Royal Society Interface, Journal of Zoology, Review of General Psychology, Snakes of the Southeast, Zoo Biology, Zoology (3X)
● External Reviewer for the National Science Foundation, 2017
- I am responsible for reviewing selected grants
● Snake biomechanics expert (consultant work for Eel River Lodge), 2017
- Provided research-driven data on snake strike distances to better inform safety management during human and snake encounters
● Oral Presentation Session Moderator, KS Herp Society’s 43rd Annual Meeting, 2016
● Grant Reviewer for Herpetologists League E.E. Williams Graduate Research Grant, 2016
Public service
● Aquatic BioBlitz Booth Presenter, June 2018
- Presented herpetological diversity to the community at an annual BioBlitz Day at George Washington Carver National Monument
● MSSU Third Thursday Booth Presenter, 2016–present
- Held a live animal demonstration where the public learned about turtles and giant tortoises
● Prairie Day Booth Presenter, September 2017
- Presented herpetological diversity to the community at the annual Prairie Day at George Washington Carver National Monument
● BioBlitz Booth Presenter, 2017
- Presented herpetological diversity to the community at an annual BioBlitz at George Washington Carver National Monument
● Invited Panel Member (UL Lafayette): Making the transition to doctoral studies (2015)
● Louisiana Science and Engineering Fair (Region VI) judge for junior and senior division projects on animal behavior, ecology, and conservation (annually 2012 to 2016)
● Graduate Student Representative for the Department of Biology (UCM: 2011–2012)
● BioBlitz (The Wildlife Society; 2010–2012): Setup booth where I displayed and taught amphibian and reptile diversity and identification to the public
● Fall Festival (The Wildlife Society; 2011): Displayed and taught amphibian and reptile diversity and thermal ecology
BROADER RESEARCH IMPACTS: FILM, TELEVISION, AND RADIO
● Southern Nights interview (Southern Broadcaster’s Club)
- Discussed the importance of undergraduate research and showed the lab to the student film group
● World snake day interviewer (KOAM 7; Fox 14)
- Discussed the importance of undergraduate research and snake conservation
● Large constrictor expert (consultation for LiveScience), 2018
- Discussed the mechanisms of constriction and consumption in large snakes
● Venomous snake expert (consultation for LiveScience), 2018
- Discussed the mechanisms of venom, and ectotherm physiology
● Snake biomechanics expert (consultant work for The Travel Channel), 2018
- Discussed the behavior and performance of constriction and striking in Anacondas
● Snake biomechanics expert (consultant work for The Science Channel), 2018
- Provided information about snake skull morphology and function
● Snake expert (MSSU Profiles in Research; 2018)
● Snake predation expert (consultant work for Discovery Channel), 2017
- Consulted on project dealing with giant pythons
● Snake predation expert (Discovery Channel), 2017
- Participated in and narrated documentary: How the Kingsnake Earned its Crown
● Snake predation expert (consultant work for Smithsonian Channel), 2017
- Consulted on project feasibility, implementation, and analysis
● Snake predation expert (PBS and Channel 4: 2016)
- Documentary: Secrets of the Dead: Graveyard of Giant Beasts
- Duties included the reconstruction of constriction and striking performance of Titanoboa cerrejonensis
● Snake predation expert (Discovery Channel), 2016
- Participated in and narrated documentary: Debunking the Viper’s Strike
● Interviews with over 2 dozen professional reporters for articles from the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, National Geographic, Nature, Science, Yahoo News, The Atlantic, and many others
● Scientific consultant (provided details on the anatomy and physiology of snake strikes; 2016)
● Discovery Channel’s Outrageous Acts of Science (2015)
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
● China (2016) Attended the 8th World Congress of Herpetology in Hangzhou, China
● Belize (2011)
- Participated in projects on the biodiversity of barrier reef and coastal ecosystems
● Botswana (2011)
- Trained in animal tracking and wildlife monitoring
- Aided in Elephant and large mammal population monitoring
● South Africa (2011)
- Participated in a class on ecosystem biodiversity near Kruger National Park
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS (CURRENT)
● The Herpetologists’ League (2012–present)
● Kansas Herpetological Society (2011–present)
● Missouri Academy of Sciences (2016–present)