Robert Low, Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus  

Low, Robert

Background

Dr. Low received his undergraduate BA degree in Biology from Princeton University in 1963. He received his PhD degree in Physiology from the University of Chicago in 1968. Following a two-year postdoctoral position in Biology at MIT, he became a faculty member as Assistant Professor at the University of Vermont in 1970. He became Associate Professor with tenure in1974, and Professor in 1979. He became a member of the Emeritus Faculty in 2006, but continues to be involved in research, in teaching and in College and University Administration.

Contact

Office:
Given N211
802-656-4338

Research Description

Dr. Low is interested in the roles of myosin isoforms in cardiac, skeletal and smooth muscle function. His studies have involved analyses of the contractile properties of individual myosin isoforms at the molecular level, as well as the effects of altering myosin isoform expression at the tissue and whole animal levels.

Teaching

Dr. Low teaches courses in the Medical and Graduate curriculums.

Faculty Heighlighted Publications

Low RB, White SL, Low ES, Neuville P, Bochaton-Piallat M-L, Gabbiani G. Age dependence of smooth muscle myosin expression by culured rat aortic smooth muscle cells. Differentiation. 1999; 65: 151-159.

Babu GJ, Loukianov E, Lukianova T, Pyne GJ, Huke S, Osol G, Low RB, Paul RJ, Periasamy M. A significant decrease in maximal force development and velocity of shortening in smooth muscles of mice lacking SM-B myosin isoform. Nature Cell Biology. 2001; 3(11): 1025-1029.

Babu G, Pyne GJ, Zhou Y, Okwuchukuasanya C, Brayden JE, Osol G, Paul RJ, Low RB, Periasamy M. Isoform switching from SM-B to SM-A myosin results in decreased contractility and altered expression of thin-filament regulatory proteins. Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol. 2004; 287: C723-C729.

Low RB, Leguillette R, Lauzon AM. Insert smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SM-B): from single molecule to human. Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. 2006; 38: 1862-1874.

Lowey S, Lesko LM, Rovner AS, Hodges AR, White SL, Low RB, Gulick J, Robbins J. Functional effects of the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy R403Q mutation are different in an alpha or beta myosin heavy chain backbone. J. Biol. Chem. 2008; 283(29): 20579-89.

Selected Awards

University Scholar 1986-1987

Director, Vermont Pulmonary Specialized Center of Research (SCOR) 1976-1992

Senior International Fogarty Fellow Reseach Fellow with Dr. Guilio Gabbiani, Dept. of Pathology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. 1979-1980

Associate Dean for Research, College of Medicine 1984-1992

Interim Executive Dean, College of Medicine 1991-1992

Interim Provost, University of Vermont 1992-1994

Provost, University of Vermont 1994-1996

Senior International Fogarty Fellow Research Fellow with Dr. Guilio Gabbani, Dept. of Pathology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. June 1997- June 1998

Emeritus Professor, Dept. of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics 2006 - present

Interim Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education 2008- 2009

Acting Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, College of Medicine 2010, 2012

Interim Provost and Senior Vice President, University of Vermont 2013

D. Sc. Honorary Degree, University of Vermont 2014

Class of 2015 Dean Warshaw Integration Award 2015