About
I obtained a BA from Wellesley College and a Ph.D from University of WI-Madison. I was a post doctoral fellow at Brandeis University and joined the faculty at UMBC in 1992. In addition to my research program, I am known for my efforts to increase the participation of women and minorities in science at UMBC. She co-founded the Women in Science and Engineering group at UMBC and was a Co-PI on the UMBC NSF ADVANCE grant and currently co-chairs the University executive committee on Gender and Diversity in Science, technology, engineering and math. I am also the Director of the U-RISE NIH training program.
Research interests
The aim of my research is to understand how information in the environment is transformed into an appropriate biological signal. I study this problem of signal transduction in photoreceptors for they are accessible to a variety of techniques, providing a system in which it is possible to interface the approaches of biochemistry, molecular biology and physiology. My research has resulted in 50 peer-reviewed publications and several book chapters.13PhD students have graduated from my laboratory with 3 current PhD students. I have mentored over 50 undergraduates.
Teaching interests
I am interested in Vision Science, Signal Transduction and Neurobiology.
Education
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Ph D, Neuroscience
— University of Wisconsin-Madison (1981)
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AB, Biology
— Wellesley College (1973)
Publications
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Spectral tuning and deactivation kinetics of marine mammal melanopsins
2021
PLOS ONE · 16 (10) · pp. e0257436
Jeffry I Fasick, Haya Algrain, Courtland Samuels, Padmanabhan Mahadevan, Lorian E Schweikert, Zaid J Naffaa, Phyllis R Robinson
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The C-Terminus and Third Cytoplasmic Loop Cooperatively Activate Mouse Melanopsin Phototransduction
2020
Biophysical Journal · 119 (2) · pp. 389-401
Juan C Valdez-Lopez, Stephen T Petr, Matthew P Donohue, Robin J Bailey, Meheret Gebreeziabher, Evan G Cameron, Julia B Wolf, Veronika A Szalai, Phyllis R Robinson
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The retinal pigments of the whale shark (<i>Rhincodon typus</i>) and their role in visual foraging ecology. 2019
Visual neuroscience · 36 · pp. E011
J I Fasick, H Algrain, K M Serba, Phyllis R Robinson
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The Role of Protein Phosphatase 2A in the Re-Sensitization of Melanopsin During Continued Light Stimulation
2019
Biophysical Journal · 116 (3) · pp. 234a
Juan C Valdez-Lopez, Meheret Gebreeziabher, Jair Flores, Olanike Awotunde, Thomas Burnett, Adam Byerly, Phyllis R Robinson
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Unique Molecular Determinants that Contribute to Melanopsin's (OPN4) Capability to Sustain Light Responses
2018
Biophysical Journal · 114 (3) · pp. 107a
Juan C Valdez-Lopez, Stephen Petr, Matthew P Donohue, Veronika Szalai, Phyllis R Robinson
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C-terminal phosphorylation regulates the kinetics of a subset of melanopsin-mediated behaviors in mice
2017
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 114 (10) · pp. 2741-2746
Preethi Somasundaram, Glenn R Wyrick, Diego Carlos Fernandez, Alireza Ghahari, Cindy M Pinhal, Melissa Simmonds Richardson, Alan C Rupp, Lihong Cui, Zhijian Wu, R. Lane Brown, Tudor Constantin Badea, Samer Hattar, Phyllis R Robinson
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Adaptations of Cetacean Retinal Pigments to Aquatic Environments. 2016
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. · 4 · pp. 70
Jeffry Fasick, Phyllis R Robinson
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A visual circuit uses complementary mechanisms to support transient and sustained pupil constriction
2016
eLife · 5
William Thomas Keenan, Alan C Rupp, Rachel A Ross, Preethi Somasundaram, Suja Hiriyanna, Zhijian Wu, Tudor C Badea, Phyllis R Robinson, Bradford B Lowell, Samer S Hattar
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Deterministic and Stochastic Mathematical Modeling of Melanopsin's Light Response in ipRGCs and HEK Cells
2016
Biophysical Journal · 110 (3) · pp. 90a
Phyllis R Robinson, Kathleen Hoffman, Hye-Won Kang
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A visual circuit uses complementary mechanisms to support transient and sustained pupil constriction. 2016
Elife
W. Keenan, A C Rupp, R A Ross, Preethi Somasundaram, S Hiriyanna, Z Wu, t Baeda, P R Robisnon, B B Lowell, S Hattar
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A Stochastic Model of the Melanopsin Phototransduction Cascade
2015
The IMA Volumes in Mathematics and its Applications · Springer New York · pp. 175-195
R. Lane Brown, Erika Camacho, Evan G Cameron, Christina Hamlet, Kathleen A Hoffman, Hye-Won Kang, Phyllis R Robinson, Katherine S Williams, Glenn R Wyrick
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A stochastic model of the melanopsin phototransduction cascade 2015
IMA Journal of Applied Mathematics/Institute of Mathematics and its Applications
R. Lane Brown, Erika Camacho, Evan G Cameron, Christina Hamlet, Kathleen Hoffman, Hye Won Kang, Phyllis R Robinson, Katherine S Williams, Glenn R Wyrick
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Mathematical Modeling of Melanopsin's Light Response in ipRGCs and Hek Cells
2015
Biophysical Journal · 108 (2) · pp. 151a
Phyllis R Robinson, Abigail Jackson, Jessica Ortega, Hyewon Kang, Kathleen Hoffman
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β-Arrestin-Dependent Deactivation of Mouse Melanopsin
2014
PLoS ONE · 9 (11) · pp. e113138
Evan G Cameron, Phyllis R Robinson
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Characterization of visual pigments, oil droplets, lens and cornea in the whooping crane Grus americana. 2014
The Journal of experimental biology · 217 (Pt 21) · pp. 3883-90
M L Porter, A C Kingston, R McCready, E G Cameron, Christophe M Hofmann, L Suarez, G H Olsen, Thomas W Cronin, Phyllis R Robinson
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Identification of Critical Phosphorylation Sites on the Carboxy Tail of Melanopsin
2014
Biochemistry · 53 (16) · pp. 2644-2649
Joseph R Blasic, Vanessa Matos-Cruz, Devyani Ujla, Evan G Cameron, Samer Hattar, Marnie E Halpern, Phyllis R Robinson
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Identification of the phosphorylation sites of melanopsin involved in deactivation 2014
Biochemistry · Accepted
Joseph R Blasic, Jr., Vanessa Matos-Cruz, Devyani Ujla, Evan Cameron, Samer Hattar, Marnie Halpern, Phyllis R Robinson
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Phosphorylation of Mouse Melanopsin by Protein Kinase A
2012
PLoS ONE · 7 (9) · pp. e45387
Joseph R Blasic, R. Lane Brown, Phyllis R Robinson
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Spectral tuning and evolution of primate short-wavelength-sensitive visual pigments
2012
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences · 279 (1727) · pp. 387-393
Livia S Carvalho, Wayne L Davies, Phyllis R Robinson, David M Hunt
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Light-dependent phosphorylation of the carboxy tail of mouse melanopsin. 2012
Cell Mol Life Sci · 69 (9) · pp. 1551-62
Joseph R Blasic,JR, R. Lane Brown, Phyllis R Robinson
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Unexpected Diversity and Photoperiod Dependence of the Zebrafish Melanopsin System
2011
PLoS ONE · 6 (9) · pp. e25111
Vanessa Matos-Cruz, Joseph Blasic, Benjamin Nickle, Phyllis R Robinson, Samer Hattar, Marnie E Halpern
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The molecular genetics and evolution of colour and polarization vision in stomatopod crustaceans , Ophthal.Physiol.Opt 2010
30 · pp. 460-469
Thomas W Cronin, Megan Porter, Michael Bok, Julia B Wolf, Phyllis R Robinson
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Molecular diversity of visual pigments in Stomatopoda (Crustacea)
2009
Visual Neuroscience · 26 (3) · pp. 255-265
MEGAN L PORTER, MICHAEL J BOK, Phyllis R Robinson, THOMAS W CRONIN
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The visual pigments of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus)
2006
Vision Research · 46 (20) · pp. 3326-3330
Lucy A Newman, Phyllis R Robinson
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The molecular mechanism for the spectral shifts between vertebrate ultraviolet- and violet-sensitive cone visual pigments
2002
Biochemical Journal · 367 (1) · pp. 129-135
Jill A COWING, Subathra POOPALASUNDARAM, Susan E WILKIE, Phyllis R Robinson, James K BOWMAKER, David M HUNT
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Spectral-tuning mechanisms of marine mammal rhodopsins and
correlations with foraging depth
2000
Visual Neuroscience · 17 (5) · pp. 781-788
JEFFRY I FASICK, Phyllis R Robinson
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The visual pigments of the bottlenose dolphin (<i>Tursiops
truncatus</i>)
1998
Visual Neuroscience · 15 (4) · pp. 643-651
JEFFRY I FASICK, THOMAS W CRONIN, DAVID M HUNT, Phyllis R Robinson
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Functional Coupling of a Human Retinal Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor (hmGluR6) to Bovine Rod Transducin and Rat Go in an in Vitro Reconstitution System
1997
Journal of Biological Chemistry · 272 (52) · pp. 33100-33104
Ke Weng, C.-C. Lu, Lorrie P Daggett, Rainer Kuhn, Peter J Flor, Edwin C Johnson, Phyllis R Robinson
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ATP-independent deactivation of squid rhodopsin
1992
Visual Neuroscience · 9 (6) · pp. 595-602
Alon Kahana, Phyllis R Robinson, Laura J Lewis, Ete Z Szuts, John E Lisman
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Changing the location of the Schiff base counterion in rhodopsin
1992
Biochemistry · 31 (42) · pp. 10400-10405
Eugene A Zhukovsky, Phyllis R Robinson, Daniel D Oprian
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Transducin Activation by Rhodopsin Without a Covalent Bond to the 11-
<i>Cis</i>
-Retinal Chromophore
1991
Science · 251 (4993) · pp. 558-560
Eugene A Zhukovsky, Phyllis R Robinson, Daniel D Oprian
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Characterization of guanylate cyclase in squid photoreceptors
1989
Visual Neuroscience · 3 (1) · pp. 1-7
Phyllis R Robinson, Richard H Cote
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Cyclic GMP is involved in the excitation of invertebrate photoreceptors
1986
Nature · 324 (6096) · pp. 468-470
Edwin C Johnson, Phyllis R Robinson, John E Lisman
Presentations
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Structural and Molecular Analysis of Signaling Activation and Desensitization in Melanopsin, an Opsin G-Protein Coupled Receptor 2018
18th International Conference on Retinal Proteins · International Conference on Retinal Proteins · Poster
Phyllis R Robinson (Author), Juan Valdez
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Structural and Molecular Analysis of Signaling Activation and Desensitization in Melanopsin, an Opsin G-Protein Coupled Receptor 2018
18th International Conference on Retinal Proteins · International Conference on Retinal Proteins · Paper
Phyllis R Robinson (Author), Juan Valdex (Author & Presenter)
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MARC at UMBC 2018
American Chemical Society Annual meeting · American Chemical Society · Oral Presentation
Phyllis R Robinson (Author & Presenter), J. King (Author)
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A comparison of genetic editing techniques to create mutations in the mouse melanopsin sequence. 2018
Retinal Neurobiology and Visual Processing · FASEB · Poster
Phyllis R Robinson, Alexis Rubin (Author & Presenter)
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Unique Structural and Molecular Determinants that Contribute to Melanopsin (Opn4) Phototransduction 2018
Retinal Neurobiology and Visual Processing · FASEB · Poster
Phyllis R Robinson, Juan Valdez, Veronika Szalai, Stephen Petr
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Phyllis Non-image forming vision in Cetaceans: What is melanopsin doing in the Aquatic mammal eye? 2017
Marine Mammal Sensory Systems: an Integrated Perspective · Society for Marine Mammalogy Biennial Conference on Marine Mammal Biology Post-COnference Workshop · Lecture
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, Cetacean sunglasses? Deactivation kinetics of melanopsin in cetacean rod monochromats, 2017
Biennial Conference on Marine Mammal Biology · The Society for Marine Mammalogy · Poster
Phyllis R Robinson, Haya Algrain (Author & Presenter)
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:”Seeing the Future: Vision careers in industry, government and academia” 2017
The Biology and Chemistry of Vision · FASEB · Oral Presentation
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C-terminal phosphorylation regulates the kinetics of a subset of melanopsin-mediated behaviors in mice 2017
The Biology and Chemistry of Vision · FASEB · Oral Presentation
Phyllis R Robinson (Author), Preethi Somasundaram (Author & Presenter)
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The Adaptation of Melanopsin Signaling Kinetics in Rod Monochromats, 2017
The Biology and Chemistry of Vision · FASEB · Poster
Phyllis R Robinson (Author), Haya Algrain (Author & Presenter), Jeffrey Fasick (Author)
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C-terminal phosphorylation regulates the kinetics of a subset of melanopsin-mediated behaviors in miceAssociation for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology 2017
ARVO · Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology · Poster
Phyllis R Robinson (Author), Preethi Samasundraram (Author & Presenter)
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C-terminal phosphorylation plays a crucial role the kinetics of non-image forming visual behaviors i 2016
Society for Neuroscience · Society for Neuroscience · Poster
P Somasundaram (Author & Presenter), D C Fernandez (Author), A Rupp (Author), T C Baeda (Author), R L Brown, S Hattar (Author), Phyllis R Robinson (Author)
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Shedding New Light on Opsin Evolution, 2012
International Society for Eye Research · International Society for Eye Research · Oral Presentation
Phyllis R Robinson (Author & Presenter), Megan Porter (Author)
Grants and Contracts
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U-RISE at the University of Maryland Baltimore County 2020
NIH · Grant · Funded
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The functional contribution of melanopsin phototransduction in ipRGC subtypes 2017
NIH · Grant · Funded
Phyllis R Robinson (Co-Principal), S Hattar, R L Brown
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Learning and Innovation at the Interface of Mathematics and Medicine: A NEW Approach 2015
Hrabowski Innovation Fund · Grant
Bradford E Peercy, Kathleen Hoffman (Co-Principal), Phyllis R Robinson (Supporting)
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FASEB's The Biology and Chemistry of Vision Conference
NIH · Grant · In-Progress
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Highly Sensitive Planar Anapole Microsonators for Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of submicroliter /submicromolar sample
NIH · Sponsored Research · Funded
Courses Taught
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Ethics/Integ Scient Res
BIOL 397 · Spring 2020
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Neurobiology
BIOL 651 · Fall 2019
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Neurobiology
BIOL 451 · Fall 2019
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Vision Science
BIOL 654 · Spring 2019
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Vision Science
BIOL 454 · Spring 2019
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Signal Transdxn
BIOL 645 · Fall 2018
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Signal Transduction
BIOL 445 · Fall 2018