Rudi C. Berkelhamer

Picture of Rudi C. Berkelhamer
Senior Lecturer SOE, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
School of Biological Sciences
Associate Dean, Division of Undergraduate Education
Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1980, Zoology
M.S., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1968, Zoology
B.S., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1966, Zoology
Phone: (949) 824-1955
Fax: (949) 824-2161
Email: rcberkel@uci.edu
University of California, Irvine
611C Aldrich Hall
Division of Undergraduate Education
Mail Code: 5670
Irvine, CA 92697
Research Interests
Biology Education and Undergraduate General Education
Academic Distinctions
Excellence in Teaching Award, Division of Undergraduate Education, University of California, Irvine, 1996-7. Faculty awardee from the School of Biological Sciences for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching.

TA Training Award, Instructional Development Services, University of California Irvine. First recipient of Annual IDS Award for Outstanding Commitment to TA Training and Undergraduate Education. 1992-1993.
Research Abstract
My research interests, in general, are in the ecology, evolution, and behavior of animals. I am particularly interested in the application of the approaches and principles of these fields to the study of insects. The specific topics on which I have conducted extensive research are: (1) social and population genetic structure of Dolichoderine ants in Southern California and (2) integrated pest management of mosquitoes in the San Joaquin freshwater marsh. I do not currently have an active research program.

Since 1978 my major professional emphasis has been college level teaching. Although I have taught a broad range of courses, most of my experience has been with introductory courses. I have extensive experience in curriculum planning, design, and execution for a broad range of both topics and teaching formats within introductory biology areas. I have a strong commitment to biology education, enjoy being involved in it and feel I do a good job. However, it is my opinion that one's teaching can always be improved and that learning to be a good teacher is a process involving continual study and growth. In Biological Sciences, I continue to be the faculty advisor for the Peer Tutoring Program that I developed about 10 years ago.

For the past seven years, I have focused my interests in undergraduate education more broadly as Associate Dean of the Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE). In this capacity I have introduced and directed several new programs as well as overseeing others that existed when I began as Associate Dean. The programs for which I have direct oversight include a host of first-year experiences: the First-Year Integrated Program, the Freshman and Transfer Seminar Programs, and the Undecided/Undeclared Advising Program. Together with the Dean, Assistant Dean and our many dedicated and creative staff, I also oversee a broad range of DUE programs in research, study abroad, tutoring and classroom support.
Publications
Berkelhamer, R.C., Hokama, J.Y., Nester, R.H. and T.B. Watkins. 2007. Experimental Biology Laboratory Manual. Fifth Edition. Pearson Custom Publishing.
Berkelhamer, R.C. and T.B. Watkins. 2005. Experimental Biology Laboratory Manual. Fourth Edition. Pearson Custom Publishing.
Berkelhamer, R. and A. Cordon. 2001. Effective Methods of Training Biology Laboratory Assistants: Grading Consistently. Pages 325-342, in Proceedings of the 23rd Workshop/Conference of the Association for Biology Laboratory Education (ABLE), 392 pages.
Berkelhamer, R. 1998. Variability and selection in natural populations of woodlice. Pages 245-254, in Tested studies for laboratory teaching, Volume 19 (S.J. Karcher, Editor) Proceedings of the 19th Workshop/Conference of the Association for Biology Laboratory Education (ABLE), 365 pages.
Berkelhamer, R.C. and T.J. Bradley. 1989. Mosquito larval development in container habitats:
the role of rotting Scirpus californicus. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association
5:258-260.
Berkelhamer, R.C. 1984. An electrophoretic analysis of queen number in three species of Dolichoderine ants. Insectes Sociaux 31:132-141.
Berkelhamer, R.C. 1983. Intraspecific genetic variation and haplodiploidy, eusociality, and polygyny in the Hymenoptera. Evolution 37:540-545.
Last updated
01/10/2012