Mark Bohler

I attended Virginia Tech for both my undergraduate and graduate degrees. I received two B.S. degrees; one in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience and one in Psychology. As a graduate student, I primarily studied how high ambient temperature affected specific nuclei in the hypothalamus which are involved in appetite regulation in chickens. I also explored the effect of endogenous factors associated with appetite on feeding behaviors in Japanese Quail.

At Converse, I teach our Introductory Biology series, Human and Animal Anatomy courses, Human Physiology, Neuroscience, and Exercise Physiology. I am also the Pre-Health Professions Advisor and our Esports Team’s faculty mentor.

My research will primarily continue to explore the effect of high ambient temperature on appetite regulation using the rat as a model. However, as our students are heavily involved in our research programs, other projects and ideas are welcome, and in the past have included nucleic acid extraction from orange head cockroaches for genomic sequencing.

When I am not teaching or in the lab, you can often find me at the various sporting events and productions on campus, or chatting in the hallways about the plethora of fun facts I have at my disposal. Otherwise, I am avid gamer with my ever present cat companion, Lola, and partake in many weekend adventures with my wonderful wife.

Scholarly & Research Activity

My research at Converse will continue to explore the effects of high ambient temperature on appetite regulation using the rat as a model. I am very excited to bring neuroscience research to Converse University; students will be heavily involved, and hopefully as nerdy and excited about the brain as I am.

Selected Publications & Presentations

Heat Stress Responses in Birds: A Review of the Neural Components. Bohler, M.W., Chowdhury, V.S., Cline, M.A., Gilbert, E.R. “Heat Stress Responses in Birds: A Review of the Neural Components.” Biology (2021): 10.

Reduced food intake during exposure to high ambient temperatures is associated with molecular changes in the nucleus of the hippocampal commissure and the paraventricular and arcuate hypothalamic nuclei. Bohler, M., Gilbert, E.R. & Cline, M.A. “Reduced food intake during exposure to high ambient temperatures is associated with molecular changes in the nucleus of the hippocampal commissure and the paraventricular and arcuate hypothalamic nuclei.” General and Comparative Endocrinology (2020): 298.

The anorexigenic effect of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in Japanese quail is associated with molecular changes in the arcuate and dorsomedial hypothalamic nuclei. Bohler, M., Gilbert, E.R. & Cline, M.A. “The anorexigenic effect of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in Japanese quail is associated with molecular changes in the arcuate and dorsomedial hypothalamic nuclei.” Domestic Animal Endocrinology (2020): 74.