Iowa State University
College of Human Sciences


James R. Bloedel, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor
Departments of Kinesiology and Biomedical Sciences
 
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-1160
Office: 515-294-4415
e-mail: jbloedel@iastate.edu

Research Interests

My research examines questions related to the control and learning of movements. Currently, we have two areas of emphasis. In the first we are examining the role of hand-eye coordination in performing the reach-to-grasp movement. In some of our studies we compare the performance of normal subjects to that of cerebellar patients and patients with Parkinson's disease. Our second focus is on the central nervous system mechanisms underlying the acquisition of motor behaviors. In these studies we are elucidating the contribution of the cerebellum to the classical conditioning of the eye blink reflex, a well known model for studies of this type. Please see my vita for specific contributions we have made in these areas. I have received a Javitts Award from NIH, and I'm an elected fellow in the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education. Recently, I have been named the recipient of the College of Human Sciences Career Achievement in Research Award for 2007.


Teaching

I recently developed and taught a graduate course on controversies in motor systems neuroscience. Beginning next year, I will also be teaching in the undergraduate curriculum. In addition, I have responsibilities for teaching in the professional curriculum in the College of Veterinary Medicine. I'm also actively engaged in formally and informally advising graduate students in several programs at ISU including, HCI, Neuroscience, BMS, Biological and Chemical Engineering, and KIN. I also serve as director of graduate studies in the Department of Biomedical Sciences. I'm currently serving on a committee to develop a concurrent DVM-PhD program at ISU.


Service/Outreach/Professional Activity

In addition to my responsibilities as a scientist and educator, I served as a department chair at the Barrow Neurological Institute for 16 years and as Vice Provost for Research at ISU for 5.5 years. Currently, I'm chair of several department committees, and I'm currently serving on various task forces for the university and Collegeof Veterinary Medicine. I've served on several boards nationally, including the Board for the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges and the National Council for Research and Education Policy. I have served as the President of the Ames Economic Development Commission, and I remain an active member on their Board. I continue to be active in economic development in the community and state. Currently, I serve on the Editorial Board for Experimental Brain Research and Cerebellum, and I review for many other journals in the fields of neuroscience and kinesiology.


Personal Interests

Skiing, tennis, biking, music, and grandchildren