Margaret Voss

Dr. Margaret Voss teaches courses in nutritional biochemistry and metabolism in the Department of Public Health, Food Studies, and Nutrition. She received her Ph.D. from Syracuse University for doctoral work in comparative physiology (foraging behavior, energetics, and reproductive physiology). Her research focus is on vertebrate metabolism and incorporates the study of feeding behavior and energy balance. She works collaboratively as part of a large multi-university project to identify physiological mechanisms underlying latitudinal variation in vertebrate metabolic rates (parental and embryonic). Her current project examines the role of embryo metabolites as attractants for an invasive parasitic fly that is threatening to push several species of Darwin’s Finch to extinction.

Dr. Voss has published several papers that clarify how changes in photoperiod may accelerate embryonic metabolism and interact with clock gene control of ovulation. She has recently submitted a proposal to the National Science Foundation (NSF) to further examine how photoperiod, genetics, and diet interact to influence metabolic health. The project makes use of a free living avian system to model “shift work” under artificially extended photoperiods and to track associated changes in the circadian regulation of glucose and lipid homeostasis and steroid biosynthesis.

Dr. Voss is an associate editor for the Journal of Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. She has served as book review editor and as an officer in her professional society, and is an elective member of the American Ornithological Union. Dr. Voss is an ad-hoc reviewer for several journals, including Behavioral Ecology, Proceedings of The Royal Society, Journal of Applied Ecology, Behavior, The Journal Ethology, The Journal of Thermal Ecology, Ibis, Functional Ecology, and Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology.

Dr. Voss’ teaching expertise is in physiology-related courses for pre-health professions students, including classes in exercise physiology, nutritional biochemistry, micronutrient and macronutrient metabolism, and medical terminology.