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Staff Profile

Dr Timothy Boswell

Senior Lecturer

  • Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 8502
  • Address: School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
    Room 4.58, Ridley Building
    Â鶹´«Ã½
    Â鶹´«Ã½-Upon-Tyne
    NE1 7RU
Background

Role and Responsibilities

  • Admissions Selector Biology and Zoology degrees


Qualifications

  • Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, Â鶹´«Ã½
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
  • PhD, University of Bristol
  • BSc Zoology, University of Bristol




Research

Research Interests

My research interests are centred on the neural and endocrine mechanisms that underpin feeding behaviour, metabolism, reproduction and stress responsiveness. I am particularly interested in how vertebrates, particularly birds, adjust their behaviour and physiology to environmental seasonality such as changes in photoperiod. I use a comparative, multi-disciplinary, approach that combines and integrates the genetic and molecular to the ecological and behavioural levels of biological organisation. In this way, I aim to gain insight into fundamental mechanisms regulating behaviour and physiology from the perspective of the whole animal. My research has involved the use of genomic technologies to identify genes in the brain involved in the control of seasonal physiology, and I have combined this with neurobiological approaches to characterise and monitor activity of neuroendocrine pathways. I am currently applying my knowledge of the neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying control of food intake and stress regulation to develop novel methods for assessing welfare in chickens and other livestock based on molecular markers.

Current Projects

BBSRC (2013-2016) Developing and validating a practical screening tool for chronic stress in livestock. Collaborators: Drs. Tom Smulders and Fabio Gualtieri, Institute of Neuroscience, Â鶹´«Ã½; Drs. Rick D'Eath and Vicky Sandilands, SRUC, Scotland.

BBSRC (2014-2017) Investigating how the type and quantity of food affect foraging behaviour and the neural circuits controlling feeding in broiler breeder chickens. Collaborators: Dr. Ian Dunn, Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh; Drs. Rick D'Eath, Vicky Sandilands and Laura Dixon, SRUC, Scotland.


Teaching

Undergraduate

  • BIO2030 Methods in Biotechnology
  • BIO2034 Animal Function (Physiology and Development)
  • BIO3050 Physiological Zoology
  • BIO3197 Biological Literature Review
  • BIO3198 Biological Information Project
  • BIO3199 Biological Research Project

Postgraduate

  • BIO8044 Biotechnology: Advanced Topics
  • BIO8096 MSc Industrial and Commercial Biotechnology Thesis 
Publications

  • Articles

    • Boswell T, Olson SK, Bentley GE, Perfito N, Ramenofsky M. . Journal of Neuroendocrinology 2025, e70036.
    • Dixon LM, Brocklehurst S, Hills J, Foister S, Wilson PW, Reid AMA, Caughey S, Sandilands V, Boswell T, Dunn IC, D'Eath RB. . Poultry Science 2024, 103(12), 104262.
    • Dixon LM, Dunn IC, Brocklehurst S, Baker L, Boswell T, Caughey SD, Reid A, Sandilands V, Wilson PW, D'Eath RB. . Poultry Science 2022, 101(5), 101838.
    • Armstrong EA, Richards-Rios P, Addison L, Sandilands V, Guy JH, Wigley P, Boswell T, Smulders TV. . Scientific Reports 2022, 12(1), 15505.
    • Armstrong EA, Rufener C, Toscano MJ, Eastham JE, Guy JH, Sandilands V, Boswell T, Smulders TV. . Scientific Reports 2020, 10, 3007.
    • Armstrong EA, Voelkl B, Voegeli S, Gebhardt-Henrich SG, Guy JH, Sandilands V, Boswell T, Toscano MJ, Smulders TV. . Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2020, 7, 587.
    • Poirier C, Bateson M, Gualtieri F, Armstrong EA, Laws GC, Boswell T, Smulders TV. . Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 2019, 101, 113-121.
    • Gualtieri F, Armstrong EA, Longmoor GK, D'Eath RB, Sandilands V, Boswell T, Smulders TV. . Scientific Reports 2019, 9, 7129.
    • Smulders TV, Boswell T, Henderson LJ. . Behavioral and Brain Sciences 2019, 42, e51.
    • Caughey SD, Wilson PW, Mukhtar N, Brocklehurst S, Reid A, D'Eath RB, Boswell T, Dunn IC. . Biology of Sex Differences 2018, 9, 20.
    • Henderson LJ, Cockcroft RC, Kaiya H, Boswell T, Smulders TV. . Proceedings of the Royal Society B 2018, 285(1879), 20180417.
    • Boswell T, Dunn IC. . Frontiers in Endocrinology 2017, 8, 75.
    • Reid AMA, Wilson PW, Caughey SD, Dixon LM, D'Eath RB, Sandilands V, Boswell T, Dunn IC. . General and Comparative Endocrinology 2017, 252, 226-235.
    • Robertson BA, Rathbone L, Cirillo G, D'Eath RB, Bateson M, Boswell T, Wilson PW, Dunn IC, Smulders TV. . PLoS ONE 2017, 12(12), e0189158.
    • Gualtieri F, Brégère C, Laws GC, Armstrong EA, Wylie NJ, Moxham TT, Guzman R, Boswell T, Smulders TV. . Frontiers in Neuroscience 2017, 11, 488.
    • Dunn IC, Wilson PW, D'Eath RB, Boswell T. . Journal of Neuroendocrinology 2015, 27(9), 681-691.
    • Dunn IC, Wilson PW, Smulders TV, Sandilands V, D'Eath RB, Boswell T. . Journal of Neuroendocrinology 2013, 25(10), 920-928.
    • Graham G, Sharp PJ, Li Q, Wilson PW, Talbot RT, Downing A, Boswell T. . Brain Research Bulletin 2009, 79(3-4), 201-207.
    • Holberton RL, Boswell T, Hunter MJ. . General and Comparative Endocrinology 2008, 155(3), 641-649.
    • Tachibana T, Oikawa D, Takahashi H, Boswell T, Furuse M. . Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - A Molecular and Integrative Physiology 2007, 147(1), 173-178.
    • Liu X, Dunn IC, Sharp PJ, Boswell T. . Domestic Animal Endocrinology 2007, 32(3), 155-166.
    • Tachibana T, Oikawa D, Adachi N, Boswell T, Furuse M. . Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - A Molecular and Integrative Physiology 2007, 147(4), 1104-1108.
    • Tachibana T, Oikawa D, Adachi N, Boswell T, Furuse M. . Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - A Molecular and Integrative Physiology 2007, 147(1), 156-164.
    • Tachibana T, Oikawa D, Adachi N, Boswell T, Furuse M. . Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - A Molecular and Integrative Physiology 2007, 148(2), 408-412.
    • Bromee T, Sjodin P, Fredriksson R, Boswell T, Larsson TA, Salaneck E, Zoorob R, Mohell N, Larhammar D. . FEBS Journal 2006, 273(9), 2048-2063.
    • Tachibana T, Sato M, Oikawa D, Takahashi H, Boswell T, Furuse M. . Regulatory Peptides 2006, 136(1-3), 1-8.
    • Boswell T, Dunn IC, Wilson PW, Joseph N, Burt DW, Sharp PJ. . General and Comparative Endocrinology 2006, 146(2), 157-166.
    • Boswell T. . Journal of Poultry Science 2005, 42(3), 161-181.
    • Boswell T, Takeuchi S. . Peptides 2005, 26(10), 1733-1743.
    • Ciccone NA, Dunn IC, Boswell T, Tsutsui K, Ubuka T, Ukena K, Sharp PJ. . Journal of Neuroendocrinology 2005, 16(12), 999-1006.
    • Tachibana T, Tsukada T, Fujimoto M, Takahashi H, Ohkubo T, Boswell T, Furuse M. . General and Comparative Endocrinology 2005, 144(3), 264-269.
    • Tachibana T, Saito S, Tomonaga S, Takagi T, Saito E-S, Nakanishi T, Koutoku T, Tsukada A, Ohkubo T, Boswell T, Furuse M. . Physiology & Behavior 2004, 80(5), 713-719.
    • Tachibana T, Saito E-S, Takahashi H, Saito S, Tomonaga S, Boswell T, Furuse M. . Regulatory Peptides 2004, 120(1-3), 99-105.
    • Tachibana T, Tomonaga S, Oikawa D, Saito S, Takagi T, Saito E-S, Boswell T, Furuse M. . Neuroscience Letters 2003, 348(1), 25-28.
    • Tachibana T, Saito S, Tomonaga S, Takagi T, Saito E-S, Boswell T, Furuse M. . Neuroscience Letters 2003, 339(3), 203-206.
    • Phillips-Singh D, Li Q, Takeuchi S, Ohkubo T, Sharp PJ, Boswell T. . Cell and Tissue Research 2003, 313(2), 217-225.
    • Takeuchi S, Takahashi S, Okimoto R, Schiöth HB, Boswell T. . Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences: The Melanocortin System 2003, 994(1), 366-372.
    • Holmberg SKS, Mikko S, Boswell T, Zoorob R, Larhammar D. . Journal of Neurochemistry 2002, 81(3), 462-471.
    • Boswell T, Li Q, Takeuchi S. . Molecular Brain Research 2002, 100(1-2), 31-42.
    • Ohkubo T, Boswell T, Lumineau S. . Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 2002, 1577(3), 476-480.
    • Lundell I, Boswell T, Larhammar D. . Journal of Molecular Endocrinology 2002, 28(3), 225-235.
    • Teshigawara K, Takahashi S, Boswell T, Li Q, Tanaka S, Takeuchi S. . Journal of Endocrinology 2001, 168(3), 527-537.
    • Dunn IC, Boswell T, Friedman-Einat M, Eshdat Y, Burt DW, Paton IR. . Animal Genetics 2000, 31(4), 290.
    • Richardson RD, Boswell T, Woods SC, Wingfield JC. . Physiology & Behavior 2000, 71(1-2), 213-216.
    • Salaneck E, Holmberg SK, Berglund MM, Boswell T, Larhammar D. . FEBS Letters 2000, 484(3), 229-234.
    • Friedman-Einat M, Boswell T, Horev G, Girishvarma G, Dunn IC, Talbot RT, Sharp PJ. . General and Comparative Endocrinology 1999, 115(3), 354-363.
    • Boswell T, Nicholson MA, Bünger L. . Journal of Molecular Endocrinology 1999, 23, 77-83.
    • Boswell T, Dunn IC, Corr SA. . Poultry Science 1999, 78(8), 1203-1207.
    • Lumineau, S., Guyomarc’h, C., Boswell, T., Richard, J.-P., Leray, D. Induction of circadian rhythm of feeding activity by testosterone implantations in arrhythmic Japanese quail males. Journal of Biological Rhythms 1998, 13, 278-287.
    • Boswell, T., Li, Q. Cholecystokinin induces Fos expression in the brain of the Japanese quail. Hormones and Behavior 1998, 34, 56-66.
    • Boswell, T., Millam, J.R., Li, Q., Dunn, I.C. Cellular localization of neuropeptide Y mRNA and peptide in the brain of the Japanese quail and domestic chicken. Cell and Tissue Research 1998, 293, 31-38.
    • Hahn, T.P., Boswell, T., Wingfield, J.C., Ball, G.F. Temporal flexibility in avian reproduction: patterns and mechanisms. Current Ornithology 1997, 14, 39-80.
    • Boswell, T., Lehman, T.L., Ramenofsky, M. Effects of plasma glucose manipulations on food intake in white-crowned sparrows. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 1997, 118A, 721-726.
    • Boswell, T., Hall, M.R. and Goldsmith, A.R. Testosterone is secreted extra-gonadally by European quail maintained on short days. Physiological Zoology 1995, 68(967-984).
    • Boswell, T., Richardson, R.D., Seeley, R.J., Wingfield, J.C., Friedman, M.I., Woods, S.C. Regulation of food intake by metabolic fuels in white-crowned sparrows. American Journal of Physiology 1995, 269, R1462-R1468.
    • Richardson, R.D., Boswell, T., Rafferty, B.D., Seeley, R.J., Wingfield, J.C., Woods, S.C. NPY increases food intake in white-crowned sparrows: effect in short and long photoperiods. American Journal of Physiology 1995, 268, R1418-R1422.
    • Boswell, T., Sharp, P.J., Hall, M.R., Goldsmith, A.R. Migratory fat deposition in European quail: a role for prolactin?. Journal of Endocrinology 1995, 146, 71-79.
    • Boswell, T., Kenagy, G.J., Woods, S.C. Seasonal changes in body mass, insulin and glucocorticoids of free-living golden-mantled ground squirrels. General and Comparative Endocrinology 1994, 96, 339-346.
    • Glue, D.E., Boswell, T. Comparative nesting ecology of the three British breeding woodpeckers. British Birds 1994, 87, 253-269.
    • Boswell, T., Richardson, R.D., Schwartz, M.W., D'Alessio, D.A., Woods, S.C., Sipols, A.J., Baskin, D.G., Kenagy, G.J. NPY and galanin in a hibernator: hypothalamic gene expression and effects on feeding. Brain Research Bulletin 1993, 32, 379-384.
    • Richardson, R.D., Boswell, T., Weatherford, S.C., Wingfield, J.C., Woods, S.C. Cholecystokinin octapeptide decreases food intake in white-crowned sparrows. American Journal of Physiology 1993, 264, R852-R856.
    • Boswell, T., Hall, M.R., Goldsmith, A.R. Annual cycles of migratory fattening, reproduction and moult in European quail (Coturnix coturnix). Journal of Zoology, London 1993, 231, 627-644.
    • Richardson, R.D., Boswell, T. A method for third ventricular cannulation of small passerine birds. Physiology & Behavior 1993, 53, 209-213.

  • Book Chapters

    • Boswell T. . In: Paolucci, M, ed. Leptin in non-mammalian vertebrates. Kerala, India: Transworld Research Network, 2010, pp.79-93.
    • Boswell T. . In: Breed, M.D., Moore, J, ed. Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior. Oxford, UK: Academic Press, 2010, pp.738-743.
    • Boswell T. . In: Dawson, A., Chaturvedi, C.M, ed. Avian Endocrinology. New Delhi, India: Narosa Publishing House, 2001, pp.349-360.
    • Dunn IC, Girishvarma G, Talbot RT, Waddington D, Boswell T, Sharp PJ. . In: Dawson, A., Chaturvedi, C.M, ed. Avian Endocrinology. New Delhi, India: Narosa Publishing House, 2001, pp.327-336.
    • Boswell, T., Kenagy, G.J. Hypothalamic neuropeptides, metabolic hormones and seasonal fattening in golden-mantled ground squirrels. In: Carey, C.; Florant, G.L.; Wunder, B.A.; Horwitz, B, ed. Life in the Cold III: ecological, physiological, and molecular mechanisms. Boulder Colorado: Westview Press, 1993, pp.493-500.

  • Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)

    • Henderson LJ, Cockcroft RC, Kaiya H, Boswell T, Smulders TV. . In: SICB Annual Meeting 2016. 2016, Portland, Oregon: Oxford University Press.

  • Editorial

    • Sharp PJ, Dunn IC, Waddington D, Boswell T. . General and Comparative Endocrinology 2008, 158(1), 2-4.

  • Reviews

    • Boswell T, Dunn IC. . General and Comparative Endocrinology 2015, 221, 278-283.
    • Cornelius JM, Boswell T, Jenni-Eiermann S, Breuner CW, Ramenofsky M. . General and Comparative Endocrinology 2013, 190, 47-60.