John Robertson, PhD
EDUCATION
| PhD; Medical Biophysics | 2006 2011 | University of Western Ontario | London, ON |
Thesis Magnetic field effects on the neuroprocessing of pain investigated the effects of magnetic fields on brain activation in humans with the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalography under the supervision of Dr. Alex Thomas.
Wrote sections of Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Ontario Research Fund grant proposals, human and animal research ethics protocols, and multiple scholarship applications.
Award-winning presenter at national and international conferences.
Significant experience using Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint as well as SPSS, BrainVoyager, MATlab, and Neuroscan Scan.
Supervised and trained two 4th year thesis students in functional imaging acquisition and analysis, subject recruitment, and experimental procedures.
Designed extremely low frequency magnetic field exposure systems, and verified field profiles, strengths, and frequency components with magnetometers.
| MSc; Medical Biophysics | 2003 2006 | University of Western Ontario | London, ON |
Thesis Magnetic fields and heat shock proteins investigated the influence of extremely low frequency magnetic fields on heat shock protein expression in mouse cardiac tissue.
Molecular biology experience with a focus on Western blotting.
Trained in small animal handling, injection, and ex vivo tissue extraction.
| HBSc; Biophysics | 1998 2002 | University of Toronto | Toronto, ON |
Graduated with high distinction as a biophysics specialist.
WORK EXPERIENCE
| Post-Doctoral Fellow | 2011 present | Lawson Health Research Institute | London, ON |
Post-doctoral research investigated brain responses to emotional imagery with functional MRI and electroencephalography under the supervision of Dr. Rob Stodilka.
Managed subject recruitment, EEG preparation, fMRI analysis, and data archiving.
Peer reviewer for several journals, including International Journal of Radiation Biology, Bioelectromagnetics, and Perceptual and Motor Skills.
| Consulting Scientist | 2005 2006 | Lawson Health Research Institute | London, ON |
Designed and tested hardware to generate magnetic fields for Fralex Therapeutics, Inc., and contributed preliminary reports for use in a patent application.
| Course Instructor | Fall 2006 | University of Western Ontario | London, ON |
Instructor for MBP573 Intro to Medical Biophysics graduate class.
Created lesson plans, designed and graded assignments and final exam, and delivered the majority of the lectures.
| Teaching Assistant | 2003 2004 | University of Western Ontario | London, ON |
Laboratory demonstrator for the first year physics labs for Dr. Patrick Whippey and Kanthi Kaluarachchi.
Nominated for a Graduate Student Teaching Award.
AWARDS
| 2007 - 2010 | University of Western Ontario | London, ON |
Academic award for Ph.D. studies.
| April 2010 | University of Western Ontario | London, ON |
Runner-up for the departmental award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
| January 2010 | University of Western Ontario | London, ON |
Funds in support of research costs associated with the completion of a dissertation.
| August 2009 | University of Western Ontario | London, ON |
Award for excellence in teaching for full-time doctoral students.
| June 2008 | Bioelectromagnetics Society Meeting | San Diego, California |
Award for the best platform presentation by a student.
| June 2007 | Bioelectromagnetics Society Meeting | Kanazawa, Japan |
Award for poster Image Guided Magnetic Field Therapy.
| 2006 - 2007 | University of Western Ontario | London, ON |
Academic award for Ph.D. studies.
| June 2005 | Bioelectromagnetics Society Meeting | Dublin, Ireland |
Award for the best platform presentation given by a student.
PUBLICATIONS
J.A. Robertson, A.W. Thomas, J. Modolo, J. Miller, N. Juen, A. Legros, F.S. Prato. Evolution of Hybrid Functional Imaging in Bioelectromagnetics Research. The Environmentalist 31(2):134-139, 2011 [invited paper].
F. Prato, D. Desjardins-Holmes, L. Keenliside, J. DeMoor, J.A. Robertson, R. Stodilka, A.W. Thomas. In Mice the Detection Threshold for Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Fields May Be Below 1000 nT·Hz. Bioelectromagnetics 32(7):561-569, 2011.
R.Z. Stodilka, J. Modolo, F.S. Prato, J.A. Robertson, C. Cook, J. Patrick, A. Beuter, A.W. Thomas, A. Legros. Pulsed Magnetic Field Exposure Induces Lasting Changes in Neural Network Dynamics. Neurocomputing 74(12-13):2164-2175, 2011.
J.A. Robertson, N. Juen, J. Thιberge, J. Weller, D.J. Drost, F.S. Prato, A.W. Thomas. Evidence for a Dose-Dependent Effect of Pulsed Magnetic Fields on Pain Processing. Neuroscience Letters 482(2):160-162, 2010.
F.S. Prato, A.W. Thomas, A. Legros, J.A. Robertson, J. Modolo, R.Z. Stodilka, J.M. DeMoor, W. Huda. MRI Safety Not Scientifically Proven. Science 328(5978):568-569, 2010.
J.A. Robertson, J. Thιberge, J. Weller, D.J. Drost, F.S. Prato, A.W. Thomas. Low Frequency Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Exposure Can Alter Neuroprocessing in Humans. Journal of the Royal Society Interface 7(44):467-473, 2010.
F.S. Prato, D. Desjardins-Holmes, L.D. Keenliside, J.C. McKay, J.A. Robertson, A.W. Thomas. Light Alters Nociceptive Effects of Magnetic Field Shielding in Mice: Intensity and Wavelength Considerations. Journal of the Royal Society Interface 6(30):17-28, 2009.
J. Robertson, J. McKay, F. Prato. Bioelectromagnetics in London, Ontario, Canada. Bioelectromagnetics Society Newsletter November/December 2007, pp. 3-10. http://www.bioelectromagnetics.org/newsletter/news199.pdf [not peer reviewed]
J.A. Robertson, A.W. Thomas, Y. Bureau, F.S. Prato. The Influence of Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Fields on Cytoprotection and Repair: A Review. Bioelectromagnetics 28(1):16-30, 2007.
F.S. Prato, J.A. Robertson, D. Desjardins, J. Hensel, A.W. Thomas. Daily Repeated Magnetic Field Shielding Induces Analgesia in CD-1 Mice. Bioelectromagnetics 26(2):109-117, 2005.
PRESENTATIONS & POSTERS
J.A. Robertson, N. Juen, J. Modolo, J. Miller, J. Theberge, F.S. Prato, A.W. Thomas. Hybrid fMRI/EEG Investigation of Pulsed Magnetic Field Effects on Neuroprocessing. Presentation at the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Bioelectromagnetics Society. Halifax, Nova Scotia, June 2011.
J.A. Robertson, N. Juen, J. Miller, J. Theberge, J. Modolo, F.S. Prato, A.W. Thomas. Functional Imaging of Changes in Pain-Related Processing with Pulsed Magnetic Field Exposure. Presentation at the 6th International Workshop on the Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields. Bodrum, Turkey, October 2010.
A.W. Thomas, J.A. Robertson, N. Juen, A. Legros, J. Theberge, F.S. Prato. Evolution of Functional Imaging in Bioelectromagnetics Research. Presentation at the 6th International Workshop on the Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields. Bodrum, Turkey, October 2010. [Presented by A.W. Thomas]
J. Miller, J. Modolo, J.A. Robertson, M. Corbacio, D. Goulet, J. Lambrozo, M. Plante, M. Souques, F.S. Prato, A.W. Thomas, A. Legros. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Effects of a 60 Hz Magnetic Field on Human Cortical Activity During a Mental Rotation Task. Presentation at the 6th International Workshop on the Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields. Bodrum, Turkey, October 2010. [Presented by J. Miller.]
F.S. Prato, A. Legros, J.A. Robertson, J. Miller, N. Juen, A.W. Thomas. What Safety Studies Do We Need in MRI? Plenary lecture, 6th International Workshop on the Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields. Bodrum, Turkey, October 2010. [Presented by F.S. Prato]
J.A. Robertson, J. Thιberge, J. Miller, J. Weller, D.J. Drost, F.S. Prato, A.W. Thomas. Magnetic Field Exposure Can Alter Neuroprocessing In Humans. Presentation at the 32nd Annual Meeting of the Bioelectromagnetics Society, Seoul, South Korea, June 2010. [Presented by J. Miller.]
J. Miller, J. Modolo, J.A. Robertson, M. Corbacio, S. Dubois, D. Goulet, J. Lambrozo, M. Plante, M. Souques, F.S. Prato, A.W. Thomas, A. Legros. Effects of a 60 Hz Magnetic Field Exposure on Human Brain Activity During a Mental Rotation Task as Measured by fMRI. Poster at the 32nd Annual Meeting of the Bioelectromagnetics Society, Seoul, South Korea, June 2010. [Presented by J. Miller.]
J. Robertson. Biological Effects of Exposure to Magnetic Fields, Part II. Guest Lecture for Medical Biophysics 3336G undergraduate class, head instructor Karel Tyml. University of Western Ontario, London, ON, February, 2010.
J.A. Robertson, J. Thιberge, J. Weller, D. Drost, F.S. Prato, A.W. Thomas. Magnetic Field Exposure Can Alter Neuroprocessing In Humans. Presentation at the 31st Annual Meeting of the Bioelectromagnetics Society (BioEM09), Davos, Switzerland, June 2009.
J. Robertson. Visualizing Magnetic Field Effects on Pain: Using fMRI as a Tool. 22nd Western Research Forum, UWO, London, ON, February 2009.
A.W. Thomas, J. Robertson. Neuromodulation by Exposure to a Pulsed Low Frequency Magnetic Field. Invited talk at the URSI General Assembly, Chicago, IL, August 2008. [Presented by J. Robertson due to inability of A.W. Thomas to attend]
J.A. Robertson, J. Thιberge, J. Weller, D. Drost, F.S. Prato, A.W. Thomas. Functional Imaging of Magnetic Field Therapy. Presentation at the URSI General Assembly, Chicago, IL, August 2008.
J.A. Robertson, J. Thιberge, J. Weller, D. Drost, F.S. Prato, A.W. Thomas. Functional Imaging of Magnetic Field Therapy. Presentation at the 30th Annual Meeting of the Bioelectromagnetics Society, San Diego, CA, June 2008.
A.W. Thomas, J.A. Robertson, Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields for the Treatment of Fibromyalgia. Invited plenary presentation given by A.W. Thomas at the 30th Annual Meeting of the Bioelectromagnetics Society, San Diego, CA, June 2008.
J.A. Robertson, J. Thιberge, J. Weller, D. Drost, F.S. Prato, A.W. Thomas. Functional Imaging of Magnetic Field Therapy. Presentation at the Canadian Pain Society, Victoria, BC, May 2008.
J.A. Robertson, J. Thιberge, J. Weller, D. Drost, F.S. Prato, A.W. Thomas. Effect of Pulsed Magnetic Field on fMRI Processing of Pain. Presentation at the ISMRM Meeting, Toronto, Ontario, May 2008.
J.A. Robertson, J. Thιberge, J. Weller, D. Drost, F.S. Prato, A.W. Thomas. Functional Imaging of Magnetic Field Therapy. Poster at the Lawson Research Day, London, Ontario, March 2008.
J.A. Robertson, D. Drost, F.S. Prato, A.W. Thomas. Image Guided Magnetic Field Therapy. Presentation at the URSI Meeting, Ottawa, Canada, July 2007.
J.A. Robertson, F.S. Prato, D.C. Desjardins Holmes, L. Keenliside, A.W. Thomas. A Review of Several Experiments in Geomagnetic Shielding and Analgesia in Mice. Presentation at the URSI Meeting, Ottawa, Canada, July 2007.
A. Legros, J. Robertson, F.S. Prato, A.W. Thomas. Power-Line Magnetic Fields and Brain Activation: A fMRI Pilot Study. Presentation by A. Legros at the URSI Meeting, Ottawa, Canada, July 2007.
R.Z. Stodilka, F.S. Prato, J.A. Robertson, B. Lewden, A.W. Thomas. Behavior of a Large-Scale Brain Model in Response to Simple and Complex Stimuli. Presentation by R. Stodilka at the URSI Meeting, Ottawa, Canada, July 2007.
J.A. Robertson, D. Drost, F.S. Prato, A.W. Thomas. Image Guided Magnetic Field Therapy. Poster presentation at the 29th Annual Meeting of the Bioelectromagnetics Society, Kanazawa, Japan, June 2007.
J.A. Robertson, F.S. Prato, D. Desjardins Holmes, L. Keenliside, A.W. Thomas. A Review of Several Experiments in Geomagnetic Shielding and Analgesia in Mice. Platform presentation at the 29th Annual Meeting of the Bioelectromagnetics Society, Kanazawa, Japan, June 2007.
R.Z. Stodilka, F.S. Prato, J.A. Robertson, B. Lewden, A.W. Thomas. Behavior of a Brain Model in Response to Simple and Complex Stimuli. Poster presented by R. Stodilka at the 29th Annual Meeting of the Bioelectromagnetics Society, Kanazawa, Japan, June 2007.
A.G. Legros, J.A. Robertson, D.A. McNamee, JC. McKay, F.S. Prato, A.W. Thomas. A fMRI Pilot Study on Power-Line Magnetic Fields and Brain Activation. Presented by A. Legros at the International EMF Conference, Kuala Lampur, Malaysia, June 2007.
J. Robertson, Y. Bureau, F.S. Prato, A.W. Thomas. Magnetic Fields and Heat Shock Protein Expression. Platform presentation at the 28th Annual Meeting of the Bioelectromagnetics Society, Cancϊn, Mexico, June 2006.
J. Robertson. Magnetic Fields and Heat Shock Proteins. Public lecture presented at the University of Western Ontario prior to thesis defense. London, ON, May 2006.
J.A. Robertson, F.S. Prato, D. Desjardins, L. Keenliside, A.W. Thomas. Reintroduced Time-varying Geomagnetic Field Attenuates Analgesia Due to Repeated Magnetic Field Shielding. Poster presented at the 28th URSI meeting in New Delhi, India, October, 2005.
J.A. Robertson, F.S. Prato, D. Desjardins, L. Keenliside, A.W. Thomas. Reintroduced Time-varying Geomagnetic Field Attenuates Analgesia Due to Repeated Magnetic Field Shielding. Platform presentation at the 27th Annual Meeting of the Bioelectromagnetics Society, Dublin, Ireland, June 2005.
J.A. Robertson, Y. Bureau, F.S. Prato , A.W. Thomas. Magnetic Fields and Heat Shock Protein Expression. Poster presented at the 27th Annual Meeting of the Bioelectromagnetics Society, Dublin, Ireland, June 2005.
J.A. Robertson, Y. Bureau, D. Desjardins, F.S. Prato, A.W. Thomas. Geogmagnetic Storming and Heat Shock Protein 25 Expression in Mice. Poster presented at the 27th Annual Meeting of the Bioelectromagnetics Society, Dublin, Ireland, June 2005.
J.A. Robertson, Y. Bureau, F.S. Prato, A.W. Thomas. Magnetic Fields and Heat Shock Protein Expression. Poster presented at the 26th Annual Meeting of the Bioelectromagnetics Society, Washington, D.C., June 2004.