David Gruber

Gruber was born in Paterson, New Jersey, and received his B.S. at the University of Rhode Island, an M.S. in journalism from Columbia University, a Master of Environmental Management from Duke University and a Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography at Rutgers University Institute for Marine and Coastal Sciences. He completed a post-doctoral position in Molecular Psychiatry at Brown University. David was a 2017–2018 Fellow at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University,{{cite web|url=https://www.radcliffe.harvard.edu/people/david-gruber|title=David Gruber - Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study Harvard university Fellow|website=www.radcliffe.harvard.edu|access-date=2020-01-17}} and is a current Adjunct Fellow at the John B. Pierce Laboratory,{{Cite web|url=http://jbpierce.org/adjunct-faculty/|title=The John B. Pierce Laboratory » Adjunct Faculty}} affiliated with the Yale School of Medicine.

File:Fluorescent Turtle.jpg

Gruber and collaborators reported discoveries of more than 180 new fluorescent fish species in 2014,{{cite journal|author1=John S. Sparks|author2=Robert C. Schelly|author3=W. Leo Smith|author4=Matthew P. Davis|author5=Dan Tchernov|author6=Vincent A. Pieribone|author7=David F. Gruber|date=January 8, 2014|title=The Covert World of Fish Biofluorescence: A Phylogenetically Widespread and Phenotypically Variable Phenomenon|journal=PLOS ONE|volume=9|issue=1|pages=e83259|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0083259|pmid=24421880|pmc=3885428|bibcode=2014PLoSO...983259S|doi-access=free}} as reported in The New York Times's article, "Fluorescence is Widespread in Fish, Study Finds."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/09/science/fluorescence-is-widespread-in-fish-study-finds.html|title=Fluorescence Is Widespread in Fish, Study Finds|author=James Gorman|date=January 8, 2014|newspaper=The New York Times}} In 2015, he observed fluorescence in Hawksbill sea turtles in the Solomon Islands,{{cite journal|author1=David F. Gruber|author2=John S. Sparks|date=December 7, 2015|title=First observation of fluorescence in marine turtles.|url=https://archive.org/details/firstobservatio00grub|journal=American Museum Novitates|publisher=American Museum of Natural History Research Library|number=3845|hdl=2246/6626}} marking the first time that scientists had observed fluorescence in a marine reptile.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/09/29/world/biofluorescent-sea-turtle-discovered/index.html|title=Scientist discover their first biofluorescent turtle|first=Jareen |last=Imam|website=CNN|date=29 September 2015 |access-date=2019-10-28}} Field video of this discovery was featured on National Geographic.{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/09/150928-sea-turtles-hawksbill-glowing-biofluorescence-coral-reef-ocean-animals-science/#close|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190830185628/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/09/150928-sea-turtles-hawksbill-glowing-biofluorescence-coral-reef-ocean-animals-science/#close|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 30, 2019|title=Exclusive Video:First "Glowing" Sea Turtle Found|author=Jane J. Lee|date=September 28, 2015|website=National Geographic}} Also in 2015, Gruber gave a TED Talk on fluorescence in sea creatures at Mission Blue II which has been viewed over 2.3 million times.{{cite web|url=https://www.ted.com/talks/david_gruber_glow_in_the_dark_sharks_and_other_stunning_sea_creatures#t-33061|title=Glow-in-the-dark sharks and other stunning sea creatures|author=David Gruber|website=ted.com|date=26 January 2016 |access-date=2020-01-17}} In 2020, this discovery was listed by National Geographic as a "top 20 scientific discoveries of the decade" for "Seeing animals' unexpected sides."{{cite web|url= https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2019/12/top-20-scientific-discoveries-of-decade-2010s/|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191206195325/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2019/12/top-20-scientific-discoveries-of-decade-2010s/|url-status= dead|archive-date= December 6, 2019|title=These are the top 20 scientific discoveries of the decade|author=Michael Greshko|date=April 25, 2016|website=National Geographic}}

Gruber and collaborators again had video featured on the National Geographic website{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2016/04/160425-biofluorescence-glowing-catsharks-shark-eye-camera/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190912194233/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2016/04/160425-biofluorescence-glowing-catsharks-shark-eye-camera/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 12, 2019|title=Through a Shark's Eyes: See How They Glow in the Deep|author=Brian Clark Howard|date=April 25, 2016|website=National Geographic}} in 2016 after engineering a "shark-eye" camera,{{cite journal|author=David F. Gruber|date=April 25, 2016|title=Biofluorescence in Catsharks (Scyliorhinidae): Fundamental Description and Relevance for Elasmobranch Visual Ecology.|journal=Scientific Reports|volume=6|pages=24751|publisher=Springer Nature Limited|number=6|bibcode=2016NatSR...624751G|doi=10.1038/srep24751|pmid=27109385|pmc=4843165|doi-access=free}} which for the first time allowed scientists to view sharks as they see each other. From 2017 to 2018, Gruber used his time as a Fellow at the Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Study in order to pursue an in-depth study of jellyfish on topics ranging from their fluorescence, to their connection to humans and how they are effected by climate change.{{cite news|url=https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2018/03/radcliffes-jellyfish-guy-follows-the-light/|title=Radcliffe's 'jellyfish guy' follows the light|author=Deborah Halber|date=March 30, 2018|newspaper=The Harvard Gazette}} Gruber would use this research into jellyfish in order to act as an educator on a TED-ed animation.{{cite web|url=https://ed.ted.com/lessons/jellyfish-predate-dinosaurs-how-have-they-survived-so-long-david-gruber|title=Jellyfish predate dinosaurs. How have they survived so long?|author=David Gruber|website=www.ed.ted.com|access-date=2020-01-17}} In 2018, Gruber promoted marine biology for National Geographic Kids' series "Best Job Ever."{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rThDFJFaRow|title=Marine Biologist David Gruber - Best Job Ever|author=National Geographic Kids|website=youtube.com|access-date=2020-01-17}}

In 2019, Gruber was part of the team responsible for discovering that bromo-tryptophan-kynurenines make sharks fluorescent,{{cite journal|author1=Hyun Bong Park|author2=Yick Chong Lam|author3=Jean P. Gaffney|author4=Vincent Pieribone|author5=David F. Gruber|date=September 27, 2019|title=Bright Green Biofluorescence in Sharks Derives from Bromo-Kynurenine Metabolism|url= |journal=iScience|volume=19|pages=1291–1336|doi=10.1016/j.isci.2019.07.019|pmid=31402257|pmc=6831821|bibcode=2019iSci...19.1291P|doi-access=free}} and this work was featured in The New York Times,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/08/science/glowing-sharks-neon.html|title=How Sharks Glow to Each Other Deep in the Ocean|author=JoAnna Klein|date=August 8, 2019|newspaper=The New York Times}} National Geographic,{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/08/biofluorescent-catsharks-glow-underwater-with-tiny-lightsabers-metabolites/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809140909/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/08/biofluorescent-catsharks-glow-underwater-with-tiny-lightsabers-metabolites/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 9, 2019|title=These sharks glow underwater—thanks to tiny 'lightsabers'|date=August 8, 2019|website=National Geographic}} Science Magazine,{{Cite journal|author=Elizabeth Pennisi|author-link=Elizabeth Pennisi|date=August 8, 2019|title=This shark glows using a process previously unknown to science|url=https://www.science.org/content/article/shark-glows-using-process-previously-unknown-science|journal=Science|publisher=AAAS|number=124}} on PBS{{Cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/biofluorescent-catsharks/|title=Super-shy catsharks have a weird way of lighting up|author=Katherine J. Wu|date=August 8, 2019|publisher=PBS}} and on CNN.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/08/world/glow-in-dark-sharks-scn-trnd/index.html|title=These sharks glow bright green in the dark|author=Ashley Strickland|date=August 8, 2009|publisher=CNN}} That same year, Gruber and team were again featured in an article in National Geographic{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/08/flashlight-fish-glow-blue-for-schooling/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815154959/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/08/flashlight-fish-glow-blue-for-schooling/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 15, 2019|title=We Finally Know Why Flashlight Fish Glow.|author=Brian Clark Howard|date=August 14, 2019|website=National Geographic}} for their discovery of flashlight fish schooling at night using their bioluminescent organs, which opened up the possibility that schooling fish may inhabit even the deep sea,{{Cite journal|last1=Gruber|first1=David F.|last2=Phillips|first2=Brennan T.|last3=O'Brien|first3=Rory|last4=Boominathan|first4=Vivek|last5=Veeraraghavan|first5=Ashok|last6=Vasan|first6=Ganesh|last7=O'Brien|first7=Peter|last8=Pieribone|first8=Vincent A.|last9=Sparks|first9=John S.|date=August 14, 2019|title=Bioluminescent flashes drive nighttime schooling behavior and synchronized swimming dynamics in flashlight fish|journal=PLOS ONE|volume=14|issue=8|pages=e0219852|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0219852|pmc=6693688|pmid=31412054|bibcode=2019PLoSO..1419852G|doi-access=free }} and Gruber led the first study to apply advanced deep machine learning techniques to better detect and classify Sperm Whale bioacoustics.{{cite journal|author=Bermant, Peter C.|author2=Bronstein, Michael M.|author3=Wood, Robert J.|author4=Gero, Shane|author5= Gruber, David|name-list-style=amp|date=August 29, 2019|title=Deep Machine Learning Techniques for the Detection and Classification of Sperm Whale Bioacoustics|url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-48909-4|journal=Scientific Reports|volume=9 |publisher=Springer Nature|number=9|doi=10.1038/s41598-019-48909-4 |pmc=6715799}} Gruber currently leads Project CETI, an Audacious project to understand Sperm Whale communication.

Since 2015, Gruber has worked in collaboration with the Harvard MicroRobotics Laboratory in the development of several gentle robotic devices that allow marine researchers to capture and analyze jellyfish and other delicate sea creatures without causing harm. Working with Robert Wood, the director of the MicroRobotics Laboratory, they have developed Squishy Robot Fingers,{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2016/01/160120-squishy-fingers-robotic-hands-corals-rovs/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926013554/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2016/01/160120-squishy-fingers-robotic-hands-corals-rovs/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 26, 2019|title='Squishy Finger' Soft Robot Hands Allow Sampling of Delicate Corals|date=2016-01-20|website=National Geographic News|language=en|access-date=2019-10-28}}{{Cite journal |author1=Kevin C. Galloway |author2=Kaitlyn P. Becker |author3=Brennan Phillips |author4=Jordan Kirby |author5=Stephen Licht |author6=Dan Tchernov |author7=Robert J. Wood |author8=David F. Gruber |title=Soft Robotic Grippers for Biological Sampling on Deep Reefs |journal=Soft Robotics |volume=3 |pages=23–33 |number=1 |date=March 17, 2016 |doi=10.1089/soro.2015.0019 |pmid=27625917 |pmc=4997628 }} the Origami Robot,{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2018/07/news-rad-sampler-soft-robotics-marine-deep-sea-biology/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181111211506/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2018/07/news-rad-sampler-soft-robotics-marine-deep-sea-biology/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 11, 2018|title=New Origami Robot Handles Sea Creatures With a Softer Touch|date=2018-07-18|website=National Geographic|language=en|access-date=2019-10-28}}{{Cite journal|title=Rotary-actuated folding polyhedrons for midwater investigation of delicate marine organisms|first1=Zhi Ern|last1=Teoh|first2=Brennan T.|last2=Phillips|first3=Kaitlyn P.|last3=Becker|first4=Griffin|last4=Whittredge|first5=James C.|last5=Weaver|first6=Chuck|last6=Hoberman|first7=David F.|last7=Gruber|first8=Robert J.|last8=Wood|date=July 18, 2018|journal=Science Robotics|volume=3|issue=20|pages=eaat5276 |doi=10.1126/scirobotics.aat5276|pmid=33141728|doi-access=free}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/18/science/claw-jellyfish-squid.html|title=Don't Squish the Jellyfish. Capture It With a Folding Robotic Claw.|first=JoAnna|last=Klein|date=July 18, 2018|newspaper=The New York Times}} teleoperated soft robotic arms for submarines,{{Cite web|url=https://wyss.harvard.edu/news/soft-robotic-arms-on-submarines-give-biologists-a-delicate-deep-sea-reach/|title=No more Iron Man: submarines now have soft, robotic arms|date=2018-10-03|website=Wyss Institute|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-28}}{{Cite journal|title=A Dexterous, Glove-Based Teleoperable Low-Power Soft Robotic Arm for Delicate Deep-Sea Biological Exploration|first1=Brennan T.|last1=Phillips|first2=Kaitlyn P.|last2=Becker|first3=Shunichi|last3=Kurumaya|first4=Kevin C.|last4=Galloway|first5=Griffin|last5=Whittredge|first6=Daniel M.|last6=Vogt|first7=Clark B.|last7=Teeple|first8=Michelle H.|last8=Rosen|first9=Vincent A.|last9=Pieribone|first10=David F.|last10=Gruber|first11=Robert J.|last11=Wood|date=October 3, 2018|journal=Scientific Reports|volume=8|issue=1|pages=14779|doi=10.1038/s41598-018-33138-y|pmid=30283051|pmc=6170437|bibcode=2018NatSR...814779P|doi-access=free}} and an ultra-gentle robot with soft fingers.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/29/science/jellyfish-robot.html|title=A Robot With Noodle-like Fingers Helps Handle Soft Jellyfish|last=Sheikh|first=Knvul|date=2019-08-29|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-10-28|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite journal|title=Ultragentle manipulation of delicate structures using a soft robotic gripper|first1=Nina R.|last1=Sinatra|first2=Clark B.|last2=Teeple|first3=Daniel M.|last3=Vogt|first4=Kevin Kit|last4=Parker|first5=David F.|last5=Gruber|first6=Robert J.|last6=Wood|date=August 28, 2019|journal=Science Robotics|volume=4|issue=33|pages=eaax5425 |doi=10.1126/scirobotics.aax5425|pmid=33137785|doi-access=free}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/09/04/harvard-researchers-say-they-developed-gripping-tool-that-will-keep-delicate-jellyfish-from-going-splat/ICKOgGbpD4hkgJxtGDfaIJ/story.html|title=Harvard researchers say they've developed a gripping tool that will keep delicate jellyfish from going splat |newspaper=The Boston Globe}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/soft-robot-gives-jellyfish-a-hug/ |title=Soft Robot Gives Jellyfish a Hug |website=Science Friday|date=2018-08-30|language=en|access-date=2019-11-01}}

The work of the "Squishy Finger/Soft Robotics for Delicate Deep-sea Marine Biological Interactions Team" was highlighted in the American Museum of Natural History exhibit, Unseen Oceans.{{cite news |author=James Gorman |title=The Ruthless Phronima, and Other Hidden Wonders of the Sea |date=March 22, 2018 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/22/arts/design/the-ruthless-phronima-and-other-hidden-wonders-of-the-sea.html}}{{cite web |author=AMNH Staff |title=Unseen Oceans Exhibit Press Release |publisher=AMNH |url=https://www.amnh.org/about/press-center/unseen-oceans-opens-at-the-american-museum-of-natural-history}}

• 2019 Recipient of Lagrange Prize (Italy){{Cite web|url=https://www.isi.it/media/172|title=Iain D. Couzin and David Gruber win the Lagrange Prize -- CRT Foundation 2019}}
• 2016 Keynote speaker at Explorers Club Annual Dinner{{cite web |url=https://explorers.org/news/news_detail/explorers_club_annual_dinner_to_focus_on_oceans_as_earths_last_frontier |title=Explorers Club Annual Dinner to Focus on Oceans as Earth's Last Frontier for Exploration |author=Explorers Club Staff |access-date=2019-10-21 |archive-date=2019-10-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028173726/https://explorers.org/news/news_detail/explorers_club_annual_dinner_to_focus_on_oceans_as_earths_last_frontier |url-status=dead }}
• 2014 Fellow, Explorers Club
• 2014 Emerging Explorer,{{cite web |title=David Gruber, 2014 Emerging Explorer |website=National Geographic |url=https://explorer-directory.nationalgeographic.org/david-f-gruber}} National Geographic Society
• 2006 Best American Science Writing for Manifold Destiny article in The New Yorker{{Cite news|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2006/08/28/manifold-destiny|title=The Poincaré Clash|last1=Nasar|first1=Sylvia|date=2006-08-28|access-date=2019-10-28|last2=Gruber|first2=David|magazine=The New Yorker|language=en|issn=0028-792X}}

• Joan Jonas – "Moving off the Land II" at Ocean Space, Chiesa di San Lorenzo, Venice, Italy{{Cite web|url=https://flash---art.com/article/joan-jonas/|title=The Process Behind Joan Jonas' New Oceanic Work|date=June 17, 2019|website=Flash Art}}{{cite web |url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5808ce2e9f74562342567a06/t/5d1adbcee9bc770001ed1a4f/1562041370864/David+Gruber+and+Joan+Jonas+Explorers+Journal+2019.pdf |title=A Meeting of the Minds: pioneering marine biologist David Gruber and provocative performance artist Joan Jonas discuss their recent collaboration, which highlights the fragile beauty of our oceans. |author=Angela M.H. Schuster |publisher=The Explorers Journal }}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• Janaina Tschäpe – "Fictionary of Corals and Jellies" commissioned by Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary-Academy{{Cite web|url=http://press.tba21.org/news-tidalectics-2-juni-19-november-2017?id=50195&menueid=9361&tab=1&imageid=128816|title=Fictionary of Corals and Jellies |author=Janaina Tschäpe |author2=David Gruber |name-list-style=amp |publisher=TBA21 Journals|website=www.tba21.org}}

• {{cite book | author= Pieribone, Vincent | author2= Gruber, David F. | name-list-style= amp | title= Aglow in the Dark: Revolutionary Science of Biofluorescence | publisher= The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press | year=2006 | isbn= 0-674-01921-0 }}

{{Reflist}}

{{wikiquote}}

• [http://www.davidgruber.com David Gruber Website]
• [https://www.baruch.cuny.edu/wsas/academics/natural_science/dgruber.htm David Gruber biography, Baruch College, The Department of Natural Sciences]
• {{IMDb name|7814358}}

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Category:American oceanographers

Category:Duke University alumni

Category:Rutgers University alumni

Category:Harvard Fellows

Category:Scientists from Paterson, New Jersey

Category:21st-century American explorers

Category:21st-century American biologists

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Category:Living people

Category:Aquanauts

Category:Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism alumni

Category:University of Rhode Island alumni

Category:American marine biologists

Category:Radcliffe fellows

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)