Dr. Philip Senter

Professor

Dr. Senter received the degree of Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Northern Illinois University in 2003. He then taught as an Assistant Professor at Lamar State College-Orange in Orange, Texas, for four years. He joined Fayetteville State University as an Associate Professor of Zoology in 2007. He was promoted to the rank of Professor with tenure in 2011. His research in biology focuses on paleontology and herpetology. He has published over 90 peer-reviewed articles.

Education

B.A. (Biology), Wingate University, 1995
M.S. (Biology), Baylor University, 1998
Ph.D. (Biological Sciences), Northern Illinois University, 2003
M.Theol. (Applied Orthodox Christian Theology), University of Balamand, 2019

Courses taught

BIOL 111/111L (General Biology 1 and lab)
BIOL 160/160L (Principles of Biology 2 and lab)
BIOL 220/220L (General Zoology and lab)
BIOL 230/230L (Human Anatomy & Physiology 1 and lab)
BIOL 240/240L (Human Anatomy & Physiology 2 and lab)
BIOL 355/355L (Comparative Anatomy and lab)
BIOL 445 (Evolution)

Research interests

Paleontology (especially dinosaur biology)
Herpetology (especially reptile behavior and osteology)
Vestigial biological structures
The interface between science and folklore (especially dragon lore)
The creation vs. evolution debate
Interpretation of biblical scripture in light of modern science

Publications

Lock, I. J., K. E. Zalewski, and P. J. Senter. 2023. Coiling during male-male combat in snakes: Differences between vipers and other groups, and between constrictors and non-constrictors. Atlas Journal of Biology 2023: 759–767. [Link: https://journals.atlas-publishing.org/index.php/AJB/article/view/237]

Senter, P. J. 2022. Cells and soft tissues in fossil bone: A review of preservation mechanisms, with corrections of misconceptions. Palaeontologia Electronica 25(3:a34):1–52. [Link: https://palaeo-electronica.org/content/2022/3739-soft-tissues-in-fossil-bone]

Senter, P. J. and J.-P. Chippaux. 2022. Biogeography of snakes in Liberia. Review and synthesis of current knowledge. Ghana Journal of Sciences 63:29–62. [Link: https://www.ajol.info/index.php/gjs/article/view/230795]

Senter, P. J. 2022. Radiocarbon in dinosaur bones revisited: Problems with collagen. The American Biology Teacher 84:336–341. [Link: https://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-abstract/84/6/336/189896/Radiocarbon-in-Dinosaur-Bones-RevisitedProblems?redirectedFrom=fulltext]

Senter, P. J. 2022. Apparent conflict between the Pentateuch and modern science: The early Church’s solution, the solution’s biblical origin, and ancient Christian approval of evidence-based reasoning. Science and Christian Belief 34:7–28. [Link: https://scienceandchristianbelief.org/issue/]

Senter, P. J. 2022. Phylogeny of courtship and male-male combat behavior in snakes: An updated analysis. Current Herpetology 41:35–81. [Link: https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/hsj/41/1/41_D-21-024/_article/-char/en]

Senter, P. J. and I. Garama. 2021. Daboia palaestinae (Palestine viper). Combat. Herpetological Review 52:421. [Link: https://ssarherps.org/herpetological-review-pdfs/]

Abu Baker, M. A., M. Al-Saraireh, Z. S. Amr, and P. J. Senter. 2021. Male-male combat in the large whip snake, Dolichophis jugularis (Serpentes: Colubridae). Herpetology Notes 14:735–744. [Link: https://www.biotaxa.org/hn/article/view/64337]

Senter, P. J. 2020. Radiocarbon in dinosaur fossils: Compatibility with an age of millions of years. The American Biology Teacher 82:72–79. [Link: https://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-abstract/82/2/72/109723/Radiocarbon-in-Dinosaur-Fossils-Compatibility-with?redirectedFrom=fulltext]

Senter, P. J. 2019. Leviathan, Behemoth, and other biblical tannînim: serpents, not dinosaurs. Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith 71:218–232. [Link: https://www.asa3.org/ASA/PSCF/2019/PSCF12-19Senter.pdf]

Senter, P. J. 2019. Biblical unicorns and fiery flying serpents: Not dinosaurs and not pterosaurs. International Journal of Orthodox Theology 10(2):199–219. [Link: https://www.orthodox-theology.com/media/PDF/2.2019/PhilipSenter.pdf]

Senter, P. J. and C. Sullivan. 2019. Forelimbs of the theropod dinosaur Dilophosaurus wetherilli: range of motion, influence of paleopathology and soft tissues, and description of a distal carpal bone. Palaeontologia Electronica 22(2.30A):1–19. [Link: https://palaeo-electronica.org/content/pdfs/900.pdf]

Senter, P. J. 2017. Cognitive styles used in evidence citation by ancient Christian authors: the psychology of a major ancient controversy over the historicity of the Pentateuch, and its implications for science education today. Open Library of Humanities 3(1:3):1–50. [Link: https://olh.openlibhums.org/article/id/4432/]

Senter, P. and S. L. Juengst. 2016. Record-breaking pain: the largest number and variety of forelimb bone maladies in a theropod dinosaur. PLoS ONE 11(2:e0149140):1–13. [Link: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0149140&type=printable]

Senter, P., U. Mattox, and E. E. Haddad. 2016. Snake to monster: Conrad Gessner’s Schlangenbuch and the evolution of the dragon in the literature of natural history. Journal of Folklore Research 53:67–124. [Link: https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2979/jfolkrese.53.1-4.67]

Senter, P. and J. G. Moch. 2015. A critical survey of vestigial structures in the postcranial skeletons of extant mammals. PeerJ 3(e31439):1–48. [Link: https://peerj.com/articles/1439/#]

Senter, P. and D. M. Klein. 2014. Investigation of claims of late-surviving pterosaurs: the cases of Belon’s, Aldrovandi’s, and Cardinal Barberini’s winged dragons. Palaeontologia Electronica 17(3.41A):1–19. [Link: https://palaeo-electronica.org/content/pdfs/461.pdf]

Senter, P. and P. D. Wilkins. 2013. Investigation of a claim of a late-surviving pterosaur and exposure of a taxidermic hoax: the case of Cornelius Meyer’s dragon. Palaeontologia Electronica 16(1.6A):1–11. [Link: https://palaeo-electronica.org/content/pdfs/346.pdf]

Senter, P., J. I. Kirkland, and D. D. DeBlieux. 2012. Martharaptor greenriverensis, a new theropod dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of Utah. PLoS ONE 7(8: e43911):1–12. [Link: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0043911&type=printable]

Senter, P., J. I. Kirkland, D. D. DeBlieux, S. Madsen, and N. Toth. 2012. New dromaeosaurids (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Lower Cretaceous of Utah, and the evolution of the dromaeosaurid tail. PLoS ONE 7(5: e36790):1–20. [Link: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0036790&type=printable]

Personal history

I am an American citizen but grew up in Liberia, where my parents were missionaries. There, I learned to speak Liberian English and to love hot weather, palm butter soup, and the beauty of reptiles.

Outside work, I enjoy spending time with my fabulous wife, attending services at our beloved parish, playing with cats, watching wild reptiles, exploring museums, writing awful poetry, and reading books by two old college buddies of mine: Ahoyus Blartsnart (not his real name) and Jonathan Farlow.

Be sure to check out my Grumpy Old Grouch channel on YouTube.