Adjunct Professor
General Biology and Botany

(760) 744-1150 ext. 2275
Email: gzabka@aol.com

Palomar College
1140 West Mission Road
San Marcos, CA   92069

• Wilson Jr. College, Chicago, Illinois.
• DePauw University, Greencastle Indiana - B.S. Degree.

Graduate Studies:

• University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois - M.S. Degree in Teaching of Biology and PhD. Degree in Botany.

Post Doctoral Studies:

• Imperial College of Science and Technology, University of London, England. D.I.C. Degree (Degree of Imperial College in Plant Physiology).
• Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies, Oak Ridge, Tenn.

Previous Teaching Positions

• University of Illinois - Teaching Assistantship in Biology and Botany Departments.
• University of Iowa - Assistant Professor of Botany.
• Ohio State University - Associate Professor of Botany.
• Cal Western College of Arts and Sciences - Assoc. Prof. Biology.
• United States International University - Full Professor of Biology.

Teaching and Research Activity

• Teaching Areas: General Botany, General Biology, Environmental Biology, General Zoology, Plant Physiology, Microbiology, Bacteriology, Cell Biology and Radiation Biology.
• Research Areas: Metabolic Food Chains, Water Relations and Translocation in Plants, Photosynthesis and Respiration in Plants, Carbon Cycles in Plants (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism and Carbon Dioxide Dark Fixation).

Theses and Publications

• The Effect of Light Conditions, Temperature and Growth Regualtors in Photoperiodism of Amaranthus caudatus L. (Ph.D. Degree).
• Pre-illumination as a Factor in CO Dark Fixation by Kalanchoe blossfeldiana L. (Degree of Imperial College, London).
• Publications in Professional Journals - 17.
• Botany Lab Manual - currently in progress.

Teaching Awards and Grants

• Post-Doctoral Fellowship for study at the Imperial College, London, from the University of Illinois.
• Two Fellowships in Botany at the University of Illinois.
• Teaching and equipment grant at the University of Iowa from the Atomic Energy Commission.
• Two research grants in Botany at the University of Iowa from the National Science Foundation.
• National Science Foundation grant for travel to the International Congress of Bioclimatology and Biometerology in London, England.
• Research grant in botany at Ohio State University form the National Science Foundation.

Other Experience and Interests

• Veteran - U.S. Air Corps.
• Participant in Visiting Science Program.
• Participant in National Science Foundation In-Service Institutes in Biology.
• Previous Team Chairman and Judge for the San Diego and International. Science Fairs.
• Extensive travel to Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
• Hobbies include Astronomy, skiing and tennis.

The slime mold (Physarum polycephalum), a member of the division Myxomycota in the kingdom Fungi.  This species (sometimes referred to as a creeping mass of protoplasm) has been studied extensively by Dr. Zabka.  In fact, he has published several articles about this species and is an authority on its culture, life history and ecology.

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