I was born and raised in Louisville, KY (Go Cards!) and for as long as I can remember I have loved science and nature. I got my first bird book when I was twelve and from that moment on I was hooked! I traveled to the windy city for college where I attended Loyola University. I earned a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Anthropology and developed a love for ecology and primates. After college I chased monkeys in Suriname for year. Upon returning to Kentucky I got a job, but wasn't happy so I went back to school. Eventually I earned my doctorate in Ecology, Evolution & Behavior from the University of Louisville in Dr. Perri Eason's lab. My dissertation focused on foraging and vocal behavior of American Robins. I taught for two years in South Carolina at Francis Marion University before coming to Jacksonville University in 2009.

My core area of interest is behavioral ecology, a discipline within animal behavior that seeks to find evolutionary explanations for behavior. Basically, I enjoy watching animals and figuring out what they are doing and why.  I have a passion for natural history and my best work has been inspired by my observations in the field. I find it both challenging and rewarding to devise experiments that allow me to determine the basis for behaviors that I observe. I have worked with birds, spiders, monkeys and cats, in both North and South America.  Most of my research has focused on communication and foraging behavior.  I am also interested in tropical ecology and conservation.

1. Seed dispersal of the invasive camphor fruit by American Robins - I am investigating the dispersal of the invasive camphor fruit by American Robins. Camphor may be an important component in the diet of migrating robins, and robins in turn may help to disperse the invasive plant. This year we will be conducting germination studies on seeds that have passed through the gut of robins. 2. Communication in Northern Cardinals - I am investigating the chip calls of Northern Cardinals, specifically their function as well individual variation in calls. I am also interested in how the urban environment has shaped communication. 3. Color in the spiny crab spider Gasteracantha cancriformis - I am interested in the dorsal coloration in this spider and its function. Previous studies have shown that coloration may act to attract prey or warn predators and the function of color may also vary depending on habitat parameters. If you are interested in birds, spiders or behavior come see me!!!! I love animals and I would be more than happy to help you develop a project. I require all students that work with me to present their work at JU's Research Symposium as well as provide them an opportunity to present at meetings (usually the Association of Southeastern Biologists meeting) or even publish. This is a great opportunity to learn about science and do science.

Harden, B. and E. N. Vanderhoff. Flight initiation distance in green and brown anoles. Poster Presentation, Association of Southeastern Biologist. Montgomery, AL 2017 Cotter, J, and E. N.Vanderhoff. Anthropogenic sound pollution and Northern Cardinal calls. Poster Presentation, Association of Southeastern Biologist. Charlotte, NC April 2016 Zweygardt, S. and E. N. Vanderhoff. Does color matter? Function of color polymorphism in Gasteracantha cancriformis in Northeast Florida. Poster Presentation, Association of Southeastern Biologist. Charlotte, NC April 2016 T. W. Knowles , B. S. Arbogast, E. N. Vanderhoff, and A.-M. C. Hodge. Mammalogy at Wildsumaco Biological Station: the first five years. Poster Presentation, Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammologist. Jacksonville, FL, June 2015 Vanderhoff, E. N. and J. Brehm. Avian Dispersal of Non-native Plants in the Southern United States. Poster Presentation, Association of Southeastern Biologist. Knoxville, TN April 2015 Vanderhoff, E. N. and J. Brehm. Preliminary Investigation of Camphor Seed Dispersal: the Role of American Robins (Turdus migratorius). Poster Presentation, Association of Southeastern Biologists. Spartanburg, South Carolina, April 2014 Vanderhoff, E. N., N. Campbell, and J. Enz. Preliminary Survey of Orb-weaving Spiders in an Oak Hammock Forest in Northeast Florida. Poster Presentation, Association of Southeastern Biologists. Charleston, West Virginia, April 2013 Cooper, K. and E. N. Vanderhoff. Preliminary survey of Brown Pelicans, Pelecanus occidentalis, in Jacksonville, Florida. Poster Presentation, Association of Southeastern Biologists. Charleston, West Virginia, April 2013 Vanderhoff, E. N. Antiphonal Calling and Duetting in Mammals: Do Amazonian Bamboo Rats Dactylomys dactylinus do both? Poster presentation, Association of Southeastern Biologists. Athens, Georgia, April 2012. Cooper, K. and E. N. Vanderhoff. 2015. Survey of Brown Pelicans in Jacksonville. Florida Naturalists 43: 69-78. (work with JU student) Vanderhoff, N., R. Sallabanks and F.C. James. 2014. American Robin (Turdus migratorius), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu.bnaproxy.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/462 Vanderhoff, E. N., A.M. Hodge, B. Arbogast, J. Nilsson and T. Knowles. 2011. Preliminary camera-trap survey of margays (Leopardus weidii) in the eastern Andean foothills of Ecuador. Mastozoología Neotropical 18(2): 271-279 Vanderhoff, E. N. and J. Nilsson. 2010. Preliminary observations of the primates of Wildsumaco Wildlife Sanctuary, Ecuador. Neotropical Primates 17(2): 75-76 Grafton, B.W. and E.N. Vanderhoff. 2009. Seed dispersal by golden-handed tamarins (Saguinus midas) in Brownsberg Nature Park, Suriname: preliminary results. Neotropical Primates 16(1): 47 Vanderhoff, E.N. and B.W. Grafton. 2009. Behavior of tamarins, tanagers and manikins foraging in a strangler fig (Ficus sp.) in Suriname, South America: implications for seed dispersal. Biota Neotropica 9(3): 419-423 Vanderhoff, E.N. and P.K. Eason. 2009. American Robin seet calls: Aerial alarm or a contact call? Wilson Journal of Ornithology 121:406-411. Vanderhoff, E.N. and P.K. Eason. 2009. The response of American Robins (Turdus migratorius) to aerial alarms. Behaviour 146: 415-427. Vanderhoff, E.N., C.J. Byers, and C.J. Hanna. 2008. Do the color and pattern of Micrathena gracilis (Araneidae) attract prey? Examination of the prey attraction hypothesis and crypsis. Journal of Insect Behavior 21:469-475. Vanderhoff, E. N. and P. K. Eason. 2008. The role of environmental factors in adult and juvenile American robin (Turdus migratorius) foraging. Journal of Field Ornithology 79: 186-192 Vanderhoff, E.N. and P. K. Eason. 2008. Comparisons between juvenile and adult American robins foraging for mulberry. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 120: 209-213 Vanderhoff, E.N. 2007. Predator-Prey Interaction between Turdus migratorius and Eumeces fasciatus. Canadian Field-Naturalist 121(2): 216-218. Vanderhoff, E.N. and P.K. Eason. 2007. Disparity between adult and juvenile American robins Turdus migratorius foraging for ground invertebrates and cherry fruits. Ethology 113: 1212-1218