Chris Klingenberg

Chris Klingenberg is an Honorary Professor in the Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics at the University of Manchester's Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health. He has been a Professor at the University of Manchester since 2013, following his tenure as a Senior Lecturer from 2003-2013.

His educational background includes:

• Lic Phil Nat from the University of Berne, Switzerland (1988)
• PhD from the University of Alberta, Canada (1996)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship at Duke University, Durham NC, USA (1997-1999)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Cambridge (1999-2001)
• Assistant Professor at the University of Konstanz, Germany (2001-2002)

Klingenberg's research focuses on how morphological traits evolve, examining the developmental origins of morphological variation and its genetic control. His lab uses geometric morphometrics to measure variation in size and shape of morphological structures, combining these methods with quantitative and developmental genetics. Key study systems include $$Drosophila$$ for wing shape genetics, and mouse skull and mandible morphology. His work spans evolutionary biology, evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo), and quantitative genetics, with significant contributions to morphometric methods including the development of MorphoJ software.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on theoretical foundations of morphometrics, phylogenetic analysis using shape data, and the connections between phenotypic plasticity, developmental instability, and robustness. His work shows expertise in both methodological development and empirical applications across diverse biological systems.

Among his notable awards are:

• Governor General's Gold Medal, University of Alberta (1996)
• Young Investigators Prize, American Society of Naturalists (1996)
• TWN Cameron Award, Canadian Society of Zoologists (1997)
• Theodosius Dobzhansky Prize, Society for the Study of Evolution (1998)
• Highly Cited Researcher (2018, 2019)

Klingenberg has supervised 8 students and is actively involved in teaching, particularly in morphometrics. He teaches an annual online course on biological shape analysis and conducts worldwide workshops on geometric morphometrics. His lab contributes to several UN Sustainable Development Goals through research in biology, genetics, and evolutionary studies.

His research group maintains a strong presence in the scientific community with significant online engagement, as evidenced by mentions in news outlets, social media, and academic platforms like Mendeley.