Christopher C. Witt

Christopher C. Witt is a Professor of Biology at the University of New Mexico (UNM), serving as Director of the Museum of Southwestern Biology and Curator of the Division of Birds. He holds academic offices in CERIA 228 and labs in CAST 152, 153, 156. His research focuses on avian systematics, molecular evolution, and high-altitude adaptation, with a strong emphasis on hummingbirds and Neotropical biogeography.

Education: Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Louisiana State University (2004).

Research Interests: Integrative ornithology, evolutionary inference using phylogenetic methods, and conservation biology. Key projects include studying hemoglobin adaptations in Andean hummingbirds, PFAS contamination in ecosystems, and the role of migration in speciation. His work bridges molecular genetics with ecological and physiological mechanisms.

Key Contributions: Witt leads the Arctos biodiversity data platform, collaborates on NSF-funded projects, and curates the MSB Bird Collection. His recent publications address topics like PFAS in desert ecosystems, avian mycobiomes, and the genetic basis of altitude adaptations.

Labs & Collections: Directs the Museum of Southwestern Biology, a hub for specimen-based research. His lab focuses on avian genomics and field studies in high-altitude environments.