Christopher Fielitz

Dr. Christopher Fielitz is a Professor of Biology at Emory & Henry College's Biology & Biochemistry Department. He holds B.S. degrees in Biology and Geological Sciences from the University of Illinois, an M.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of Kansas (1999). His research focuses on evolutionary relationships of fossil and modern fishes, moray eel phylogeny, and Cretaceous period fish paleobiogeography.

He conducts fieldwork in central Mexico and Arkansas, recently completing studies on fossil fish phylogenetics and describing two new fossil species. Current projects include analyzing jaw mechanics of fossil fishes through living relatives and moray eel systematics using morphological and genetic data. Dr. Fielitz actively involves undergraduates in research, with recent student achievements including a published study on Virginia's fossil microinvertebrates and ongoing investigations into moray eel tail morphology.

Teaching responsibilities include General Biology, Comparative Anatomy, Human Anatomy, Developmental Biology, and Evolutionary Biology courses. His work integrates paleontological data with molecular studies to understand vertebrate evolution.