David McClellan

David McClellan is a Professor of Biological Science at the University of Arkansas Fort Smith (UAFS), serving since 2013 with leadership roles as department head (2013-2018) and current department chair (2022-present). Previously, he held positions as senior research scientist at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences (2008-2013) and assistant professor at Brigham Young University (2001-2008).

His academic credentials include:

• Post-doctorate Fellowship in Molecular Evolution at The Institute of Statistical Mathematics (Tokyo), 1999-2001
• Ph.D. in Molecular Evolution from Louisiana State University, 1999
• M.S. in Genetics from Brigham Young University, 1994
• B.S. in Zoology from Brigham Young University, 1991

Dr. McClellan's research integrates Molecular Evolution with Bioinformatics, focusing on computational approaches to evolutionary genetics and genomic analysis. His work bridges theoretical statistical methods with biological applications, particularly in evolutionary bioinformatics. He has secured over $13 million in research grants, reflecting substantial funding for his interdisciplinary projects.

Professional service includes editor-in-chief of the Journal of Arkansas Academy of Science (2022-present), UAFS liaison to Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (2022-present), and extensive healthcare governance through Mercy Hospital Fort Smith committees (2014-2021), where he chaired the Board of Trustees (2016-2021).