George Harper

Dr. George Harper is an Associate Professor of Biology at Hendrix College, Conway, Arkansas. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2006) and a B.S. from SUNY College at Fredonia (1999). His teaching responsibilities include BIOL 220 Zoology, BIOL 365 Ecology and Evolution, and BIOL 460 Evolution. He serves as Associate Director of the Odyssey Program, NCUR Coordinator, and faculty advisor for Tri Beta and the Hendrix Biological Society.

His research focuses on evolutionary biology, venom systems, and mimicry complexes, with notable work on snake venoms and Batesian mimicry dynamics. He has published extensively on topics such as arenavirus evolution, copperhead venom gene analysis, and the ecological drivers of mimicry variation. His work integrates molecular biology, genetics, and field ecology to understand adaptive traits and evolutionary processes.

Harper’s lab is located in the Donald W. Reynolds Life Science Center, a state-of-the-art facility at Hendrix. He actively engages students in undergraduate research, often involving projects in venomology, population genetics, and ecological mimicry studies. His contributions to the department include fostering interdisciplinary research and mentoring students through professional organizations like Alpha Epsilon Delta.