Jeffrey Lucas

Jeffrey R. Lucas is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Purdue University. He holds academic affiliations within the College of Science and specializes in Animal Communication, Sensory Ecology, and Behavioral Ecology. His research focuses on understanding how animals, particularly birds, process auditory signals and communicate complex information. Key roles include serving as a Fellow of the Animal Behavior Society (2009) and AAAS (2013).

Education: Ph.D., Florida, 1983. Current courses taught include BIOL286 (Ecology), BIOL595G (Animal Communication), and BIOL695 (Dynamic Programming).

Research Interests: Dr. Lucas’s lab investigates avian vocal complexity (e.g., chickadee syntax), seasonal auditory processing adaptations, and the application of game theory to animal behavior. Recent work includes studies on bat communication, duck vocalizations, and eagle auditory systems for wind energy safety.

Key Awards: Top Ten Outstanding Teacher (2005), Crowd Favorite at Research-O-Rama (2024), and mentorship roles in science education programs.

Grants & Activities: Extensive grant reviews for NSF panels (2006–2020), leadership in animal behavior conferences, and outreach initiatives including 'Superheroes of Science' podcasts for K-12 education.

Labs/Teams: Lucas Lab focuses on avian communication and sensory systems, collaborating with Purdue’s Audiology and Speech Sciences departments. Current projects include duck vocalization studies and bat acoustic research.