Jerry F. Husak

Dr. Jerry F. Husak is a Professor of Biology at the University of St. Thomas, College of Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on evolutionary physiology, ecophysiology, and endocrinology, particularly in reptiles. He has authored over 80 peer-reviewed publications and serves as an associate editor for Functional Ecology and Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. His work integrates physiology, behavior, and life-history theory to study how natural and sexual selection shape physiological traits.

Dr. Husak earned his PhD in Biology from Oklahoma State University, with prior degrees from Oklahoma State and Angelo State University. He has received funding from the National Science Foundation and National Geographic. His lab, the Lizard Lab, emphasizes undergraduate research and has explored topics like locomotor performance, immune trade-offs, and hormone regulation in anoles.

He teaches courses including BIOL 211: Field Research in Costa Rica, Comparative Anatomy and Physiology, and Endocrinology. His lab’s research is highlighted in journals like Biology Letters and Journal of Experimental Biology, and he mentors students in both field and lab settings. The lab also contributes to public outreach through media like UST Newsroom and ScienceNews for Students.