Michael Moody

Michael L. Moody is Professor of Biological Sciences and Director of the Master of Science program at the University of Texas at El Paso. He leads the Plant Evolution Lab, investigating plant diversity through molecular ecology, phylogenetics, and conservation genetics. His lab integrates genomics, bioinformatics, and field studies to understand how geospatial, climatic, and biological processes drive plant evolution.

Research focuses on:

• Arctic plant adaptation to climate change
• Genomic basis of invasive species success
• Phylogeographic patterns in desert and wetland plants
• Herbarium genomics and biodiversity informatics

Publications leverage cutting-edge genomic techniques to study model species in challenging environments. Current NSF-funded projects examine local adaptation in Arctic foundation species and Chihuahuan Desert plant diversification.

Mentoring includes PhD and MS students working on landscape genomics of Arctic plants and desert polygalaceae. As Director of UTEP Herbarium, he oversees digitization of Chihuahuan Desert plant collections.