Moises A. Bernal

Moises A. Bernal is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Auburn University, where he leads the Fish Ecology and Evolution Lab. His research integrates ecological, evolutionary, and molecular approaches to study how marine fishes respond to environmental stressors such as climate change and ocean warming.

Education:

• Postdoctoral Fellow – State University of New York at Buffalo (2018–2019)
• Postdoctoral Fellow – King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (2016–2018)
• Ph.D. in Marine Science – University of Texas, Austin (2009–2015)
• B.Sc. in Biology and Environmental Sciences – University of Panama (2003–2008)

His research focuses on the metabolic, physiological, and epigenetic mechanisms underlying fish acclimation to climate change. He investigates transgenerational responses, thermal tolerance, and the role of environmental history in shaping population resilience. His work combines field studies with molecular tools such as transcriptomics and genomics.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in studying coral reef fishes under climate stress, particularly through molecular and genomic lenses. Key themes include thermal acclimation, gene expression changes during heatwaves, and evolutionary divergence in sympatric species. His work bridges organismal physiology with evolutionary genomics.

He teaches courses such as BIOL 3040 (Biology of Marine Systems) and BIOL 5440/6440 (Climate Change Physiology and Evolution) at both undergraduate and graduate levels. He advises students in his lab and mentors research on fish responses to environmental change.

The Fish Ecology and Evolution Lab conducts integrative research on marine fishes, focusing on stress response mechanisms and evolutionary adaptations. Lab activities include molecular analyses, experimental physiology, and fieldwork related to coral reef ecosystems.