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Reade RobertsView profile

Associate Professor

• Evolutionary Genetics
• Genomics
• Ecological Adaptation
• +3 more

Reade Roberts is an Associate Professor and University Faculty Scholar at North Carolina State University's Department of Genetics, serving as Director of the Graduate Program in Genetics. His research focuses on evolutionary genetics, particularly in cichlid fishes, exploring topics such as sexual conflict, genomic architecture, and ecological adaptation. He leads the Genetics and Genomics Academy (GGA) and collaborates with institutions like the Center for Human Health and the Environment (CHHE) and the Functional Genomics group. His work integrates genomics, developmental biology, and ecology to understand how genetic variation drives morphological and behavioral adaptations. Notable contributions include studies on sex determination mechanisms, trophic adaptation in cichlids, and the genomic basis of pigmentation patterns. Roberts has received the 2020 University Faculty Scholar award recognizing his academic excellence. His research also extends to conservation biology, analyzing microbiome stability in ex situ cheetah populations and investigating mutation dynamics in Chernobyl dogs. He promotes STEM education through immersive research programs for students.

Heather HinesView profile

Professor

• Evolutionary Biology
• Entomology
• Biodiversity Conservation
• +3 more

Heather Hines is a Professor of Biology and Entomology at Pennsylvania State University, affiliated with the Department of Biology and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences. She holds a B.A. from the University of Iowa, and M.S. and Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Her postdoctoral training was at North Carolina State University in Genetics (2008-2012). Her research focuses on insect evolution, diversity, and conservation, particularly in bees and wasps. Key areas include evolutionary genetics of mimicry, plant-pollinator coevolution, social strategies in bumble bees, and biodiversity conservation. Her lab integrates molecular biology, genomics, and ecological approaches to study these topics. Notable projects include investigating gall formation in wasps, the role of floral chemistry in pollinator preferences, and the genetic basis of mimicry in bumble bees. The Hines Lab also explores bee pathogen dynamics, landscape factors affecting bumble bee health, and optimizing forage through dietary studies. Education: B.A., Biology/Anthropology, University of Iowa, 2001 M.S., Entomology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2004 Ph.D., Entomology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2008 Lab and Teams: Hines Lab (Penn State) studies bee/wasp evolution and conservation, with a focus on genomics and ecological interactions. Her work bridges molecular and ecological scales, addressing global challenges like species decline and climate adaptation.

Ryan MartinView profile

Associate Professor

• Evolutionary Ecology
• Phenotypic Selection
• Adaptation
• +4 more

Ryan Martin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at Case Western Reserve University. His research focuses on evolutionary ecology, phenotypic selection, adaptation, and phenotypic plasticity. He investigates how ecological interactions drive phenotypic evolution through field observations, manipulative experiments, and meta-analyses. Key projects involve resource polymorphism in spadefoot toads, divergence in Bahamas blue hole fishes, and urbanization impacts on physiological evolution. Email: ryan.a.martin@case.edu His recent work explores urbanization-induced shifts in trait correlations, thermal physiology adaptation in cities, and meta-analytical approaches to natural selection. Studies span diverse organisms, including ants, isopods, dragonflies, and fishes, addressing climate change resilience, evolutionary lags, and biotic interaction conservation. Evolutionary Ecology Phenotypic Plasticity Urban Heat Islands Thermal Adaptation Character Displacement Population Genetics

• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Conservation Biology
• +3 more

Per-Eric Betzholtz is a Researcher in the Department of Biology and Environmental Science at Linnaeus University's Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. His work focuses on ecological and evolutionary mechanisms in insect populations, particularly moths and butterflies. Specializes in climate change impacts on insect biodiversity Studies species traits driving range expansions and conservation Active in urban ecology and population viability analysis His recent publications analyze drought effects on moth populations (2025), long-term range shifts (2023), and coloration as adaptive trait (2020s). Research trends emphasize climate-driven phenology shifts, thermophilic species' responses, and trait-based conservation strategies. Betzoltz collaborates with Dr. Anders Forsman and Dr. Mats Franzén on multi-decade projects including urban moth communities (2020), species-area relationships (2019), and historical range expansions (2013-2023). He leads the project 'Cascading effects of drought on farming/grazing and farmland biodiversity' within the Evolutionary Ecology group at EEMiS research center.

• Food Science
• Meat Science
• Animal Agriculture
• +3 more

Shai Barbut is a researcher specializing in food science and poultry meat systems. His work focuses on carcass imaging, protein integration in meat systems, and aroma compound formation in meat products. He collaborates on interdisciplinary projects involving genetics, material science, and food chemistry. Barbut supervises PhD candidates in areas such as meat quality, Tibetan pork flavor analysis, and extruded casing development. Research Interests: Cooking loss mechanisms, plant protein integration in meat, poultry genetics, aroma chemistry, and food texture analysis. Collaborations: Involves projects with institutions studying hybrid meat systems, Tibetan pork processing, and environmental impacts on meat casings. His recent publications (2024-2025) address turkey carcass imaging, soy protein effects on meat texture, and aroma compound dynamics under cooking methods. Projects include meat quality authentication and environmental adaptations in extruded casings.

Sean P. MullenView profile

Professor

• Evolutionary Biology
• Speciation
• Hybrid Zones
• +3 more

Sean P. Mullen is Professor of Biology Education at Boston University, where he directs research on evolutionary biology and speciation. He earned his PhD from Cornell University and leads the Mullen Lab, focusing on the origin and maintenance of biological diversity, particularly in butterfly mimicry and wing pattern evolution. His research employs diverse approaches including RAD-based phylogenetics, QTL-mapping, comparative genomics, CRISPR/Cas9 techniques, and ecological experiments. Mullen investigates how divergent natural selection drives speciation and adaptation in Neotropical butterflies. His lab studies the genomic architecture of traits like mimicry and wing patterns using whole-genome sequencing and functional assays. Mullen teaches courses in biology, evolution, and advanced evolutionary analyses at undergraduate and graduate levels.

Sevan SuniView profile

Associate Professor

• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Conservation Genetics
• +2 more

Sevan Suni is an Associate Professor of Biology at the University of San Francisco, investigating how environmental change influences evolutionary trajectories and conservation status of populations. Her research focuses on drought/deforestation impacts on plant-pollinator interactions and enhancing positive feedback between natural and human-dominated areas. She holds a PhD in Biology from Stanford University and a BA from Colorado College. Research examines genetic and ecological responses to environmental stressors across diverse systems, including bees in fragmented landscapes, floral trait adaptation to water limitation, urbanization effects on pollination networks, and climate-associated morphological shifts. Her work integrates landscape genetics, behavioral ecology, and conservation biology. Publications demonstrate consistent focus on pollinator conservation under global change, with recent studies quantifying genetic diversity loss despite gene flow, urbanization impacts on floral specialization, and climate-driven phenotypic changes. Research frequently involves undergraduate participation in data collection.

Steven L. PriceView profile

Assistant Clinical Professor

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Crystallography
• Polymorphism
• +12 more

Steven L. Price is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the IU School of Medicine , affiliated with Indiana University. His clinical practice focuses on Emergency Medicine and Occupational Medicine , with experience at Bluffton Regional Medical Center, Parkview Hospital, and the VA in Fort Wayne. He also serves as the Director of Indiana Health Centers for General Motors Corporation . Education: MD from IU School of Medicine (1997), pre-medical studies at University of Cincinnati, BA in Music from Johnson University. Dr. Price’s research spans interdisciplinary fields, including Pharmaceutical Sciences , Crystallography , and Materials Science , with recent publications analyzing polymorphism, solvate formation, and structural prediction in pharmaceutical compounds. His work intersects with Zoology and Evolutionary Biology through collaborative studies on phenotypic variation in reptiles. His peer-reviewed articles (2015–2021) highlight trends in solid-state chemistry , computational modeling , and pharmaceutical development . Notable contributions include studies on galunisertib polymorphs and phenotypic color patch analysis in lizards. Dr. Price, born in Indianapolis, maintains ties to Indiana University Health and community engagement through local music and family life.

John David CurlisView profile

Visiting Assistant Professor

• Evolutionary Biology
• Animal Coloration
• Thermal Physiology
• +4 more

John David Curlis is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Biology Department at Hamilton College, specializing in evolutionary biology with a focus on animal coloration and signaling in reptiles and amphibians. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan and a master’s degree at Georgia Southern University, followed by postdoctoral research and lecturing at the University of Michigan. Ph.D., University of Michigan M.S., Georgia Southern University B.A., University of Virginia His research examines how environmental factors shape color variation through genetic mechanisms, thermal physiology, and ecological interactions. Recent work includes studies on Anolis lizards in tropical ecosystems, coral snake mimicry, and climate change impacts on biodiversity. Key article themes include evolutionary genetics, thermal adaptation, tropical ecology, and computational methods for studying limbless organisms. His awards include the Rackham Predoctoral Fellowship and the Donald W. Tinkle Award. Rackham Predoctoral Fellowship Donald W. Tinkle Award Edwin H. Edwards Scholarship in Biology Jack N. Averitt Award for Excellence in Graduate Research Curlis has taught physiology courses and collaborated with researchers like Alison Davis Rabosky and Christian Cox. He is affiliated with the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology and other herpetological societies.

Maria Victoria Jimenez FrancoView profile

Researcher

• Forest Raptor Ecology
• Mediterranean Ecosystems
• Bird Conservation
• +3 more

Maria Victoria Jimenez Franco is a Researcher at the University of Murcia , affiliated with the Faculty of Biology and Department of Ecology and Hydrology . She leads projects in the Mediterranean Ecosystems research group, focusing on raptor ecology, habitat connectivity, and conservation strategies in semiarid landscapes. Education : Doctorate from University of Murcia (2014) with thesis on Territorial occupancy models in forest raptor populations , supervised by Dr. Jose Enrique Martinez Torrecillas and Dr. José Francisco Calvo Sendín. Her research spans forest raptor dynamics , urban ecology (e.g., Tawny owl colonization), landscape connectivity , and passive rewilding strategies. Recent work examines Andean bird spatial patterns , extinction debt mechanisms , and nocturnal bird monitoring techniques . Key publication trends include: Multi-scale habitat analysis Temporal population monitoring Trade-offs in passive rewilding Infrastructure impacts on wildlife Climate change adaptation Conservation GIS modeling

Nataša Barišić KlisarićView profile

Research Fellow

• Evolutionary Ecology
• Plant Evolution
• Biomonitoring
• +7 more

Nataša Barišić Klisarić serves as a Senior Research Associate at the Institute for Biological Research 'Siniša Stanković' (IBISS) in Belgrade, Serbia, within the Department of Evolutionary Biology. Her research integrates evolutionary biology with ecological monitoring to address critical environmental challenges. Her educational background includes: Bachelor's degree in Biology from the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade (1998) MSc in Biology, specializing in Genetics (2003) with thesis on 'Phenotypic plasticity in three species of the genus Lamium' PhD (2012) with dissertation titled 'Fluctuating asymmetry as an indicator of developmental stability of selected plant taxa' Dr. Barišić Klisarić's research focuses on the intersection of evolutionary processes and environmental change. She investigates how plant species adapt to anthropogenic stressors through mechanisms like flower color polymorphism in Iris pumila, using spectrophotometry and developmental instability metrics. Her work spans invasion biology, conservation strategies for endangered plant species, and assessing climate change responses in natural populations. This research contributes significantly to understanding how biodiversity can be maintained in rapidly changing environments. She has secured funding through multiple competitive programs including the IBISS Research Program Grant No. 451-03-66/2024-03/200007 from Serbia's Ministry of Science, the Prisma Research Program on genetic diversity in endangered plants, and the UNDP-funded 'Biomass for energy and biodiversity (B4EB)' project in partnership with Serbia's Ministry of Environmental Protection. Her methodological expertise combines field ecological studies with laboratory analyses of developmental stability indicators. Her research team works at the forefront of applying evolutionary theory to practical conservation challenges, particularly through the Joint Chinese-Serbian Laboratory PANDA. Current projects focus on developing biomonitoring tools using plant developmental instability as an indicator of environmental stress, with applications for Serbia's Green Agenda implementation.

Zowi OudendijkView profile

Researcher

• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Chemical Ecology
• +3 more

Zowi Oudendijk is a Doctoral Researcher at the University of Helsinki, affiliated with the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences and the Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme. Her research focuses on ecology, evolutionary biology, and chemical ecology, with a strong emphasis on entomology. Ecology Evolutionary Biology Chemical Ecology Entomology Her work explores stress responses in invasive species, color polymorphism in beetles, and dietary influences on chemical defense mechanisms. Publications include studies on asexual reproduction in planarians, climate-driven variation in leaf beetle color morphs, and alkaloid recovery in chemically defended beetles. She actively participates in international conferences such as the International Congress of Entomology and the European Meeting for PhD Students in Evolutionary Biology, presenting oral contributions on these topics. Her research contributes to understanding ecological adaptation and evolutionary dynamics in invertebrates.

Barry StephensonView profile

Associate Professor

• Behavioral Ecology
• Sexual Selection
• Herpetology
• +4 more

Dr. Barry Stephenson serves as Associate Professor and Associate Chair of the Biology Department within Mercer University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, specializing in reptile and amphibian ecology and evolution. His research bridges field studies in Mexico and Georgia with laboratory analysis to address fundamental questions in behavioral ecology. Education: Ph.D. in Biology from University of Miami M.S. in Zoology from Washington State University B.A. in Biology from Clark University Dr. Stephenson's research program investigates three interconnected domains: the functional significance of body coloration in relation to anatomy and behavior; life history variation in Mexican lizards as drivers of speciation; and regional herpetofauna diversity assessment in Crawford County, Georgia. His work employs spectrophotometry, field observation, and morphological analysis to uncover evolutionary mechanisms shaping amphibian and reptile biology, with particular emphasis on conservation implications for species of concern. His 14 publications (2014-2023) reveal consistent focus on salamander and lizard biology across North America, with recurring themes of coloration adaptation, reproductive strategies, and geographic variation. The research demonstrates methodological diversity spanning field surveys, laboratory experiments, and morphometric analysis. Dr. Stephenson actively mentors undergraduates through research-focused courses including Introduction to Academic Research (HON 105) and Special Topics in the Honors Program (HON 198), while conducting field work in Mexico and Georgia that contributes to biodiversity databases and conservation planning. His teaching portfolio spans Human Anatomy/Physiology, Vertebrate Zoology, and Coral Reef Ecology field studies.

• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Biodiversity Conservation
• +4 more

Markus Franzén is a researcher at Linnaeus University's Faculty of Health and Life Sciences , affiliated with the Department of Biology and Environmental Science and the Linnaeus University Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial model Systems (EEMiS) . His work focuses on ecological and evolutionary interactions across diverse ecosystems, particularly oak forests, coastal habitats, and agricultural landscapes. Key research areas include climate change impacts on biodiversity , drought-grazing interactions , insect dispersal patterns , and urban adaptation of nocturnal species . Major projects: Carbon flows in coastal ecosystems , Adaptation of forest ecosystems , and Drought cascading effects on farmland biodiversity . Recent publications highlight his expertise in saproxylic beetles (2025), moth phenology shifts (2025), butterfly conservation (2024), and long-term insect trait analysis (2023). His work integrates DNA metabarcoding and phenotypic trait studies to address ecological generalization and climate-smart conservation strategies.

• Genetics
• Genomics
• Plant Breeding
• +5 more

Jessica Vervalle serves as a Lecturer at Wageningen University & Research's Laboratory of Nematology, specializing in genetic and genomic research across plant and marine species. Her work bridges fundamental molecular biology with practical agricultural and aquacultural applications. Her research focuses on genetic variation mechanisms , particularly copy-number variation, quantitative trait loci mapping, and molecular signatures of selection. Key areas include Plant genomics (grapevine, pear, cultivar development) Marine species genetics (abalone size traits and conservation) High-density genetic mapping using SNP chips Gene dosage effects on biochemical pathways Her fingerprint reveals dominant expertise in Gene Dosage (85%), Copy-Number Variation (85%), Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (85%), and Quantitative Trait Locus analysis (57%). Recent publications demonstrate consistent contributions to plant and marine genomics, with trends showing increasing focus on crop improvement through genomic tools and conservation genetics for aquaculture species . Her work frequently employs population genomic approaches to solve breeding challenges. Vervalle actively collaborates across international boundaries, with significant research partnerships in South Africa evident in her abalone studies. While no formal advising relationships are documented in the provided materials, her collaborative publications suggest mentorship roles in genomic research projects. Her laboratory work centers on the Laboratory of Nematology infrastructure, adapting genomic methodologies typically used in plant-pathogen research to broader agricultural and marine contexts. Current projects appear focused on translating genetic discoveries into practical breeding applications for crops and aquaculture species.