Aaron Krochmal

Aaron Krochmal serves as Associate Professor of Biology and Associate Chair of the Department of Biology at Washington College, where he has established a distinguished career in organismal biology research and innovative pedagogy.

His academic credentials include:

• B.S. in Biology from Union College (NY), 1996
• M.S. in Biology from New York University, 1998
• Ph.D. in Ecology from Indiana State University, 2003

Dr. Krochmal's research program integrates behavioral ecology, physiology, and neurobiology to investigate reptilian sensory systems and navigation mechanisms. His lab employs field experiments, neurological recordings, and computational modeling to study turtle migration cognition and pit viper infrared vision evolution, with recent expansions into reptile personality studies and rattlesnake rattle communication. This interdisciplinary approach bridges fundamental biological questions with conservation applications, as evidenced by his turtle navigation research influencing wildlife habitat management practices.

His scholarly impact extends through significant media coverage:

• LiveScience feature on snapping turtle migration (60+ million views)
• National Public Radio's The Academic Minute on animal cognition
• New Scientist coverage of agribusiness-conservation intersections
• Chronicle of Higher Education feature on animal learning research

Teaching excellence defines his academic identity through dynamic courses including General Biology, Integrative Human Anatomy/Physiology, and Research Techniques in Herpetology. His student-centered pedagogy blends progressive and essentialist philosophies, fostering intellectual risk-taking in the classroom. Mentoring remains central to his mission, with numerous undergraduate researchers co-authoring publications and contributing to field projects like the 2011 Landscape Ecology study on turtle movements.