معرفی
Dr. Brett Benz is the Collection Manager for Birds and an Assistant Research Scientist at the University of Michigan’s Museum of Zoology (UMMZ), affiliated with the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. His work focuses on avian evolutionary processes, biogeography, and specimen-based research in tropical ecosystems.
His research explores drivers of avian diversification in tropical montane landscapes, testing community assembly theories and island biogeography. He conducts fieldwork in Melanesia, particularly New Guinea highlands and Bismarck Archipelago, with 23 international expeditions to date. Current projects include digitizing over 4,000 egg sets and 14,000 songbird skeletal specimens using 2D imaging and computer vision to study morphological evolution.
Education:
- Ph.D., University of Kansas
- B.S., University of Kansas
He maintains an active field program studying Amblyornis bowerbirds in New Guinea, focusing on phylogenetic ethology and behavioral selection. His digitization efforts aim to enhance access to fragile collections while preserving specimens for future research.
