David Starkey

Dr. David Starkey is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) in San Antonio, Texas. He joined UIW in 2014 after working as a Research Scientist for the USDA. His research focuses on biogeography, speciation, and phylogeography, particularly in reptiles, turtles, and other taxa. He holds a Ph.D. in Genetics from Texas A&M University, an M.S. in Biology from the University of Illinois, and a B.S. in Biology from Illinois State University.

Dr. Starkey's research explores how environmental changes influence gene flow and speciation. Current projects include collaborations with the San Antonio Zoo, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and others to study distribution patterns in softshell turtles (Apalone mutica) and red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta). His lab also investigates codon bias in turtle mitochondrial genes and life history traits of endangered geckos like Cnemaspis psychedelica.

He teaches courses such as Genetics, Ecology, and Evolutionary Biology. His work integrates field studies, molecular techniques, and phylogenetic analyses to address ecological and evolutionary questions. Dr. Starkey’s research emphasizes reptiles but has also involved bacteria, fish, and invertebrates.