Derrick Groom

Derrick Groom is an Assistant Professor of Physiology at San Francisco State University since 2021. His research focuses on the relationships between locomotion, environment, and energetics in birds, particularly how flight energetics are influenced by environmental factors such as humidity, elevation, and climate. He studies hummingbirds and migratory passerines to understand physiological and morphological adaptations that enable efficient flight in challenging environments. His work aims to predict how these birds will adapt to climate change.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Physiology from the University of Toronto

Research Interests: Comparative physiology of birds, avian energetics, biomechanics of flight, environmental impacts on flight performance, and evolutionary strategies for survival in variable environments. His lab explores how morphology, physiology, and ecology interact to shape flight capabilities and metabolic requirements.

Publications: Recent work includes studies on flight muscle adaptations under humidity stress, protein catabolism in migratory birds, and high-elevation flight energetics in hummingbirds. These studies highlight trends in understanding metabolic responses to environmental challenges and the physiological limits of flight.

Labs/Teams: Director of the Groom Lab at SF State, dedicated to avian energetics research. The lab’s website provides further details: Groom Lab.