Douglas L. Altshuler

Douglas L. Altshuler is a Professor in the Department of Zoology at the University of British Columbia, where he leads research in Faculty of Science. His work bridges neurophysiology, biomechanics, and visual ecology to understand avian flight control.

• Education: BA in History (University of California, Santa Cruz), MSc in Biological Sciences (Purdue University), PhD in Zoology (University of Texas at Austin), Postdoctoral Fellow in Bioengineering (Caltech)

Research Focus: Investigates how birds use optic flow for flight stabilization and maneuverability, with specialized work on hummingbird visual systems and zebra finch neuroanatomy. Current projects examine visuomotor control and dynamic wing morphing.

Scientific Contributions: 15 most recent articles reveal trends in avian flight biomechanics and visual-neural integration, exploring topics like aeroelastic wing effects, visual motion compensation, and evolutionary metabolic adaptations.

• Awards:
  • Excellence in Service Award (2024)
  • Stockard Seminar (2020)
  • Lawrence R. Blinks Lecture (2018)
  • Killam Memorial Fund (2017)
  • Peter Wall Scholar (2016)
  • HFSP Awardee (2013)
  • George A. Bartholomew Award (2007)

Labs & Collaborations: Leads the Altshuler Lab, collaborating with institutions like Caltech, University of Alberta, and Carleton University. Research integrates neuroanatomy, biomechanics, and comparative physiology to decode flight control circuits.