Frank Bungartz

Frank Bungartz is a Researcher and Curator of Lichens and Digital Data at Arizona State University's School of Life Sciences since 2017. He holds concurrent roles as Adjunct Scientist with the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) for the Galapagos Islands since 2014, and previously served as Head of CDF's Natural History Collections (2008–2014). His research focuses on lichen biodiversity in the Sonoran Desert, Central America, and Galapagos Islands, emphasizing systematics, conservation, and digital data management.

Education includes a PhD in Plant Biology from ASU (2004), MSc from Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms Universität (1996), and BSc from the same institution (1991). His work combines field studies with advanced techniques like 3D photogrammetry for lichen growth monitoring and Symbiota-based biodiversity data portals.

Key projects include the Galapagos Lichen Inventory, IUCN red-listing of endemic species, and co-editing the Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert Region. He leads efforts to digitize natural history collections and develop open-access platforms like the CDF Datazone and CNALH.

Over 90 peer-reviewed publications span lichen taxonomy, molecular phylogenetics, and conservation strategies. His research bridges traditional fieldwork with digital innovation, emphasizing global biodiversity preservation through accessible data systems.