Gary Voelker

Gary Voelker is a Professor and Faculty Curator of Birds in the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology at Texas A&M University, affiliated with the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences. He also serves as curator for the Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections. His research focuses on avian systematics, biogeography, and malaria studies, with recent work expanding to vertebrate lineages and microbiome impacts. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and co-edited Ornithology: Foundation, Analysis and Application.

• B.S. in Ecology, Evolution & Behavior from University of Minnesota
• Ph.D. in Zoology from University of Washington

Research interests include avian phylogeography, host-parasite interactions, and conservation genetics. He investigates how climate, geography, and niche dynamics shape biodiversity, with projects in Africa, South Texas, and the tropical Pacific. His work often integrates genetic data with ecological modeling to address evolutionary questions.

Voelker serves as associate editor for Ibis and Diversity, and has held grants exploring aridland bird speciation and avian malaria distributions. His lab emphasizes fieldwork and museum collections for biodiversity research, advocating for specimen-based studies in conservation science.