Gerald Summers

Dr. Gerald Summers is the Associate Director and Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Missouri's College of Arts and Science. He holds a PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1981). His research focuses on invertebrate life history and ecology, including freshwater mussel parasitism dynamics and the systematics of non-insectan terrestrial arthropods like centipedes. He has received multiple teaching awards, emphasizing innovative pedagogy.

• Education: PhD in Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1981

Research explores freshwater mussel larval development (glochidium) as an obligate fish parasite, evolutionary breeding strategies, and the biogeography of Lithobiomorpha centipedes. His work bridges ecological adaptation with systematic classification.

• Awards: 2020 Keister Award, 2016 Win Horner Award, 2000 Kemper Fellowship, 1994 Purple Chalk Award

No specific grants or advising records are detailed here, though his research involves student collaborations. No affiliated labs/teams are explicitly listed.