John D. Zardus

John D. Zardus serves as Professor of Marine Biology and Department Head at The Citadel's Department of Biology within the Swain Family School of Science and Mathematics. He has been at The Citadel since 2005, following post-doctoral work in Boston and Hawaii.

His research focuses on marine invertebrate biology, particularly the symbiotic relationship between barnacles and sea turtles, molecular evolution, and deep-sea biology. Dr. Zardus is recognized for his work published in high-impact journals including Proceedings of the Royal Society B, with findings featured in Science and The Scientist.

He serves as a subject editor for Marine Biology Research and supervises graduate students through the College of Charleston's Graduate Program in Marine Biology. Dr. Zardus teaches Introduction to Biology, Marine Biology, and Invertebrate Zoology, emphasizing hands-on learning through his co-instruction of a Tropical Rainforest and Reef Ecology field course in Central America each Maymester.

Dr. Zardus received his Ph.D. in Biology from Northeastern University in 1998, following Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Zoology from Brigham Young University. His educational background has shaped his expertise in marine biological systems and evolutionary processes.

His recent publication on turtle barnacle locomotion represents a significant contribution to understanding evolutionary adaptations in marine symbiosis, demonstrating how these organisms have developed directed movement capabilities over 500 million years of evolution.

As Department Head, Dr. Zardus oversees all academic and research activities within the Biology Department, maintaining strong connections with regional marine research institutions and fostering collaborative research opportunities for students and faculty.