Jérôme FUCHS

Jérôme FUCHS is an Associate Professor and Curator of Birds at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, where he leads the Systematics, Phylogeography, Evolution, Conservation (SPEC) research team. His work focuses on evolutionary biology with emphasis on bird diversification patterns across spatial and temporal scales. His research spans multiple continents with particular focus on Asia, Madagascar, and the Afrotropics, investigating dispersal-vicariance dynamics and in situ diversification processes.

Dr. FUCHS completed his Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology at University Pierre and Marie Curie (Paris 6) under Eric Pasquet's supervision. He subsequently held postdoctoral positions at the California Academy of Sciences (2010-2012) and the Percy Fitzpatrick Institute of African Ornithology/Museum of Vertebrate Zoology (2007-2009). His field expertise encompasses work across five biogeographic realms and twelve countries, specializing in avian specimen collection, blood sampling, and biometric measurements.

His research interests center on evolutionary patterns and processes of bird diversification, ranging from higher-level phylogeny to phylogeography and population genetics. He investigates species accumulation across time and biomes, character evolution, and genes involved in speciation and adaptation. A significant portion of his work examines the relative importance of dispersal versus vicariance in generating current endemism patterns in Asia, Madagascar, and the Afrotropics, while also identifying genomic regions involved in reproductive isolation using hybrid zones.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a clear progression from traditional phylogenetic and phylogeographic studies toward increasingly genomic approaches. His work spans avian systematics, molecular evolution, biogeography, and conservation genetics, with notable contributions to understanding woodpecker evolution, owl systematics, flycatcher complexes, and island endemism. His research demonstrates strong integration of field data with molecular techniques across multiple taxonomic groups.

Dr. FUCHS has served as Associate Editor for Ibis (2010-2014) and regularly reviews for numerous prestigious journals including Molecular Ecology, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Journal of Biogeography, and Evolution. His extensive reviewing portfolio demonstrates his standing within the evolutionary biology community.

As Curator of Birds and leader of the SPEC team, Dr. FUCHS oversees significant museum collections while directing research on avian evolutionary patterns. His field work across diverse global regions contributes substantially to museum collections that serve as critical resources for biodiversity research. His current genomic work represents an important expansion of traditional museum-based research into contemporary molecular approaches.