Mason Murphy

Dr. Mason Murphy is a researcher in the Department of Biological Sciences at Bowling Green State University’s College of Arts and Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. from Miami University (OH) and focuses on population genetics, amphibian movement behavior, and conservation genetics.

• Education: Ph.D., Miami University (OH)

His research integrates molecular techniques and next-generation sequencing to study animal movement behaviors, genetic diversity, and population connectivity in amphibians. As director of the Herpetology Lab, he collaborates with undergraduates on reptile husbandry, food preferences, and coloration studies, while also leading public outreach initiatives on herpetofauna conservation.

Key research trends include landscape genetics, the impact of human-altered habitats on amphibian behavior, and genomic assessments of salamander populations. Recent publications address phonotactic responses in frogs, wind energy effects on tortoises, and river architecture’s influence on gene flow.

Grants and Collaborations: Murphy has participated in interdisciplinary studies on species adaptation, population divergence in Rhagoletis, and ecological impacts of renewable energy. He collaborates with institutions like the University of Kentucky and the University of Oklahoma.