Ryan Garrick

Ryan Garrick is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Mississippi, where he leads the Garrick Lab focusing on population genetics, phylogeography, and biodiversity conservation. His research integrates genomic tools to study evolutionary processes in taxa like Galápagos giant tortoises and southern pine beetles, with an emphasis on conservation implications.

Education: B.S. and Ph.D. in Genetics from La Trobe University (2005–2007). His lab has trained numerous graduate and undergraduate researchers, including advising honors theses on topics such as termite population genetics and millipede biodiversity.

Key research themes include the genetic basis of species diversification, the impact of historical climate change on genetic structure, and the application of genomics to conservation challenges. Recent work highlights novel insights into lineage fusion in tortoises and phylogeographic patterns in invasive species.

Lab members collaborate on projects spanning North America and the Galápagos, with a focus on mentoring students through directed studies and thesis projects. The lab actively recruits graduate students interested in evolutionary biology and conservation genetics.