Tony Gamble

Dr. Tony Gamble serves as Associate Professor and Wehr Distinguished Professor in Marquette University's Department of Biological Sciences, where he leads research on evolutionary processes generating biological diversity in reptiles through genomic, developmental, and biogeographic approaches.

His academic foundation includes:

• B.A. (2001) from Metropolitan State University, St. Paul, MN
• Ph.D. (2008) from University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN
• Post-doctoral Fellowship (2008-2014) at University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

Dr. Gamble's research integrates three complementary domains: sex chromosome evolution using molecular genomics, locomotion-related morphological adaptations through developmental biology, and spatial-temporal species diversification via phylogenetics. His lab leverages lizards and snakes as model organisms to unravel complex evolutionary mechanisms, with particular emphasis on gecko clades where these processes intersect uniquely.

Analysis of his 2015-2021 publications reveals dominant trends in sex chromosome evolution across diverse reptile lineages, morphological studies of adhesive structures (toe pads and tails), and Caribbean biogeography. His work consistently employs advanced genomic techniques like RAD-seq and transcriptomics, demonstrating methodological innovation while addressing fundamental evolutionary questions about adaptation and speciation.

He holds the Wehr Distinguished Professorship, recognizing exceptional scholarly contributions to evolutionary biology at Marquette University.

Dr. Gamble actively mentors graduate researchers, currently advising Kathryn Sullivan, Ashmika Behere, and Ryan Cook in their Ph.D. studies. His successful track record includes guiding Shannon Keating (2022), Aaron Griffing (2022), and Brendan J. Pinto (2020) to degree completion. His research program receives external funding enabling genomic sequencing, field expeditions, and student training across multiple continents.

The Gamble Lab operates as a collaborative hub within Marquette's Wehr Life Sciences facility, maintaining strong international partnerships evident in his extensive co-authorship network. His team integrates field collection, laboratory analysis, and computational approaches to address macroevolutionary patterns through microevolutionary processes.