Dr. Kelly Matsunaga is the Thomas N. Taylor Assistant Professor and Assistant Curator in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Kansas, part of the Biodiversity Institute. Her research focuses on plant evolution, phylogeny, and diversity through integrative approaches combining paleobotany, histology, X-ray tomography, and phylogenetics. She investigates how plant form and diversity have evolved over time, particularly in groups like conifers, palms, and lycophytes, using both living and fossil specimens. Education: Botany, Humboldt State University, 2012 Biology, Humboldt State University, 2014 Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, 2019 Research Interests: Her work bridges paleobotany and modern plant biology, emphasizing the complementary roles of fossils and living organisms in understanding macroevolutionary patterns. Key topics include conifer evolution, palm systematics, and developmental mechanisms like polar auxin transport in land plants. Labs/Teams: Her lab is part of the Biodiversity Institute’s Division of Paleobotany, established in 1888 with extensive fossil collections. She collaborates internationally on projects like Cretaceous-Paleogene flora studies and conifer reproductive morphology.
Robert Glen Moyle Robert Glen Moyle is a Professor and Curator in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Kansas. His primary research focuses on understanding avian diversification patterns and processes, particularly in pantropical groups and insular regions like Melanesia and the Philippines. He combines genetic data, museum collections, and field surveys to study speciation mechanisms, biogeographic history, and life history evolution. Key research interests include ornithology systematics, phylogeny reconstruction, and the drivers of biodiversity in tropical ecosystems. Moyle’s work emphasizes field expeditions for specimen collection and life history data, with a focus on understudied avian groups in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. His grants include studies on hybridization in biodiversity hotspots and post-typhoon biodiversity recovery in the Philippines. Notable contributions involve genomic analyses of avian radiations, such as the white-eyes (Zosterops) and kingfishers, and resolving taxonomic ambiguities through phylogenomic approaches. His research bridges evolutionary biology with conservation, highlighting the importance of museum specimens and genetic tools in understanding biodiversity dynamics.
James Gabriel Saulsbury is a Post-doctoral Researcher in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department at the University of Kansas, working under faculty sponsor Lena Hileman. His research integrates paleontological data with ecological theory to address macroevolutionary questions through marine invertebrate fossil records. His primary research interests include: Stochastic and deterministic forces in species' evolutionary fates Tectonic/oceanographic impacts on marine organism evolution Crinoid evolutionary history and physiology Biodiversity hotspot formation mechanisms Skeletal adaptations to ocean chemistry changes Energetic strategies in marine invertebrates Analysis of recent publications reveals a consistent interdisciplinary approach applying ecological neutral theory to paleontological datasets, with strong emphasis on biogeographic modeling and physiological constraints. His work bridges paleobiology, theoretical ecology, and marine evolutionary studies to uncover deep-time drivers of biodiversity patterns.
Sara Miller is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Missouri - St. Louis, affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences. She leads the Social Insect Diversity Lab, focusing on the interplay between genomics, behavior, and ecology in shaping biological diversity. Her research primarily investigates primitively eusocial Polistes paper wasps, examining speciation drivers, social behavior's impact on diversification rates, and biodiversity comparisons between social and solitary insects. Methodologies include genome assembly, population genetics, museum collections, and behavioral experiments. 2025: Evolution of cognition in social insects 2025: Genomic architecture and phylogeny 2023: Cooperation and recognition mechanisms 2023: Sex-linked genetic variation 2022: Polistes genome assemblies 2021: Environmental genomics and behavior 2020: Population structure and coevolution The Social Insect Diversity Lab serves as a hub for exploring social insect evolution through modern genomic and ecological approaches. Dr. Miller's work bridges molecular biology with macroevolutionary questions, emphasizing interdisciplinary research across biological scales.
Jose Eduardo Meireles is an Assistant Professor of Plant Evolution and Systematics at the School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, part of the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry and Agriculture. His research integrates molecular, spatial, and functional approaches to understand the origins and maintenance of plant diversity across environmental gradients. Research Interests: His work spans plant phylogenetics, population genetics, biogeography, macroevolution, and evolutionary ecology. He investigates evolutionary relationships among species, spatial patterns of taxonomic and genetic diversity, the evolution of plant function, and uses leaf reflectance spectra for remote detection of biodiversity. His lab is affiliated with the ASCEND Biology Integration Institute and the Maine Center for Genetics in the Environment. Teaching and Research Balance: Meireles divides his time equally between teaching courses in vascular plant taxonomy and conducting research. He actively mentors graduate and undergraduate students and is currently recruiting PhD candidates and a postdoctoral researcher for macroevolutionary modeling of leaf optical traits. Scientific Awards: No awards mentioned in the provided text. Advising and Grants: He advises several students including Kelcie Brown and Lance Stasinski (graduate students) and Ross Sousa (undergraduate). His research is supported by the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station under Hatch project ME022109. He encourages applications for NSF Graduate Fellowships and offers funded positions through research and teaching assistantships. Labs and Teams: Meireles leads the Meireles Lab, located in Hitchner Hall, and is associated with the UMaine Herbarium. His team includes graduate and undergraduate researchers focused on integrating bottom-up and top-down approaches to assess plant diversity in Maine.
Adrian Villastrigo Carbajo is a Professor at the University of León , affiliated with the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences and the Department of Biodiversity and Environmental Management . His research focuses on Zoology , with an emphasis on evolutionary patterns in aquatic insects. Education : PhD in Zoology from the Universitat de Barcelona (2019). Thesis: Macroevolutionary patterns of habitat transitions in aquatic Coleoptera . Research Group : ADIBECO (Animal Behavior, Conservation, and Diversity). Scientific Awards : Distinguished Professor
Alibert Paul is an Associate Professor in Evolutionary Biology at the University of Burgundy (France), affiliated with the UMR CNRS 6282 Biogéosciences and part of the BIOME research team. He holds the rank of MCF Hors Classe and is an HDR (Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches). His academic journey includes a PhD in Evolutionary Biology from Montpellier II University (1995) and a Habilitation (2006) focused on microevolution to macroevolutionary insights using morphometrics. He has held leadership roles, including heading national research networks and teams. His research spans evolutionary biology, focusing on population differentiation, speciation, and morphometric approaches. Three main axes guide his work: morphometric quantification of differentiation, developmental instability in hybrids, and mechanisms of developmental stability. Model organisms include cichlids, insects, sea urchins, and rodents. He has been awarded prestigious fellowships, including the Alexander von Humboldt and EU Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships. Teaching encompasses Evolutionary Biology, Conservation Biology, Biostatistics, and Invertebrate Zoology, with a significant annual teaching load at the University of Burgundy. His extensive publications cover topics like historical mining impacts, invasive species dynamics, and morphological analysis. Key awards include recognition for his contributions to evolutionary and environmental research.
Odile Maliet is a Research Fellow at PSL University, supported by LabEx MemoLife funding during postdoctoral appointments in 2018-2019 and 2020-2021. Her work bridges ecological dynamics and evolutionary processes through computational modeling of species interactions and diversification patterns. Postdoctoral Fellow, LabEx MemoLife (2018–2019) Postdoctoral Fellow, LabEx MemoLife (2020–2021) Maliet's research focuses on the eco-evolutionary mechanisms shaping biodiversity, particularly via antagonistic and mutualistic interaction networks. She develops individual-based models to analyze how ecological pressures influence macroevolutionary outcomes, including species diversity and network structures like modularity and nestedness. Her publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches combining ecological data with evolutionary theory. The 2020 study demonstrates antagonistic interactions promote species diversity and modular networks, while mutualistic interactions yield nested structures with low phylogenetic conservatism. The 2019 work introduces ClaDS, a Bayesian framework for detecting small, frequent diversification shifts in phylogenies, revealing intraclade heterogeneity in speciation rates. Odile Maliet's research is funded by LabEx MemoLife, emphasizing cross-disciplinary projects integrating ecological and macroevolutionary perspectives.
Jack Tseng is an Associate Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, where he leads the Functional Anatomy and Vertebrate Evolution (FAVE) Laboratory. His research program bridges paleontology, evolutionary biology, and biomechanics to investigate macroevolutionary patterns in vertebrate morphology, particularly focusing on mammalian skull structure and function across deep time. Dr. Tseng's research interests center on understanding the evolutionary relationships between form and function in vertebrate feeding systems. His laboratory employs cutting-edge methodologies including geometric morphometrics, finite element analysis, mechanical testing, and kinematics analysis to study how diet, evolutionary relationships, and non-masticatory functional constraints influence skull morphology. His work spans multiple continents with field sites in Wyoming (Eocene), Inner Mongolia (Neogene), Tibetan Plateau (Neogene), Mexico (Neogene), and southern China (Paleocene), allowing him to investigate large-scale evolutionary patterns across diverse ecosystems and time periods. Analysis of Dr. Tseng's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on evolutionary biomechanics, particularly examining how feeding structures evolve in response to ecological pressures. His research spans multiple vertebrate groups including mammals, dinosaurs, and extinct carnivores, with particular emphasis on understanding convergent evolution, dietary specialization, and paleozoogeographic patterns. His work frequently bridges traditional paleontological approaches with advanced computational methods, demonstrating how functional morphology can illuminate evolutionary processes. While specific individual awards for Dr. Tseng aren't detailed in the available materials, his laboratory has successfully secured funding that has supported researchers like Narimane, who received an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship to continue work in the FAVE Lab. Media coverage of his research in outlets including Forbes, CNN, Smithsonian Magazine, and National Geographic demonstrates the broader impact of his work. The FAVE Laboratory maintains an active research program with multiple ongoing projects examining vertebrate evolution through functional morphology. The lab utilizes advanced technologies including CT scanning systems for virtual fossil analysis, as referenced in their research on bone-cracking dogs, saber-toothed cats, and ancient otters. Despite currently being at capacity and not accepting new PhD students, the laboratory continues to produce significant research that bridges paleontology, evolutionary biology, and biomechanics across multiple continents.
Dr. Michal Tomasz Jezierski serves as a Leverhulme Early Career Research Fellow at the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, where he investigates evolutionary patterns in island ecosystems through integrated genomic and field-based approaches. His academic foundation includes: BA in Biological Sciences (First Class) from the University of Oxford DPhil in Zoology from the University of Oxford Dr. Jezierski's research centers on the island syndrome phenomenon —the convergent evolution of biological traits in island-dwelling organisms worldwide. His dual-methodology framework combines: Global phylogenetic analyses examining biogeographic patterns across island taxa Field studies in Scotland's Outer Hebrides documenting adaptive responses in St Kilda Wrens and Rock Doves This integrative approach bridges macroevolutionary theory with microecological observations to unravel how isolation shapes evolutionary trajectories. His 2022-2024 publications reveal consistent focus on avian island adaptations, with emerging trends toward conservation applications. Key thematic clusters include reproductive trait evolution (clutch size reduction), anthropogenic impacts on wild populations, and genomic consequences of human-mediated hybridization—demonstrating increasing interdisciplinary synthesis across biogeography, conservation genomics, and behavioral ecology. Research recognition includes: Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship As principal investigator of his Leverhulme-funded project, Dr. Jezierski directs independent research while collaborating extensively with ornithological and genomic specialists. His fieldwork program in the Outer Hebrides operates through institutional partnerships focusing on long-term monitoring of island endemics and human-impacted wild populations. Current research infrastructure includes field stations in St Kilda and genomic analysis partnerships, with ongoing projects examining evolutionary mechanisms behind island syndrome manifestations and conservation implications for isolated populations.
Jesús Martínez-Gómez serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where his research bridges evolutionary biology and developmental genetics to investigate plant phenotypic diversity. His work employs integrative approaches to understand how genetic variation translates into morphological adaptations across plant lineages. Education: B.S. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Washington Ph.D. in Plant Biology, Cornell University (Advisor: Dr. Chelsea Specht) Postdoctoral Research, University of California, Berkeley (NSF Postdoctoral Fellow in Biology and UC President’s Postdoctoral Fellow; Advisors: Dr. Benjamin Blackman and Dr. Yun Song) His research program spans evolutionary genetics, macroevolution, and organismal biology with emphasis on phylogenetic comparative methods and evo-devo frameworks. Current projects include developing phylogenetic models for the monkeyflower clade (Phrymaceae) to analyze trait-driven diversification, characterizing inflorescence architecture homology across angiosperms, and investigating the developmental genetics of floral ultraviolet pigmentation and cold tolerance plasticity in Mimulus species. Additional work explores underground storage organ evolution and floral trait development. Honors and Awards: NSF Postdoctoral Fellow in Biology UC President’s Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Martínez-Gómez’s research has been supported through competitive national fellowships. His laboratory actively pursues mechanistic links between genotype and phenotype while examining macroevolutionary patterns across plant diversification events. He maintains research collaborations across multiple institutions and continues to develop phylogenetic resources for the Phrymaceae family. Research facilities include an active laboratory focused on plant evolutionary developmental biology, with ongoing projects examining genetic basis of adaptive traits in model plant systems. His team utilizes genomic, transcriptomic, and morphometric approaches to address fundamental questions in plant evolution.
Prof. Moran Yehu is a Professor at the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, affiliated with the Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences. He leads the Department as its elected head. His research focuses on molecular evolution, particularly in cnidarians, exploring microRNA roles, venom evolution, and antiviral systems. He holds a BSc (Tel Aviv University), MSc (Biochemistry, Tel Aviv University), and PhD (2010, Tel Aviv University), followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Vienna. His lab investigates cnidarian development, toxinology, and RNA pathways, contributing to understanding evolutionary mechanisms in complex systems. Research Interests: - MicroRNA regulation in cnidarian development - Evolution of venom and toxin delivery systems - Antiviral immunity in basal metazoans - Ion channel evolution and function Recipient of the ERC Consolidator Grant (2019) for studying antiviral systems in cnidarians. Leading projects on cnidarian viromes and functional genetics of venom components. Key Achievements: - Characterized venom diversity across life stages in sea anemones. - Discovered novel microRNA functions and evolutionary links with plants. - Elucidated mechanisms of cnidocyte biogenesis using CRISPR/Cas9. Awards: - ERC Consolidator Grant (2019) - Selected Exceeding Article award for Yaara Columbus-Shenkar's work (SMART grant). Lab Activities: - Hosts a multidisciplinary team including postdocs, PhD students, and technicians. - Collaborates internationally on venom evolution and antiviral systems.
Bruce S Lieberman is a Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Kansas' College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He serves as Specialty Chief Editor for Paleontology at Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution and Frontiers in Earth Science, demonstrating leadership in academic publishing. His research centers on macroevolutionary patterns and invertebrate evolutionary history, with emphasis on paleontological analysis of extinction events, biogeographic distributions, and Cambrian explosion dynamics. He investigates how geographic range size, abundance, and environmental disruptions influence ecosystem stability across geological timescales, particularly in marine invertebrate communities from the Carboniferous and Cretaceous periods. Analysis of his 2019-2021 publications reveals consistent focus on integrating fossil record data with evolutionary theory to address questions about biodiversity resilience. His work spans Cambrian deuterostome evolution, echinoid biogeography, brachiopod community stability, and astrophysical triggers for mass extinctions, demonstrating interdisciplinary methodology bridging paleontology, evolutionary biology, and earth system science. Dr. Lieberman maintains active scholarly engagement through editorial leadership but no specific awards or advising activities are documented in the provided materials. His research program shows strong continuity in examining deep-time evolutionary processes through meticulous fossil analysis.
Carrie Mongle is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Stony Brook University and affiliated with the Turkana Basin Institute. Her research focuses on reconstructing hominin evolutionary trends through fossil discovery, morphological analysis, and phylogenetic studies. Ph.D. from Stony Brook University (2019) Teaches courses on climate change and human evolution, Turkana Basin fieldwork, and human anatomy Lab is affiliated with Turkana Basin Institute and collaborates with Koobi Fora Research Project Uses advanced methods like CT scanning and statistical modeling to study primate dental evolution As Associate Editor for the Journal of Human Evolution, she contributes to academic discourse while leading field research in northern Kenya. Her work bridges comparative anatomy with computational techniques to explore macroevolutionary patterns.
Daniele Silvestro is a researcher at ETH Zürich's Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, working within the Computational Evolution group based in Basel, Switzerland. His research spans evolutionary biology, computational methods, and biodiversity science, with a focus on developing and applying novel analytical approaches to understand macroevolutionary patterns. Dr. Silvestro's research interests center on evolutionary biology and computational approaches to understanding biodiversity patterns through time. His work bridges micro- and macroevolutionary scales, with particular emphasis on phylogenetic methods, speciation processes, and the integration of fossil data with molecular phylogenies. He applies machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques to analyze large-scale biodiversity datasets, addressing questions about species diversification, extinction dynamics, and ecological interactions across deep time. His recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward computational innovation in evolutionary biology, with increasing integration of artificial intelligence methods to tackle complex questions in biodiversity science. His work spans multiple biological systems, from plant-soil interactions to mammalian evolution, reflecting an interdisciplinary approach that combines theoretical modeling with empirical data analysis. Dr. Silvestro collaborates extensively with researchers across institutions and disciplines, contributing to major initiatives such as the 2030 Declaration on Scientific Plant and Fungal Collecting. His research has significant implications for biodiversity conservation, particularly in understanding how species and ecosystems respond to environmental change. His work on computational methods, including software development like DeepDiveR, demonstrates a commitment to creating practical tools for the broader scientific community. His research group at ETH Zürich appears to focus on developing and applying cutting-edge computational approaches to evolutionary questions, emphasizing the importance of integrating multiple data sources and analytical frameworks.
