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Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

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You are here: Home / People / Faculty

Faculty

Core, Associate and Adjunct Faculty

Core Faculty are members of the Graduate Faculty at Texas A&M University. Core faculty teach EEB module courses and also serve as committee chairs for EEB students. A list of faculty research themes can be found here and are also listed under each core faculty member’s interest in the list below. Other information about Core Faculty can be found in the bylaws.

Core Faculty

Jaime Alvarado-Bremer

Professor
Marine Biology
Department Profile

Conservation and population genetics of large pelagic fishes
conservation biology/restoration ecology
evolutionary genomics
phylogenetics & comparative biology
population & quantitative genetics

Sanjay Antony-Babu

Assistant Professor
Plant Pathology
Lab Website

Plant-microbe interactions
community ecology

Anna Armitage

Professor
Marine Biology
Ecology & Conservation Biology
Department Profile

Coastal ecosystem ecology and management of restored and impacted habitats
conservation biol/restoration ecology
ecosystems/landscape ecology
community ecology

Giri Athrey

Associate Professor
Poultry Science
Lab Website

Quantitative genetics and functional genomics, birds and disease vectors
evolutionary genomics
population & quantitative genetics
population ecology

Perry Barboza

Professor
Ecology & Conservation Biology
Lab Website

Consequences of life history and environmental change on nutrition in wildlife

Spencer Behmer

Professor
Entomology
Lab Website

Insect physiology and behavior, including their ecological and evolutionary bases
behavioral ecology
physiological ecology

Christina Belanger

Assistant Professor
Geology & Geophysics
Department Profile

Biotic responses to environmental change; paleoecology; paleoenvironments
community ecology
ecosystems/landscape ecology
conservation biology/restoration ecology
evolutionary ecology

Heath Blackmon

Assistant Professor
Biology
Lab Website
* actively recruiting students

Evolutionary genomics, quantitative genetics, character evolution, and applied phylogenetics
evolutionary genomics
phylogenetics & comparative biology
population & quantitative genetics

Donald Brightsmith

Associate Professor
Veterinary Pathobiology
Department Profile
Website
TAMU Experts

Ecology and conservation of macaws and parrots
behavioral ecology
community ecology
conservation biology/restoration ecology
population ecology

James Cai

Associate Professor
Veterinary Integrative Biosciences
Department Profile
Lab Website

Evolutionary biology and physiology, with emphasis on evolution of complex phenotypes
evolutionary genomics
population & quantitative genetics

Claudio Casola

Associate Professor
Ecology & Conservation Biology
Lab Website

Evolutionary genomics of genes and transposable elements in conifers
evolutionary genomics

Thomas Chappell

Assistant Professor
Plant Pathology & Microbiology
Lab Website
Department Profile

Epidemiology, ecology, and coevolution of plant-enemy systems
evolutionary ecology
community ecology
population ecology

Kevin Conway

Associate Professor
Ecology & Conservation Biology
Department Profile

Systematic ichthyology; phylogenetic and comparative anatomy of ray-finned fishes
phylogenetics & comparative biology

Charles Criscione 

Professor
Biology
Lab Website

Population genetics of metazoan parasites
evolutionary ecology
evolutionary genomics
population & quantitative genetics

Kira Delmore

Assistant Professor
Biology
Lab Website

Speciation, hybridization, behavior and genomics
behavioral ecology
evolutionary ecology
population & quantitative genetics

Darryl de Ruiter

Professor & Dept Head
Anthropology
Department Profile
TAMU Experts

Ecology and evolution of the human lineage, with a particular focus on origin of genus Homo
phylogenetics & comparative biology

Micky Eubanks

Professor
Entomology
Lab Website

Causes and consequences of variation in complex ecological interactions
behavioral ecology
community ecology
evolutionary ecology
population ecology

Ron Eytan

Assistant Professor
Marine Biology
Lab Website

Evolutionary genetics, molecular systematics, and speciation in marine fishes
evolutionary ecology
evolutionary genomics
phylogenetics & comparative biology
population & quantitative genetics

Rusty Feagin

Professor
Ecology & Conservation Biology
Lab Website

Responses of beach, dune, and wetland ecosystems to global change
conservation biology/restoration ecology
ecosystems/landscape ecology

Lee Fitzgerald

Professor
Ecology & Conservation Biology
Department Profile

Mechanisms underlying persistence and disappearance of species and communities
community ecology
conservation biology/restoration ecology
ecosystems/landscape ecology
evolutionary ecology
population ecology

Courtney Fitzpatrick

Assistant Professor
Biology
Lab Website

Influence of social environments on trait evolution
evolutionary ecology
population ecology

Masami Fujiwara

Associate Professor
Ecology & Conservation Biology
Department Profile

Effects of life history variation on population and community dynamics; statistical ecology; theoretical ecology
population ecology

Jacqueline Grace

Assistant Professor
Ecology & Conservation Biology
Lab Website

Ecophysiology and behavior of birds
behavioral ecology
physiological ecology

Sharon Gursky

Professor
Anthropology
Department Profile

Behavioral ecology and conservation of non-human primates
behavioral ecology
evolutionary ecology
population ecology

Gabriel Hamer 

Associate Professor
Entomology
Lab Website

Ecology of infectious diseases of humans, wild animals, and domestic animals
community ecology
ecosystems/landscape ecology
population ecology

Sarah Hamer

Associate Professor
Veterinary Integrative Biosciences
Lab Website
TAMU Experts

Ecology and epidemiology of wildlife disease
community ecology
ecosystems/landscape ecology

Anjel Helms

Assistant Professor
Entomology
Department Profile
Lab Website

Chemical ecology, tritrophic and plant-herbivore interactions
behavioral ecology
evolutionary ecology
physiological ecology

Luis Hurtado-Clavijo

Associate Professor
Ecology & Conservation Biology
Department Profile

Evolutionary origins, patterns and maintenance of biodiversity
conservation biology/restoration ecology
evolutionary ecology
evolutionary genomics
phylogenetics & comparative biology
population & quantitative genetics

Laura Jurgens

Assistant Professor
Marine Biology
Lab Website

Global change and extreme events; marine and estuarine community ecology; macro-ecology
community ecology
conservation biology/restoration ecology
ecosystems/landscape ecology
physiological ecology

Phillip Kaufman

Professor
Entomology
Department Profile

Veterinary and livestock entomology, insecticide resistance, biological control, integrated pest management
community ecology
population ecology

Michelle Lawing

Associate Professor
Ecology & Conservation Biology
Lab Website

Evolutionary responses of species and communites to environmental change
community ecology
conservation biology/restoration ecology
ecosystems/landscape ecology
phylogenetics & comparative biology

Jessica Light

Associate Professor
Ecology & Conservation Biology
Lab Website

Evolutionary and ecological assessments of host-parasite associations
evolutionary ecology
phylogenetics & comparative biology
population & quantitative genetics

Anna Linderholm

Associate Professor
Anthropology
ResearchGate Profile

Ancient DNA, dog domestication, adaptation to environmental change, environmental reconstructions in prehistory
evolutionary ecology
evolutionary genomics
population & quantitative genetics
population ecology

Christopher Marshall

Professor
Marine Biology
Lab Website
TAMU Experts

Comparative functional organismal biology and evolutionary adaptation
evolutionary ecology
physiological ecology

Mariana Mateos

Associate Professor
Ecology & Conservation Biology
Department Profile
Lab Website

Evolution of host-symbiont associations and phylogeography of freshwater organisms
evolutionary ecology
evolutionary genomics
phylogenetics & comparative biology
population & quantitative genetics

Raul Medina

Professor
Entomology
Department Profile
Lab Website

Population genetic aspects of pest species and their natural enemies
conservation biology
evolutionary genomics
phylogenetics & comparative biology
population & quantitative genetics

Christine Merlin

Assistant Professor
Biology
Lab Website

Circadian biology
behavioral ecology

Maria Pia Miglietta

Assistant Professor
Marine Biology
Lab Website

Evolution, genetics, and ecology of Hydrozoa (Cnidaria)
evolutionary genomics
phylogenetics & comparative biology

Rachel Moran

Assistant Professor
Biology
Department Profile
Lab Website

Behavioral research with genomic technologies to understand the adaptive and mechanistic underpinnings of species diversification

William Murphy

Professor
Veterinary Integrative Biosciences
Lab Website

Mammalian phylogenetics and evolutionary genomics
evolutionary genomics
phylogenetics & comparative biology

Alan Pepper

Professor
Biology
Department Profile

Phenotypic plasticity and adaptive evolution in terrestrial plants
conservation biology/restoration ecology
evolutionary ecology
evolutionary genomics
phylogenetics & comparative biology
physiological ecology
population & quantitative genetics

Josh Perkin

Assistant Professor
Ecology & Conservation Biology
Lab Website

Ecology and conservation of freshwater fishes; riverine landscape ecology
community ecology
conservation biology/restoration ecology
ecosystems/landscape ecology

Antonietta Quigg

Regents Professor
Marine Biology
Department Profile
Lab Website
TAMU Experts

Elemental dynamics, physiology, and community ecology in coastal ecosystems
community ecology
ecosystems/landscape ecology
physiological ecology

Juliana Rangel

Associate Professor
Entomology
Lab Website

Population, disease and reproductive biology of honey bees
behavioral ecology (integrative animal behavior)
physiological ecology
population & quantitative genetics
population ecology

Anne Raymond

Professor
Geology & Geophysics
Department Profile

Plant paleoecology, paleobiogeography and evolutionary history
community ecology
conservation biology/restoration ecology
evolutionary ecology
phylogenetics & comparative biology

Daniel Roelke

Professor & Dept Head
Marine Biology
Department Profile
Lab Website

Lower foodweb dynamics of aquatic ecosystems; interactions between biota and physicochemical environment
community ecology
population ecology

William Rogers

Professor
Ecology & Conservation Biology
Department Profile

Plant-animal interactions, population dynamics, community assembly rules, and ecological restoration
community ecology
conservation biology/restoration ecology
ecosystems/landscape ecology

Gil Rosenthal

Professor
Biology
Profile

Mate choice and evolutionary genetics in fish hybrid zones
behavioral ecology
evolutionary ecology
evolutionary genomics

Anja Schulze

Associate Professor
Marine Biology
Lab Website

Species distributions, dispersal and local adaptation of marine invertebrates
evolutionary genomics
phylogenetics & comparative biology

Michael Smotherman

Professor
Biology
Lab Website

Physiology and evolution of vocal motor pathway in mammals
behavioral ecology
physiological ecology

Hojun Song

Associate Professor
Entomology
Lab Website

Insect systematics; phylogenetics of orthopteran insects; phenotypic plasticity; character evolution
behavioral ecology
evolutionary genomics
phylogenetics & comparative biology

Daniel Spalink

Assistant Professor
Ecology & Conservation Biology
Department Profile
Lab Website

Plant systematics and biogeography
evolutionary ecology
phylogenetics & comparative biology
population & quantitative genetics

Marie Strader

Assistant Professor
Biology
Department Profile
Lab Website

Marine molecular ecology focused on mechanisms of organismal responses to the environment

Amanda Stronza

Professor
Ecology & Conservation Biology
Co-director, ABS
Website
Department Profile

Community-based conservation, human-wildlife conflict, sustainable development
conservation biology/restoration ecology
population ecology

Gregory Sword

Professor
Entomology
Lab Website

Insect, plant & microbial ecology
behavioral ecology
physiological ecology
population & quantitative genetics
population ecology

Aaron Tarone

Associate Professor
Entomology
Lab Website

Genomic studies of development and population biology in flies
evolutionary genomics
physiological ecology
population & quantitative genetics

Jeffery Tomberlin

Professor
Entomology
Lab Website

Ecology and biology of flies associated with decomposing matter
behavioral ecology
community ecology
physiological ecology

Ed Vargo

Professor & Endowed Chair
Entomology
Lab Website

Urban and structural entomology
behavioral ecology
population & quantitative genetics
population ecology

Joseph Veldman

Assistant Professor
Ecology & Conservation Biology
Department Profile
Lab Website

 Fire ecology of savannas and forests
community ecology
conservation biology/ restoration ecology
ecosystems/landscape ecology

Gary Voelker

Professor
Ecology & Conservation Biology
Lab Website

Systematics and biogeography of birds
evolutionary ecology
phylogenetics & comparative biology
population & quantitative genetics

Jason West

Associate Professor
Ecology & Conservation Biology
Lab Website

Terrestrial ecosystem ecology, plant-environment interactions, and global environmental change
ecosystems/landscape ecology
physiological ecology

Mary Wicksten

Professor
Biology
Department Profile

Behavior, classification and ecology of decapod Crustacea, plus adaptive coloration in marine organisms
behavioral ecology
phylogenetics & comparative biology

Brad Wilcox

Professor
Ecology & Conservation Biology
Lab Website

Understanding hydrologic processes on shrublands
community ecology
ecosystems/landscape ecology

Kirk Winemiller

Regents Professor
Ecology & Conservation Biology
Lab Website

Ecology and evolution of fishes, community ecology, and aquatic ecosystems
community ecology
evolutionary ecology
population ecology

X. Ben Wu

Professor
Ecology & Conservation Biology
Department Profile

Landscape ecology and undergraduate ecology education
ecosystems/landscape ecology

Jessica Yorzinski

Assistant Professor
Ecology & Conservation Biology
Lab Website

Animal behavior, sensory ecology, animal communication, conservation
behavioral ecology (integrative animal behavior)
evolutionary ecology

Associate Faculty

Associate Faculty are members of the Graduate Faculty at Texas A&M University, but they cannot serve as committee chairs for EEB students. Other information about Associate Faculty can be found in the bylaws.

Name Title Dept Interest
Alvard, Michael S. Associate Professor Anthropology Evolution of human behavior
Andersson, Leif Professor Veterinary Integrative Biosciences Genome biology and evolutionary biology
Bapst, David Instructional Assistant Professor Geology & Geophysics Marine invertebrate paleontology, morphological phylogenetics, macroevolution
Bernardo, Joseph Research Associate Professor Biology Biodiversity conservation in the face of climate change, vertebrate ecology and life history, biology of amphibians and reptiles (especially salamanders and lizards)
Briske, David D. Regents Professor Ecology & Conservation Biology Grassland ecology and global change
Cairns, David Professor Geography Landscape ecology and ecosystem modeling
Coulson, Robert Professor Entomology Activities and impacts of insects and other taxa in forest, prairie, and savanna landscapes
Criscitiello, Michael Professor Veterinary Pathobiology Evolutionary genetics of immune function
Davis, Brian Research Assistant Professor Veterinary Integrative Biosciences Genomic variation in post-domestication/wild populations and heritable disease implications. Founder, Exotic Genome Repository
de Figueiredo, Paul Associate Professor Microbial Pathogenesis & Immunology, College of Medicine Microbiology, cell biology, and genetics to develop novel biotechnologies and elucidate the molecular dynamics of living systems.
Greenbaum, Ira Professor Emeritus Biology Vertebrate cytogenetics
Heinz, Kevin M. Professor Entomology Behavioral ecology of host-parasitoid interactions
Keene, Alex C. Professor Biology Neurogenetics and behavior
Lafon, Charles W. Professor Geography Assessment and monitoring of patterns and trends in biodiversity
Lockless, Steve Associate Professor Biology Information processing in biological systems
Oswald, John D. Professor Entomology Systematics and evolution of insects
Sansom, Roger Associate Professor Philosophy Integrating evolution and development
Schartl, Manfred Visiting Professor Biology Evolutionary genomics and evolution of sex determination and sex chromosomes in fish; cancer genetics and genomics
Scott, David Professor Recreation, Parks & Tourism Sociology of leisure and community parks and recreation
Thakar, Heather Assistant Professor Anthropology Evolutionary and Ecological Theory, Coastal and Island Archaeology, Environmental Archaeology, Foraging and Proto-agricultural Societies
Thornton, Daniel Professor Oceanography Ecology of nutrient cycling in coastal systems
Tice, Michael Associate Professor Geology & Geophysics Early evolution of microorganisms and metabolisms
Tjoelker, Mark G. Professor Ecology & Conservation Biology Plant physiological ecology
Vogel, Jason Assistant Professor Ecology & Conservation Biology Ecosystem management, the physical environment, plant and microbial communities interactions
Walton, Jay Professor Emeritus Mathematics Modeling spatial ecology and structured populations
Wilkinson, Heather H. Professor Plant Pathology & Microbiology Evolution of microbial genes, genomes and communities
Williams, Tiffani Associate Professor Computer Science & Engineering Computational biology and phylogenetic inference
Winking, Jeffrey Associate Professor Anthropology Evolutionary ecology of human behavior

Adjunct Faculty

Adjunct Faculty may co-advise students and serve on student committees, provided they are appointed to the TAMU graduate faculty. Other information about Adjunct Faculty can be found in the bylaws.

Name Title Institution Interest
Meik, Jesse Assistant Professor Tarleton State University Ecology, comparative evolution biology

Retired/Former Faculty

Thomas Boutton, Ecology & Conservation Biology
Lisa Campbell, Oceanography
Thomas DeWitt, Ecology & Conservation Biology
Thomas Lacher, Ecology & Conservation Biology
Georgianne Moore, Ecology & Conservation Biology
Michel Slotman, Entomology

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Doctoral Program

Texas A&M University

© Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

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Office: WFES 218
Phone: (979) 845-2114
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Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Department of Entomology
TAMU MS 2475
College Station, TX 77843-2475

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