I am the Brina Kessel Curator of Birds and a Professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

CV details can be found on the “Old School” page.

I study the patterns and processes of avian evolution at population, subspecies, and species levels, particularly in relation to seasonal migration. I use specimen-based, genetic/genomic, and ecological comparative approaches and actively combine field, collection, and laboratory studies. This is an exciting age to be a biologist, and my research and that of our group spans the spectrum from discovery science to hypothesis testing in classic and novel frameworks. I actively address the management and conservation implications of this work and try to show why it is important to society. In conjunction with curation, my research is broader, particularly in collaboration with others. I have used collections-based approaches to study ecological and environmental issues such as contaminants, stable isotopes, biological responses to climate change, and emerging zoonotic diseases. I like to couple academic and applied research. Students interested in our program should take advantage of our strength in specimen-based research.