Christopher C. Austin

Biography

Dr. Christopher C. Austin completed his undergraduate degree at the University of California at Davis and PhD at the University of Texas at Austin. He developed a deep interest in the herpetofauna and biogeography of Australasia. He spent two years in Australia as a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow at the South Australian Museum in Adelaide and a Myer Postdoctoral Fellow at the Australian Museum in Sydney. He then spent two years in Japan as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute of Statistical Mathematics in Tokyo.

Research Interest

Laboratory uses molecular genetic techniques to examine questions concerning population genetics, systematics, biogeography, phylogeography and physiological and functional ecology of reptiles and amphibians. Research in my lab primarily uses independent molecular genetic data sets to answer evolutionary questions. Morphological data are also incorporated. This integrated approach, using a variety of molecular tools as well as morphological characters, is critical to gain the best estimate of historical relationships. Presently, there are multiple research projects underway around the world, but my particular geographic focus is the island of New Guinea, the world’s largest and highest tropical island.