EEB Guest Seminar by Dr. Hayden Davis
When
Location
Password: eebseminar
Abstract:
Biodiversity is shaped by processes operating at multiple scales: from clades, to species, to the genetic variation within populations that support long-term resilience. In this talk, I will show how my research combines museum collections, fieldwork, and genomic data to study evolution and speciation across scales of diversity, with a broad focus on the conservation of biodiversity. First, I will highlight how collections‑based research on Borneo and western North America have revealed undescribed and cryptic reptile diversity, and how genomic species‑delimitation frameworks can refine species boundaries in taxonomically challenging groups. Second, I will highlight study systems at the early stages of population divergence to determine how ecology, geography, and gene flow interact to initiate and maintain reproductive barriers. Finally, I will show how conservation genomics can identify and track rare alleles linked to life‑history and size variation in vulnerable lineages, informing management strategies that preserve adaptive potential. Together, my research illustrates how a collections‑based, multi‑disciplinary genomics program can aid in the discovery and description of biodiversity, reveal the drivers of speciation, and provide practical approaches for maintaining genetic diversity in changing environments, while engaging students in the process.
Biosketch:
Hayden R. Davis is a molecular ecologist and evolutionary biologist whose research integrates museum collections, fieldwork, and genomics to understand how biodiversity is generated, structured, and conserved. His work spans multiple scales, from discovering and defining reptile diversity in Southeast Asian rainforests to dissecting population divergence and gene flow in North American lizards and applying conservation genomics to threatened salmon populations.
Hayden earned a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Washington, where he developed frameworks for species delimitation and examined how ecological and geographic variation shape lineage diversification. He currently works at the intersection of academia and federal and state government exploring biodiversity genomics and conservation, using genome‑scale datasets to link genetic variation with life‑history traits to inform the management of vulnerable populations.
In addition to research, Hayden is deeply engaged with museum collections and student training and mentorship. He has led international field expeditions, collaborated with and worked in multiple natural history museums, and mentored students in museum preparation, genomic data analysis, and scientific writing. Through this work, Hayden aims to build a collections‑centered research programs that connects evolutionary theory, biodiversity discovery, and conservation practice while creating broad opportunities for the next generation of scientists.