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About Ryan Hill

My research program focuses on evolutionary ecology of butterflies and seeks to understand patterns and processes of biological diversification. I have focused my research on butterflies because of their rich and well-known natural history and wonderful examples of warning coloration and mimicry, traits shaped by natural selection. My students and I study both immature and adult stages in the lab and field to obtain a holistic perspective on ecology and evolution.

Since arriving at the University of the Pacific I have expanded my research from Neotropical groups (Ithomiinii and Heliconius) to include investigations of mimicry in species of North America, and genetic and ecological work focused on west coast species of conservation concern. These projects are giving my students many research opportunities locally in California and in the Neotropics. We have received funding to work on two different groups: Speyeria butterflies, and limenitidine (Adelpha and Limenitis) butterflies in western North America. Please see my website for more details on these projects.

I welcome inquiries from students interested in pursuing undergraduate or graduate research in my lab.

Positions

September 2017 - Present Associate Professor, University of the Pacific ‐ College of the Pacific
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July 2011 - August 2017 Assistant Professor, University of the Pacific ‐ College of the Pacific
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August 2010 - June 2011 Visiting Assistant Professor, University of the Pacific ‐ College of the Pacific
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September 2008 - August 2010 Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University
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Curriculum Vitae

Disciplines

Research Interests

Grants

2014 - 2018 Connecting the proximate mechanisms responsible for organismal diversity to the ultimate causes of latitudinal gradients in species richness
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Dimensions, Collaborative Research
$1,988,908.00
2013 - 2017 Population genetics research, and development of a genetic management plan for the Callippe Silverspot butterfly
Federal Bureau of Reclamation
$117,085.00
2010 - 2012 Determining the genetic basis of endangered species classification for the Callippe Silverspot butterfly, Speyeria callippe callippe
USFWS
Role: Co-PI
Colleague(s): S. Mullen, W. Savage, M. Kronforst
$75,575
$
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Professional Service and Affiliations

Present Member, Society of Systematic Biologists and Lepidopterists’ Society
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Honors and Awards

  • March 2008. Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award. UC-Berkeley.
  • December 2007. President’s Prize Runner-up, Oral presentation. Entomological Society of America Annual meeting. San Diego.
  • May 2003. Award for Teaching Excellence. University of Texas at Austin.

Courses

  • BIOL 175 Ecology
  • BIOL 051 Principles of Biology
  • BIOL 171 Methods in Field Biology
  • BIOL 074 Insect Biology
  • BIOL 193 Organismal Diversity
  • BIOL 111 Anatomy and Physiology
  • BIOL 197 Undergraduate Research

Education

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August 2008 Ph.D., Integrative Biology, University of California - Berkeley
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August 2003 M.A., Zoology, University of Texas at Austin
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June 1997 B.S., Biology, University of Oregon
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Links

Contact Information

University of the Pacific
Department of Biological Sciences
Biological Sciences Center, 223
3601 Pacific Avenue
Stockton, CA 95211
Phone: (209) 946-3020

Email:

ORCID

Articles (30)

Journal articles written by Dr. Ryan I. Hill.