J.C. Buckner, Ph.D.
Evolutionary Zoologist

Current Appointments
Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, UTA
Research Faculty, Amphibian and Reptile Diversity Research Center, UTA
Research Associate, Division of Birds, Smithsonian NMNH
​Research Associate, LSU Museum of Natural Science

Service Positions
V.P. of Communications, Black in Natural History Museums
Council Member, Society of Systematic Biologists
DEI Committee, Society of Systematic Biologists
Faculty advisor, UTA SACNAS chapter

Education & Experience
​Postdoctoral Researcher, Louisiana State University, 2020-21
NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, Iowa State University, 2018-19
Ph.D., University of California Los Angeles, 2017
B.S., State University of New York at Oswego, 2011

See my CV for more information about my experience in research, mentoring, teaching, diversity, equity and inclusion. 

I received my B.S in Zoology from the State University of New York at Oswego in 2011 where I was advised by Karen Sime, Amy Welsh and Eric Hellquist (Department of Biological Sciences) in my independent research.  I owe many thanks to Cleane Medeiros and Tracy Lewis for my interest and start in Central and South American tropical biology research. I received my Ph.D in Biology from UCLA in 2017 where I was advised by Jessica W. Lynch (Institute for Society and Genetics; Department of Anthropology), David K. Jacobs and Michael E. Alfaro (Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology). I did my first postdoc with Tracy A. Heath (Iowa State University - Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology) and Courtney Hofman (Oklahoma State University - Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research; Department of Anthropology). My second postdoc was in the Museum of Natural Science at Louisiana State University with Jacob Esselstyn (Mammalogy) and Robb Brumfield (Ornithology).