​Ivan is an Associate Professor of Biology at Texas State University. He earned a B.S. from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (1997) and an M.S. (2000) and Ph.D. (2005) in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas State University. Ivan’s research focuses on the effects of anthropogenic disturbance on natural systems, with a particular emphasis on pathogen-host interactions, as well as the ecology of invasive and endangered mammal species. His work has examined pathogens such as hantaviruses, Borrelia, Leptospira, and Trypanosoma. At Texas State, Ivan teaches a range of courses in the Wildlife Biology program, including Techniques in Wildlife Management, Wildlife Management, and Ecology of Infectious Diseases in Wildlife. He also leads a Study in America program featuring field courses in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, providing students with hands-on experience in wildlife conservation and management.

Caleb is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Texas Tech University and the Curator of Genetic Resources at the Natural Science Research Laboratory. He earned a B.S. and M.S. in Biology from Tarleton State University and a Ph.D. in Genetics from Purdue University. Caleb’s research focuses on metagenomic and genomic evolution and function, with particular interest in the determinants of microbiome community assembly and their relationship to health in both wildlife and humans. His work also explores post-transcriptional regulation during craniofacial development, biodiversity, and the conservation of Texas mammals. His research is currently supported by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Joel is a professor of biology at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas. Joel earned his PhD from Texas Tech University and is broadly interested in the natural history of mammals in Texas. Current research projects tend to focus on the population ecology of small mammals around Abilene and the community ecology of rodents and bats in the Southern Rolling Plains of Texas.

Cathy is a Professor of Biology at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB). She earned a B.S. in Biology and Chemistry from Howard Payne University and went on to complete her M.S. and Ph.D. in Biology at Baylor University. Cathy's passion for teaching and field research developed early in her academic journey, particularly through hands-on experiences in Vertebrate Zoology and undergraduate research programs. Her commitment to student mentorship and small-class learning environments led her to UMHB, where she teaches a diverse range of courses, including Plant Taxonomy, Ornithology, Vertebrate Zoology, and Marine Biology. Cathy's research interests focus on field-based biological studies, natural history, and species conservation. She is dedicated to fostering curiosity and scientific exploration in her students through immersive field experiences and hands-on learning opportunities.

John is the VP of Customer Success at Blackhawk Genomics. For fun, he does field work in the Highlands of Panama. His primary focus is small mammals. When he is not in Panama, he is taking care of his three dogs, four cats, sixty chickens, an axolotl, and his existential tree frogs. He is also working to restore native plants on his small farm in Indiana and this year he is dipping his toes into the maple syrup production process. 

​Dara is an Assistant Professor of Marine Biology at Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi. Dara obtained a B.A. and a B.Sc. from the University of British Columbia (2006), a M.S. from the University of Western Ontario (2010; bat sensory modality integration), and a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University at Galveston (2016; mating in female cetaceans). Dara’s research focuses on the functional anatomy and behavioral ecology of marine mammals. In particular, much of her recent research focuses on genital evolution, mating patterns, and population biology of dolphins, whales, and porpoises. Dara teaches courses at TAMU-CC on Functional Anatomy, Biology of Marine Mammals, Science Communication, and Field Techniques in Marine Mammalogy.