author
Robert K. Selander
An influential evolutionary biologist, he helped transform the study of natural populations by bringing molecular tools into field biology. His work ranged from birds to bacteria, and it left a lasting mark on genetics, ecology, and evolution.
1 Audiobook
Vertebrates from the Barrier Island of Tamaulipas, México
by Robert K. Selander, Richard F. Johnston, Gerald G. Raun, B. J. Wilks
About the author
Born in Garfield, Utah, in 1927, Robert K. Selander studied zoology at the University of Utah before earning his Ph.D. at the University of California, Berkeley. Early in his career he focused on birds and biogeography, building a reputation as a sharp-eyed field naturalist with a strong feel for how populations vary across landscapes.
He later became an emeritus professor at Pennsylvania State University and was especially known for pioneering work in molecular population genetics. By using protein electrophoresis to study genetic variation in natural populations, he helped open new ways to understand evolution in animals and microbial pathogens. His research on organisms including Salmonella connected evolutionary theory with real-world questions about diversity, adaptation, and disease.
Selander was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1982. A National Academy biographical memoir also notes his wide-ranging interests beyond science, including a deep connection to music, which adds another dimension to a career remembered for originality, curiosity, and intellectual range.