Museum specimens are important sources of DNA, used by researchers to discover the evolutionary relationships among species. NYSM zoology curators save small samples of muscle and other tissues from the specimens they prepare for our collections. The tissue samples from fish, bird, and mammal...
Ornithology
Ornithological research at NYSM focuses on historical questions concerning the biogeography and evolution birds. Our research combines traditional museum specimen work, field work, and modern genetics laboratory work. We use DNA sequence data from living and extinct species to understand rates and patterns of bird evolution over the last few million years. Potential graduate students who wish to pursue a masters or doctorate degree through the State University of New York at Albany should contact the curator, Dr. Jeremy Kirchman.