Associate Professor
Invertebrate systematics and evolution

boyer@macalester.edu

Website: http://www.macalester.edu/~boyer/Site/Home.html

Professor Boyer is interested in the diversity and evolution of animal life. She takes a phylogenetic approach to questions in evolutionary biology, using both molecular and morphological data.  Current research projects in her lab focus on understanding the evolution of mite harvestmen (tiny daddy long-legs) in the Wet Tropics of Queensland, Australia.  She also works on population genetics and DNA barcoding of local freshwater mussels, with support from the National Park Service.  Professor Boyer works closely with undergraduates in both lab and field settings and has published papers with student coauthors.  She teaches Biodiversity and Evolution, one of the courses in the Department’s core sequence, as well as upper level courses in biogeography, evolution, and biodiverstiy. Other interests include travel, novels, food, family, friends and the great outdoors.

BA: Swarthmore College, 1996

MA: University of California Berkeley, 1998

PhD: Harvard University, 2007