Jekyll2025-11-12T18:22:05+00:00https://devonderaad.github.io/feed.xmlDevon DeRaadI want to understand the evolutionary forces mediating the generation of novel biodiversity across the globe. To achieve this goal, I use wild (both natural and human-introduced) bird populations as natural experiments. My research is at the forefront of the effort to integrate specimen-vouchered museum samples with cutting-edge genomic approaches to answer exciting questions in evolutionary biology.Devon DeRaadSummer conference round up2025-08-21T00:00:00+00:002025-08-21T00:00:00+00:00https://devonderaad.github.io/blog/summer-conferencesThis summer I was selected as a finalist for the 2025 SSE Hamilton Award and the 2025 SSB Mayr Award. Because of this, I got to present my talk in the Hamilton Symposium at the virtual Evolution conference in May 2025, alongside other excellent talks from early career researchers on their respective dissertation projects. It was an honor to be chosen to participate in this symposium.

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Watch the talk (and other talks from the Hamilton Symposium at virtual Evolution 2025)

Watch the talk →

Later in the summer (August 2025) I also presented this work at the American Ornithological Society meeting in St. Louis. This conference was a great opportunity to catch up with friends and colleagues and see what type of exciting work is being done across ornithology!

]]>Devon DeRaadAudubon Magazine feature2025-05-14T00:00:00+00:002025-05-14T00:00:00+00:00https://devonderaad.github.io/blog/audubon-magazine-featureA recent article in Audubon Magazine highlights results from my recent work documenting the rapid spread of Swinhoe’s White-eye (Zosterops simplex) across Southern California. I am very excited that this work is getting attention from bird enthusiasts and can’t wait to see what we continue to learn from these fascinating birds!

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Read our original research article documenting the spread of Swinhoe's White-eye in Southern California

DeRaad et al., 2024, Biological Invasions
Read Full Article →
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Audubon Magazine discusses our recent research on Swinhoe's White-eye.

Read Full Article →
]]>Devon DeRaadDissertation defense2024-10-29T00:00:00+00:002024-10-29T00:00:00+00:00https://devonderaad.github.io/blog/dissertation-defenseI am christening this updated website by announcing that I defended my dissertation back in May 2024! My dissertation ended up focusing on understanding patterns of relatedness among multiple groups of closely related bird species found in the islands of the Pacific. The whole document can be accessed here and you can even watch my defense here if you’re interested. I am proud of the work I accomplished during my PhD and excited for the foundation that I believe it will set for my research program moving forward. Cheers to happy endings and new beginnings!

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rock chalk!
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