I am a postdoctoral research associate in the Hulsey and O'Meara labs at the University of Tennessee - Knoxville. A few months ago I finished my Ph.D. at Washington State University under the mentorship of MIchael Alfaro. I also worked closely with Luke Harmon. My committee also included Eric Roalson and Jack Sullivan.

My interests focus on evolutionary biology patterns and processes. By integrating fossil data and current Bayesian statistical analyses we can est get an idea of how fast species and their morphology diversified. These patterns are rate-variable across the history of most groups and can link up to external (environmental, geologic, etc.) or intrinsic (new phenotypes) phenomena. After identifying these patterns we can start estimating the parameters for models that reflect the selective processes that might have led to the great diversity of numbers and forms of extant taxa. For my dissertation research I looked at speciation and morphological diversification patterns in snakes. This diverse group of around 3 000 species is one of the coolest vertebrate groups. I have also worked on descriptive frog morphology, historical patterns of population growth as it was restricted by glacial maxima, and I am now working on developing new ways to study the evolution of morphology.

You can contact me at:

Hugo Alamillo
425A Hesler
1406 Circle Drive
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996

email: alamillo (at) utk.edu
phone: 509-432-6869