Alex J. Maile

I am a Ph.D. candidate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Kansas, working in the Ichthyology Division of the Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum. My research centers on the evolutionary relationships and morphological diversity of fishes, with a current focus on Beryciformes and Trachichthyiformes and a broader history with deep-sea groups.

My work integrates morphology, molecular data, and ecological context to investigate how form and function evolve, with particular interest in anglerfishes and their bioluminescent lures, lizardfish body shape diversification, and the perianal bioluminescent organs of roughies.

I welcome inquiries about collaborations and am always glad to connect with others working at the intersection of systematics, morphology, and deep-sea biology.