Biology Dept. Seminar - Dr. Luca Pozzi

Hidden In The Dark: A Quest For (Bio)diversity

Abstract: Nocturnal primates are some of the most cryptic mammals. Their species diversity has likely been long underestimated due to the lack of morphological variation. Ironically, their cryptic behavior is also a good metaphor for my life as a scientist and the struggles I met in navigating academia as a gay man. In this talk, I will discuss what we have learned about these primates over the last decade thanks to the integration of morphological, behavioral, genetic data and what I have learned about myself through the challenges of science and academia.

Biography: Dr. Pozzi is an Assistant Professor of Biological Anthropology at UTSA. He received a Bachelor in Biology, a Masters in Animal Biodiversity, and Conservation from the Università degli Studi di Torino, and a Ph.D. in Biological Anthropology from New York University. His research centers on primate biodiversity and conservation and he has worked in several countries including Kenya, Tanzania, and Madagascar. His work focuses on exploring the dynamics of diversification, such as the ecological and evolutionary driving factors that shape diversification and speciation in time and space. More recently, his work has been focused on obtaining genomic data from museum collections to investigate diversity in cryptic nocturnal primates. In addition to his research, Dr. Pozzi is also engaged in promoting diversity and social justice within and beyond academia. He is the Chair of Pride FSA (the LGBTQ+ Faculty and Staff Association at UTSA) and a member of the Society of Systematic Biologists Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (DEIC).