David M. Hillis

David M. Hillis: Brief Biography

David M. Hillis is the Alfred W. Roark Centennial Professor in Natural Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin, where he studies molecular evolution and biodiversity in the Department of Integrative Biology. He is the Director of the Dean’s Scholars Program of the College of Natural Sciences and Director of the University's Biodiversity Center. He also served as the first Director of the School of Biological Sciences and oversaw the reorganization of the biological sciences at the University of Texas. He teaches courses in introductory biology, genetics, evolution, biological systematics, and biodiversity, and was awarded the University of Texas Civitatis Award in recognition of his service to the University.

Hillis is recipient of a John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fellowship, and has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences in recognition of his work in the field of molecular evolution. He has served as President of the Society for the Study of Evolution and as President of the Society of Systematic Biologists. His publications include more than 200 scientific research papers and books on evolution and biodiversity.

Curriculum reform in the biological sciences is another of Hillis’s passions. He served on the National Research Council’s Committee of Biology Education and co-authored that committee’s influential report, BIO2010: Transforming Undergraduate Education for Future Research Biologists. He has also co-authored popular textbooks in biology, including Molecular Systematics (now in its 2nd edition), Life: The Science of Biology (now in its 12th edition), and most recently, Principles of Life (now in its 3rd edition).