Rate My Professor Julian Avery

Julian Avery is an Associate Research Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management at Pennsylvania State University, affiliated with the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences. In Biology at Penn State, his expertise spans invasion ecology, population genetics, wildlife ecology, evolution, conservation biology, animal coloration, and island biology. He earned a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolution from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey in 2013, an M.S. in Conservation Biology from Eastern New Mexico University in 2005, and a B.S. in Ecology from Pennsylvania State University in 2001. Avery's early career featured graduate research and teaching assistantships at Rutgers University (2007–2012), where he also served as Land Manager and Research Coordinator at Hutcheson Memorial Forest Research Station; curatorial assistant positions in Herpetology and Ornithology at the American Museum of Natural History (2002–2003, 2006); biologist roles with the Wildlife Conservation Society and New Jersey Audubon Society (2002–2003, 2006); teaching assistantships in ornithology, landscape ecology, and general biology at Eastern New Mexico University (2003–2005); and research assistantships at Pennsylvania State University (1997–2001).

Avery's research investigates conservation biology, invasive species ecology, effects of human disturbance on biodiversity, illegal reptilian wildlife trade, animal ecology and responses to human disturbance, and patterns and processes in animal coloration. His studies address population dynamics of species like ruffed grouse, flathead catfish, and garter snakes, noise impacts on birds, and resource effects on growth and demography. Key publications include "Food availability has direct and delayed effects on structural growth and body reserves in garter snakes" (Ecology, 2025), "Feeding habits and ecological implications of the invasive Flathead Catfish in the Susquehanna River basin, Pennsylvania" (Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, 2024), "Whole genome assessment of a declining game bird reveals cryptic genetic structure and insights for population management" (Molecular Ecology, 2023), "Princes and paupers: effects of annual and early-life resource variability on demography in populations of common garter snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis" (Journal of Herpetology, 2024), "A call to integrate non-visual functions of pigments and their interactions with visual functions to understand global change impacts on visual systems" (Functional Ecology, 2024), and "Gas compressor noise does not influence tree swallow nestling condition or immune response" (Journal of Zoology, 2022). He received the 2017 Paul R. and Joan M. Shellenberger Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and contributes to public discourse via The Conversation articles. Avery teaches ornithology and wildlife courses.