Hector C. Miranda Jr. Ph.D.

Rank: Professor and Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, Thomas F. Freeman Honors College

Education and Training

Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, 1997 (Biological Sciences)
M.S. in Zoology, University of the Philippines at Los Banos, 1987 (Zoology)
B.S. in Biology, University of the Philippines at Los Banos, 1981 (Biology)
- Post-Doctoral Work: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (1997), Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Division of Human Genetics (1997-1998), University of Cincinnati (2002-2004)

Biography

Ecology, Evolution, Conservation Biology My research interest lies at the intersections of systematics, ecology, evolution and conservation biology. I seek to understand patterns and processes of organismal diversification. My work deals mainly on Philippine birds of prey and owls, and tropical biodiversity. I use archipelagic settings such as the Philippines to test hypotheses on phylogeography and adaptive radiation.

Research/Scholarly Activities

Phylogeography, evolution and conservation of Philippine birds, birds of prey and owls. Phylogeography of Old World pheasants Rodent systematics and molecular evolution

Select Publications

Quach, T. D. M. Brooks, and H. C. Miranda, Jr. 2014. Complete mitochondrial genome of Palawan peacock-pheasant Polyplectron napoleonis (Galliformes, Phasianidae). Mitochondrial DNA 27:1-2. Miranda, H. C., Jr. D. Brooks and R. S. Kennedy. 2011. Phylogeny and taxonomic review of Philippine scops-owls (Strigidae): parallel diversification of highland and lowland clades. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 123:441-453. Miranda, H. C., Jr. 2010. The Philippine Eagle. In Tingay, R. and T. Katzner (eds.). The Eagle Watchers. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York. Blanga-Kanfi, S., H. Miranda, O. Penn, T. Pupko, R. W. DeBry, and D. Huchony.2009. Rodent phylogeny revised: Analysis of six nuclear genes from all major rodent clades. BMC Evolutionary Biology 9:71. Kennedy, R. H. and H. C. Miranda, Jr. 2008. Family Rhabdornithidae. Pages 188-195. In: J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, and D. A. Christie (eds). Handbook of the Birds of the World: Vol 13. Penduline-tits to Shrikes. Lynx Edicions.Barcelona, Spain.

Bueser, G. L., K. Bueser, D. S. Afan, D. I. Salvador, J. W. Grier, R. S. Kennedy and H. C. Miranda, Jr. 2003. Nesting density and distribution of Philippine Eagles in Mindanao: What do we know after 100 years? Ibis.145:130-135.

Kennedy, R. S., P. Gonzales, E. Dickinson, H. C. Miranda, Jr. and T. Fisher. 2000. A Guide to the Birds of the Philippines. Oxford University Press, Oxford UK. Mindell, D. P., M. D. Sorenson, C. J. Huddleston, H. Miranda, Jr., A. Knight, S. J Sawchuck, and T. Yuri. 1997. Phylogenetic relationships among and within select avian orders based on mitochondrial DNA. Pp. 211-245 in D. P. Mindell, (ed). Avian Molecular Evolution and Systematics. Academic Press, New York.

Funding

Co-Investigator. NASA TSU University Research Center - Center for Bionanotechnology and Environmental Research (CBER) 2008-2014. Status (closed)

Courses Taught

Biology 131: General BiologyI
Biology 132: General Biology II
Biology 341: Organismic Biology
Biology 439: Principles of Biology
Biology 434: Evolutionary Biology
Biology 332: Bioinformatics
Biology 334: Conservation Biology
Biology 712: Biosynthetic Mechanisms (graduate level)