University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s School of Life Sciences Professor Robert Thomson has been named the next editor-in-chief of Systematic Biology, the leading journal in the field of systematics and one of the most impactful journals in evolutionary biology globally.
Under Thomson’s leadership, Systematic Biology will continue to serve as a premier platform for groundbreaking research and collaboration in evolutionary biology. The journal publishes new methods for inference of evolutionary history, understanding drivers of biodiversity, as well as the theory and practice of describing species. These research areas align with UH Mānoa’s position as the only Carnegie Research 1 institution centered in a global biodiversity hotspot.
The journal relies on advanced computational and statistical tools, offering students training in cutting-edge areas such as big data analysis, machine learning and modeling complex processes—skills that are increasingly relevant in emerging sectors of the economy. As editor-elect starting in January 2025, Thomson oversees new submissions to the journal and collaborates with outgoing editor-in-chief, Isabel Sanmartín. Thomson’s full term as editor-in-chief will run from January 2026 to December 2028.
“I am honored to take on this role and happy to represent UH in advancing the field of evolutionary biology on a global scale,” Thomson said. “Hawaiʻi’s incredible biodiversity underscores the importance of systematics, and I look forward to fostering research that deepens our understanding of life’s complexity while supporting conservation efforts here and beyond.”
More about systematic biology
Systematic biology explores biodiversity and the evolutionary ties between species. By tracing these relationships, it reveals life’s history, predicts species’ responses to change and informs conservation.
This field is vital in Hawaiʻi, a biodiversity hotspot with species found nowhere else. From honeycreepers to coral reefs, Hawaiʻi’s ecosystems showcase evolution in action. Systematic biology helps uncover species’ origins, understand ecosystem dynamics and guide conservation amid climate change and habitat loss.
More about Thomson
Thomson serves as chair of the Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology graduate program. He is a research associate in the Department of Herpetology at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and author of the book California Amphibian and Reptile Species of Special Concern (University of California Press, 2016). He has published dozens of papers on systematics and conservation biology in journals such as Science, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Molecular Biology and Evolution and Systematic Biology. This work has been recognized with multiple awards, including the UH Regent’s Medal for Excellence in Research and the UC Davis Merton Love Award for outstanding dissertation in evolution and ecology.
