Christopher Hemingson

Learn more about Christopher Hemingson

Get To Know Christopher Hemingson

What in your life drew you to your current field of study?

I have always had a deep interest with nature mainly driven by its nearly limitless diversity. Every ecosystem offers a new organism, a different behavior, a unique function. In particular, I find the tapestry of various colors and patterns found in nature to be both immensely beautiful and fascinatingly complex. I was initially drawn to organismal coloration during my first SCUBA dive on a coral reef where I was awe-struck by the endless variety of forms, shapes, and appearances. How could all this diversity be packed into such a small stretch of habitat? This sparked my curiosity, and has led me on a never-ending journey to understand how organismal colorations (and more broadly, phenotypes) function and the factors that shape them across many branches on the tree of life.

What do you hope your students gain from studying or working with you?

Most fundamentally, I hope to encourage students to maintain a curious and inquisitive mind and to think deeply. More practically, I want my students to leave feeling prepared for their future – equipped with a “critical-thinking toolkit” that allows them to analyze, problem-solve, and interpret the often complex and messy patterns found in every-day life. Last, I want my students to feel inspired and motivated after completing their degree with an excitement for wherever their next chapter takes them.

What are you passionate about in your personal life?

I love experiencing and learning new things. This manifests in spontaneous (but sometimes, short-lived) obsessions with new topics. I also enjoy playing and watching sports - of all kinds! I am an avid Houston athletics supporter (Astros, Rockets, Texans) and hope to travel to the Olympics someday. I also like listening to music and discovering new artists and genres. Quality time with my family and friends is always cherished, particularly over a nice coffee.

Education

Ph.D.  Natural and Physical Sciences, James Cook University, Australia, 2021
M.S. Marine Biology and Ecology, James Cook University, Australia, 2017
B.S. Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, USA, 2014

Professional Appointments

• Stengl-Wyer Postdoctoral Fellow – The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute. 2023
  – 2026
• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority – Science Writer, Crown-of-thorns starfish control
  program. 2022
• INLOC Group – Team Leader – Crown-of-thorns starfish control program. 2021-2022