Flor Hernández
(she/her/hers)
Postdoctoral Fellow
Expertise
Hybridization • Genomics • Evolution • Conservation Genetics • Landscape Genomics • Neotropical Birds
I study the ecology, adaptation, evolution, and conservation genomics of wildlife, focusing on avian systems. My research integrates field ecology, evolutionary genomics, population genetics, and bioinformatics to understand how gene flow, adaptation, and environmental variation shape biodiversity across space and time.
At the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, I use the Blue-and-gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus) as a model system to explore the genomic and phenotypic consequences of natural and human-mediated hybridization in Neotropical birds. By combining fieldwork, museum specimens, and genomic data, my work seeks to understand how geography and anthropogenic change influence species boundaries, genetic diversity, and evolutionary trajectories.
Beyond research, I am committed to the application of genetic and ecological data to conservation management. I have developed user-friendly tools and field guides that aid wildlife agencies in identifying hybrids and optimizing management strategies for wild bird populations. I am also passionate about science communication and education, collaborating with Latin American museums and educators to promote the role of natural history collections in biodiversity research and conservation.
Education
Ph.D., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Texas at El Paso, 2024
B.S., Biology, Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, 2010
