Molecular and morphological systematics, biogeography, phylogeography, geographic variation and natural history of mammals. I favor a synthetic approach to understanding patterns and mechanisms of mammalian diversification, combining lab work, field work, and specimen-based museum research. Current projects include resolving phylogenetic and phylogeographic relationships among Malagasy tenrecs and Southeast Asian treeshrews; identifying the distributional limits and population subdivision in Alaska marmots and collared pikas; and reconstructing the biogeographic history of small mammals from the Eastern Arc Mountains of eastern Africa.

Microgale taiva, Parc Nacional de Midongy Sud, Madagascar. © L.E. Olson