Chase Alan Perkins

Chase Perkins is a 2025-2026 Self Memorial Scholar pursuing a M.A. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. He earned a B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a Minor in Environmental Studies at the University of Kansas.

During his Undergraduate career, he became involved in research and curation at the Biodiversity Institute’s Ornithology Division in Dr. Rob Moyle’s lab, studying molecular phylogenetic relationships of birds, participating in the Bunker Resurvey Project, and assisting in a plethora of curatorial projects.

Simultaneous to his college career, he is also a Non-Commissioned Officer in the Kansas Air National Guard as an Aircraft Mechanic. This concurrent career gives him the opportunity to travel the world and gain experience which supplements his skills as a student and life-long learner.

In the future, Chase hopes to apply his skills to a career in conservation genomics to further our understanding of species beyond the traditional morphological definitions, discover and conserve unique genetic populations, and help better protect avian biodiversity throughout the world.