Education
Ph.D. Biological Sciences, Florida International University
Biography
Rudolf von May earned a Ph.D. in biological sciences at Florida International University and subsequently completed postdoctoral training at the University of California, Berkeley, San Francisco State University, and the University Michigan. His fields of interest include evolutionary ecology and biodiversity conservation. Most of his work focuses on ecology and systematics of amphibians and reptiles, with a main emphasis in the Andes-Amazon region (South America). He has also conducted research on other organisms and ecosystems including California vernal pools, and has been part of interdisciplinary teams that contributed to the creation of large protected areas in western Amazonia. At CSUCI, he is currently developing new local-based projects with participation of undergraduate students enrolled in Independent Research.
Rudolf was born and raised in Peru, and completed his BSc and Licentiate degrees in biology at Universidad Ricardo Palma. Between his undergraduate and doctoral studies, Rudi worked as a naturalist guide in the Peruvian Amazon and as field instructor for a tropical biology program in Costa Rica. He has long been involved in outreach activities to advance equity in education and bio-literacy. To this end, he has led science-oriented activities in schools and coauthored educational materials in both Spanish and English (e.g., Selvas Tropicales, a Spanish-language book and a bilingual website about tropical rainforests).
When not at work, he enjoys cooking, reading, exercising, and spending time with his family exploring nature.
Representative Courses Taught
- BIOL 433 Ecology and the Environment
- BIOL 499 Senior Capstone in Biology
- BIOL 494 Independent Research