Michael D. Greenfield is an acclaimed evolutionary and behavioral biologist 🐞, renowned for pioneering research on animal communication, sexual selection, and sensory ecology 🌍; his distinguished academic path spans UCLA, University of Kansas 🇺🇸, Université de Tours 🇫🇷, and CNRS, shaping minds and advancing knowledge in evolutionary biology through fieldwork across continents 🌿; naturalized French citizen 🇫🇷 and US native 🇺🇸, Dr. Greenfield’s global scientific contributions blend research, teaching, and leadership, inspiring generations in bioacoustics and evolutionary ecology 🎓🔬.
Profile
Education 🎓
Michael D. Greenfield earned his Ph.D. in 1978 from the University of Wisconsin–Madison 🎓, focusing on evolutionary and behavioral biology, following a B.A. from New York University in 1973 🏙️; his education laid the foundation for a lifelong exploration of animal communication, acoustic signaling 📡, and sexual selection, fostering bilingual scientific excellence in both English and French 🇺🇸🇫🇷, with academic roots inspiring worldwide field research and collaborations in behavior, ecology, and evolutionary genetics 🔍🦋.
Experience 👨🏫
Dr. Greenfield’s career spans decades of teaching and research: UCLA Assistant-Professor (1981–87) & Associate-Professor (1987–93) 🎓, Kansas Professor (1991–2007) 🌾, Université de Tours Professeur Classe Exceptionnelle (2005–2018) 🇫🇷, and CNRS researcher 🔬; additionally, he held roles as NSF Program Director (2002–2004) 🏛️, Entomology Chair at Kansas (1995–1999) 🪲, and remains Adjunct Professor at KU and Professeur Invité in France, with vast international fieldwork in Costa Rica, France, Africa, and the U.S., enriching behavioral ecology globally 🌍🧪.
Awards & Recognitions 🏅
Michael D. Greenfield’s scientific excellence earned him Fellow status with the Animal Behavior Society in 2002 🐝, a Smithsonian Institution Fellowship (1978–79) 📜, and memberships in Sigma Xi, Phi Beta Delta, and Gamma Sigma Delta 🎖️; he secured numerous NSF, EPA, and ANR grants for cutting-edge research on insect acoustic signals 🎶, reproductive behavior 🦗, and evolutionary ecology, highlighting his global influence through invited symposia, mentorship, and contributions to international ethology and neuroethology communities 🧠🌟.
Research Interests 🔬
Dr. Greenfield’s research probes the evolutionary genetics of sexual selection and animal signaling 🎧, especially acoustic and chemical communication in moths 🦋, grasshoppers 🦗, frogs 🐸, and fireflies ✨; he dissects mating systems, lekking behavior, bioluminescence, signal evolution, sensory ecology 🌿, and alternative reproductive tactics, blending empirical fieldwork with experimental neuroethology 🧠, creating insights into biodiversity, adaptation, and communication systems, and bridging entomology with broader evolutionary theory across global ecosystems 🌍🔍.
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Evolution of chorusing displays in acoustic animal species
2012-05-01 to 2016-04-30 | Grant
French National Research Agency (Paris, FR)
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Genetic Covariance and Genetic Architecture of Sexually Selected Features
2007-11-01 to 2011-10-31 | Grant
French National Research Agency (Paris, FR)
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Genotype x environment interaction and the evolution of sexually-selected traits
2005-08-01 to 2011-07-31 | Grant
National Science Foundation – Directorate for Biological Sciences (Arlington, US)
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Genetic Trade-Offs and the Lek Paradox
2002-06-15 to 2005-11-30 | Grant
National Science Foundation – Directorate for Biological Sciences (Arlington, US)