Randy Klabacka

Research Interests

My research program is centered on understanding the processes that shape patterns in nature. Broadly, I am interested in two broad questions (1) What drives biodiversification? (2) How do genes shape traits? and (3) How do interactions between genes affect organism fitness? I use reptiles to address these questions, which are great models for these questions based on their high species richness (over 12,000 species) and remarkable trait diversity for things such as life history (aging, reproduction) and metabolism (e.g., mitochondrial function). I am most interested in the most important biological process in multicellular organisms: oxidative phosphorylation (via mitochondrial respiration). I use genes from nuclear and mitochondrial genomes along with physiological measurements to address these broad biological themes.

Teaching Interests

My teaching interests are centered on helping students (1) recognize their value as children of God and stewards of the earth, (2) increase their capacity for love towards God, their neighbor, and all life on earth, (3) establish a foundation of knowledge in biology integrated with the Gospel, (4) nurture their curiosity for the natural world, (5) develop skills to pursue scientific questions, and (6) become independent learners capable of lifelong learning and service. I pursue these aims while teaching courses in biology (including BIO 220 [animal diversity], BIO 420 [evolutionary biology], and others).

Education

• PhD, Biological Sciences , Auburn University (2022)
• Bachelor of Science, Biology , Brigham Young University (2016)

Honors and Awards

• Research Award, Utah Tech University (2023 - 2023)
• Henri Seibert Award, Society for the Study of Reptiles and Amphibians (2019 - 2019)

Memberships

• American Society of Naturalists (2021 - Present)
• Society for the Study of Evolution (2019 - Present)
• Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (2018 - Present)
• Society for the Study of Reptiles and Amphibians (2015 - Present)

Professional Citizenship

• Other, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (2025 - 2025)
• Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Reptiles & Amphibians (Journal) (2025 - 2025)
• Other, Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (2025 - 2025)
• Committee/Council Chair, Utah Tech University (2023 - 2024)
• Other, National Science Foundation (2024 - 2024)
• Officer (specify in Other), American Society of Naturalists (2024 - 2024)
• Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Ecology and Evolution (Journal) (2024 - 2024)
• Other, American Society of Naturalists (2023 - 2023)

Courses Taught

Show Previous Years

Publications

David V Ho Aaron Odell Duncan Tormey Nathaniel Deimler Valentine Patterson Dai Tsuchiya Randy L Klabacka Robert R Schnittker Diana P Baumann William B Neaves others Abby E Beatty Emily P Driessen Amanda D Clark Robin A Costello Sharday Ewell Sheritta Fagbodun Randy L Klabacka Todd Lamb Kimberly Mulligan Jeremiah A Henning others Daniel A Warner Connor Kelly Jenna E Pruett Am\'elie Fargevieille Randy L Klabacka Jesse Grismer Peter Scott Erin Toffelmier Brian Hinds Randy L Klabacka Glenn Stewart Virginia White Jamie Oaks H. Bradley Shaffer Randy L Klabacka Hailey A Parry Yap, Kang Nian Ryan A Cook* Tori A Herron* L Miles Horne* Jose A Maldonado Jamie R Oaks Andreas N Kavazis Matthew K Fujita Tonia S Schwartz Claire B Tracy Emily Driessen Abby E Beatty T Lamb Jenna E Pruett Jake Botello Cara Brittain Ísada Claudio Ford Chloe C Josefson Randy L Klabacka Tyler Smith Ariel Steele Min Zhong Scott Bowling Cindy Dixon Cissy Ballen Aundrea K Westfall Rory S Telemeco Mariana B Grizante Damien S Waits Amanda D Clark Dasia Y Simpson Randy L Klabacka Alexis P Sullivan George H Perry Michael W Sears others Eric J Gangloff Tonia S Schwartz Randy L Klabacka Natalie Huebschman Ang-Yu Liu Anne M Bronikowski Randy L Klabacka Perry L Wood, Jr Jimmy A McGuire Jamie R Oaks L Lee Grismer Jesse L Grismer Anchalee Aowphol Jack W Sites, Jr Hayden R Davis L Lee Grismer Randy L Klabacka Mohd Abdul Muin Evan SH Quah Shahrul Anuar Perry L Wood, Jr JW Sites, Jr L Lee Grismer Perry L Wood, Jr Shahrul Anuar Marta S Grismer Evan S Quah Matthew L Murdoch Mohd Abdul Muin Hayden R Davis Cesar Aguilar Randy L Klabacka Anthony J Cobos Anchalee Aowphol Jack W Sites, Jr

Presentations