James Collins

James Collins serves as the Virginia M. Ullman Professor of Natural History and the Environment and Interim Associate Director of Research Initiatives in Arizona State University’s School of Life Sciences. He is an evolutionary ecologist whose research examines host-pathogen interactions contributing to species decline and extinction, with a particular emphasis on amphibian population biology. Collins joined Arizona State University in 1975 as an Assistant Professor, progressing to Associate Professor in 1980 and full Professor in 1990. He chaired the Zoology Department from 1989 to 1997 and the Biology Department from 1997 to 2002. Additionally, he directed the Population Biology and Physiological Ecology Program at the National Science Foundation in 1985-1986 and served as Assistant Director for Biological Sciences from 2005 to 2009. His affiliations include the Center for Biodiversity Outcomes, Center for Evolution and Medicine, Center for Biology and Society, Global Drylands Center, and Global Futures Laboratory.

Collins holds a B.S. from Manhattan College (1969), an M.S. (1971), and a Ph.D. (1975) from the University of Michigan. His groundbreaking research on amphibian metamorphosis and global declines has profoundly influenced ecology and conservation. Key publications include the book Extinction in Our Times: Global Amphibian Decline (Oxford University Press, 2009), "Global amphibian declines: sorting the hypotheses" (2003, 1674 citations), "Ecological Aspects of Amphibian Metamorphosis: Nonnormal distributions of competitive ability reflect selection for facultative metamorphosis" (Science, 1973, 1675 citations), and "Emerging infectious disease and the loss of biodiversity in a Neotropical amphibian community" (2006, 1568 citations). He has produced over 140 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and edited volumes, including the Amphibian Conservation Action Plan (2007). Awards recognizing his impact include the Henry S. Fitch Award for Excellence in Herpetology (2019), election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2020), AAAS Fellowship (1986), and Arizona State University’s Distinguished Faculty Award (2003). Collins has mentored 23 master’s and 20 Ph.D. students, served on the National Science and Technology Council under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and held leadership roles such as President of the American Institute of Biological Sciences (2011).

Professional Email: jcollins@asu.edu