Rate My Professor Raoul Mulder

Mulder's primary research focus lies in the evolutionary ecology of birds, examining the causes and consequences of variability in mating systems, the functions of visual and acoustic signals, and the effects of kinship on sociality. His work integrates behavioural field studies with molecular genetic techniques to determine parentage and assess fitness consequences of individual tactics, spanning species including superb fairy-wrens (Malurus cyaneus), black swans (Cygnus atratus), lovely fairy-wrens (Malurus amabilis), Australian magpies (Cracticus tibicen), and others. With over 6,800 citations on Google Scholar, notable publications include 'Helpers Liberate Female Fairy-Wrens from Constraints on Extra-Pair Mate Choice' (1994, Proceedings of the Royal Society B) and 'Extra-pair paternity does not result in differential sexual selection in the mutually ornamented black swan (Cygnus atratus)' (2004, Molecular Ecology). In higher education, he researches peer-assisted learning and led an Office for Learning and Teaching grant to promote student peer review. Mulder has received the 2011 Victorian eLearning Excellence Award and a 2023 University of Melbourne award, and co-developed a Coursera MOOC on Animal Behaviour. His leadership has advanced both research and teaching in evolutionary ecology and science education.