Lauryn Benedict

Associate Professor, University of Northern Colorado

Lauryn Benedict is Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado.

She studies the vocalizations and behavior of wild birds, and she teaches courses on ornithology and animal diversity. Lauryn holds degrees from Cornell University and the University of California Berkeley. At the University of Northern Colorado, Benedict studies animal communication and social behavior. Her research focuses on bird song as a model system for understanding how signals evolve in nature. To understand song function she examines how individuals use vocal signals within particular environmental and social contexts, and studies larger patterns of song evolution by measuring how songs vary through time and space, both within and between species. Current projects examine the function and evolution of male and female vocalizations among Colorado wren species, New World sparrows, and Old World warblers. Research in the lab combines field observation, population-monitoring, and sound recording analyses within a phylogenetic context.

Bio and photo adapted from University of Northern Colorado