Dr. Luke Tornabene

Associate Professor

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Biography

Luke Tornabene is an ichthyologist studying the evolutionary relationships and biodiversity of fishes. His research focuses on identifying the factors that drive phenotypic, ecological, and taxonomic diversification in fishes. Current projects involve the study of the 'Twilight Zone', a diverse but poorly studied region of the ocean that lies in depths reachable by SCUBA divers and typically studied by deep-sea biologists. He works primarily with gobies, a taxonomically and ecologically diverse family of marine fishes, as a model to study patterns of speciation and adaptation to the marine environment. His systematic research employs a multi-disciplinary approach that relies on morphological data of specimens from natural history collections, alongside molecular phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses, as well as ecological data. Additionally, he serves as the Curator of Fishes at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, which houses the largest collection of its kind in the world.

Research Interests

Requirements for University of Washington

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Total
Required:80
IELTS
Overall
Required:6.5
Duolingo
Overall Score
Required:105
Overall
Required:105
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Transcripts
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Resume/CV
  • English proficiency scores (for international students)
Specialization Notes

Standard Graduate School requirements for University of Washington apply to most departments listed unless specified otherwise by the program.