Alex Maile

Heaadshot of Alex Maile
  • Doctoral Candidate - Ichthyology

Contact Info

Dyche Hall
Lawrence
1345 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lawrence, KS 66045

Personal Links

Biography —

I’m a third-year Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at the University of Kansas, working through the Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum. My research focuses on the evolutionary relationships and morphological diversity of Beryciformes and Trachichthyiformes. I have a background in deep-sea fish systematics and body shape evolution, beginning with geometric morphometrics of Aulopiformes as an undergraduate and continuing through my master’s work on anglerfishes, where I studied lure evolution, habitat transitions, and total-evidence phylogenetics. Broadly, I’m interested in how form and function evolve across lineages, especially in deep-sea environments, integrating morphology, molecular data, and ecological context to uncover evolutionary patterns in ray-finned fishes.

Education —

B.S. in Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, St. Cloud State University, 2020, St. Cloud, Minnesota
Cum Laude
M.S. in Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, St. Cloud State University, 2023, St. Cloud, Minnesota
Honors

Research —

Alex studies deep sea fish evolution focusing on evolutionary changes and adaptions that occur in response to extreme deep sea biotic and abiotic factors.

Selected Publications —

Maile, A.J. & Davis, M. P. 2025 Diversity and evolution of lure types and movement in anglerfishes (Lophioidei). Journal of Ichthyology and Herpetology. In review.

Maile, A.J., Smith, W.L., & Davis, M. P. 2025. A total-evidence phylogenetic approach to understanding the evolution, depth transitions, and body-shape changes in the anglerfishes and allies (Acanthuriformes: Lophioidei). PLOS ONE 20(5): e0322369.

Ghedotti, M. J., DeKay, H.M., Maile, A.J., Smith, W. L., & Davis, M. P. 2021. Anatomy and evolution of bioluminescent organs in the slimeheads (Teleostei: Trachichthyidae). Journal of Morphology 282. doi: 10.1002/jmor.21349

Maile, A.J., DeArmon, E.S, May, Z.A., Martin, R., & Davis, M.P. 2020. Marine Habitat Transitions and Body Shape Evolution in Lizardfishes and their allies (Aulopiformes). Copeia 108(4): 820-832. Awarded Best Student Paper in Copeia (Journal of Ichthyology and Herpetology) 2020

 

Selected Presentations —

2024, Maile, A.J. Smith, W.L., & Davis, M.P. A Combined Morphological and Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis of the Anglerfishes (Acanturiformes: Lophioidei). Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, July 2024. Oral Presentation.

2022, Maile, A.J. & Davis, M.P. Evolutionary Relationships of Anglerfishes Based on Genomic and Morphological Data. Huskies Showcase, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota, April 2022. Poster Presentation.

2020, Maile, A.J. & Davis, M.P. Evolution of Biofluorescence in Rabbitfishes (Siganidae). Huskies Showcase, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota, April 2020. Poster Presentation.

2019, Maile, A.J. & Davis, M.P. Evolution of Biofluorescence in Rabbitfishes (Siganidae). Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Snowbird, Utah, June 2019. Poster Presentation.

Maile, A.J. & Davis, M.P. Body Shape Changes Across Habitat Transitions in Lizardfishes (Aulopiformes). Huskies Showcase, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota, April 2019. Poster Presentation.

Maile, A.J. & Davis, M.P. Body Shape Changes Across Habitat Transitions in Lizardfishes (Aulopiformes). Huskies Showcase, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota, April 2019. Oral Presentation.

2018, Maile, A.J. & Davis, M.P. Body Shape Changes Across Habitat Transitions in Lizardfishes (Aulopiformes). Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Rochester, New York, July 2018. Poster Presentation.

 

Grants & Other Funded Activity —

  • 2025 Val and Marilyn Smith PhD Graduate Student Support Endowment Fund ($350)
  • University of Kansas 2024 Martha Mitchell Pearson Scholarship ($7300)
  • University of Kansas Graduate Student Organization Travel Award ($500)
  • University of Kansas Val and Marilyn Smith PhD Graduate Student Support Endowment Fund ($300)
  • University of Kansas 2023 Student Research Travel Grant ($500)
  • St. Cloud State University 2022 George W. Friedrich Wildlife Protection Fund ($3000)
  • St. Cloud State University Dorthy Esler Memorial Scholarship ($500)
  • St. Cloud State University Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Student Collections Study Award ($1344)
  • Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 2021 Student Research Grant ($962), St. Cloud State University Raney Grant ($1000)
  • American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists George Friedrich Scholarship ($1000), St. Cloud State University 2020 Student Research Grant ($1000)
  • St. Cloud State University Charles and Ellora Alliss Scholarship ($1500)
  • St. Cloud State University Harold and Gladys I. Hopkins Scholarship Fund Scholarship ($1000)
  • St. Cloud State University Jackie Hanson Environmental Studies Scholarship ($200),
  • St. Cloud State University 2019 SCSU Scholarship ($1500)
  • St. Cloud State University Student Research Grant ($1000)
  • St. Cloud State University Huskies Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship SURF ($500)
  • St. Cloud State University 2018 Harold and Gladys I. Hopkins Scholarship Fund Scholarship ($1000)
  • St. Cloud State University Jackie Hanson Environmental Studies Scholarship ($200)
  • St. Cloud State University Student Research Grant ($950)
  • St. Cloud State University Huskies Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship SURF ($500)