Biography and education
Ph.D. 1998 University of California, Davis. Dissertation Title: Ecology Morphological and
molecular evolution and biogeography of butterflies: three case studies from
western North America
B.Sc. 1989 University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Biology (Honors). Honors Thesis Title: Genetic variation in California Condors.
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molecular evolution and biogeography of butterflies: three case studies from
western North America
B.Sc. 1989 University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Biology (Honors). Honors Thesis Title: Genetic variation in California Condors.
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Teaching Interests
Research Interests
Featured grants
- Nice, Chris. Conservation genomics and demography of the endangered Comal Springs riffle beetles, Edwards Aquifer Authority, State, $73790. (Funded: December 15, 2025 - December 31, 2027). Grant.
- Borstein, Samuel (Principal), Nice, Chris (Co-Principal). Texas Endangered Species Management Research FY25, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, State, $269652. (Submitted: December 10, 2024, Funded: September 1, 2025 - October 31, 2028). Grant.
- Nice, Chris. Texas Eurycea Salamander Genomics, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, State, $552875. (Funded: February 16, 2023 - July 31, 2026). Grant.
- Nice, Chris. Genetic diversity of wild and refuge Peck’s cave amphipod (Stygobromus pecki) populations, USFWS, Federal, $131711. (Funded: January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2024). Grant.
- Nice, Chris. Population genetic assessment of central Texas salamanders, TPWD, State, $25207. (Funded: October 1, 2020 - December 31, 2021). Grant.
Featured scholarly/creative works
- Coleman, W., Bell, K. L., Gibson, J. R., Schwartz, B. F., Nowlin, W. H., & Nice, C. (2025). Evolutionary isolation and ecological stasis in the endangered Comal Springs Dryopid beetle (Stygoparnus comalensis). Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems.
- Jahner, J., Forister, M. L., Parchman, T., Burdo, S. M., McFarlane, S. E., Buerkle, A. C., … Shapiro, A. M. (n.d.). Temporal dynamics of color polymorphism and hybridization in Colias butterflies. Evolution. Retrieved from https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.05.25.656022v2.abstract
- Nice, C., Bell, K. L., Gompert, Z., Lucas, L. K., Ott, J. R., Tovar, R., … Diaz, P. H. (2025). Extensive Admixture Among Karst-Obligate Salamanders Reveals Evidence of Recent Divergence and Gene Exchange Through Aquifers. Ecology and Evolution, 15(1), e70785. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70785
- Zhang, L., Chaturvedi, S., Nice, C., Lucas, L. K., & Gompert, Z. (2023). Population genomic evidence of selection on structural variants in a natural hybrid zone. Molecular Ecology, 32(6), 1497–1514. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.16469
- Nuckels, R. J., Nice, C., & Garcia, D. M. (2018). Duplicated myosin V genes in teleosts show evolutionary rate variations among the motor and cargo binding domains. Genome Biology and Evolution, 11(2), 415–430.
Featured awards
- Award / Honor Nominee: College of Science Dean Nominee for the Presidential Award for Excellence. 2012
- Award / Honor Nominee: College of Science Dean Nominee for the Presidential Award for Excellence. 2011
- Award / Honor Nominee: College of Science Dean Nominee for the Presidential Award for Excellence. 2009
- Award / Honor Nominee: College of Science Dean Nominee for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching. 2007
- Award / Honor Nominee: College of Science Dean Nominee for the Presidential Award for Excellence. 2007
Featured service activities
- Chair
Freeman Ranch Advisory Committee
- Member
Biology Department College Review group representative
- Other
Gonzales County Master Gardeners
- Member
Greenhouse Committee
- Member
Curriculum Committee
- Other
Hays County Master Gardeners