Faculty Profiles

Colleges and Departments

Dr. Chris Nice

  • Professor - Biology

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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Teaching Interests

Research Interests

  • Nice, Chris. Population genetic assessment of central Texas salamanders, TPWD, State, $25207. (Funded: October 1, 2020 - December 31, 2021). Grant.
  • Gompert, Z (Principal), Buerkle, C A (Co-Principal), Forister, M L (Co-Principal), Dodson, C (Co-Principal), Nice, Chris (Co-Principal), Fordyce, J A (Co-Principal), Werner, S (Co-Principal). Collaborative Research: Dimensions: The evolution of novel interactions within a network of plant, insect and microbial biodiversity., National Science Foundation, Federal, $1998706. (Submitted: 2016, Funded: 2016 - 2022). Grant.
  • Nice, Chris. Texas Hill Country Headwater Heterelmis Genetics and Morphology., Meadows Center, Texas State University, $57250. (Funded: January 1, 2022 - Present). Grant.
  • Nice, Chris. Speciation with Gene Flow During Adaptation to a Novel Host., TSU, Texas State University, $7900. (Submitted: October 8, 2019, Funded: January 1, 2020 - August 31, 2021). Grant.
  • Nowlin, Weston Hugh, Schwartz, Benjamin F, Nice, Chris. Trophic Ecology, Environmental Tolerances, and Population Genetics of the Endangered Comal Springs Dryopid Beetle (Stygoparnus comalensis)., TPWD, State, $79942. (Funded: 2018 - Present). Grant.
View all grants
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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
  • Alex Sotola, V., Ruppel, D. S., Bonner, T. H., Nice, C., & Martin, N. H. (2019). Asymmetric introgression between fishes in the Red River basin of Texas is associated with variation in water quality. Ecology and Evolution, 9(4), 2083–2095. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.4901
View all scholarly/creative works
  • 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
View all awards
  1. Chair

    Freeman Ranch Advisory Committee

  2. Member

    Biology Department College Review group representative

  3. Other

    Gonzales County Master Gardeners

  4. Member

    Greenhouse Committee

  5. Member

    Curriculum Committee

  6. Other

    Hays County Master Gardeners

  7. View all activities