Biographical sketch
Dr Benjamin Vallejo Jr was born in 1967 and is a biogeographer. He received his BSc from the University of the Philippines Visayas in 1988 where he majored in aquaculture. He then proceeded to graduate school as a scholar in the marine sciences program with a focus on studying molluscs at the University of the Philippines Diliman. Upon receiving his master's degree in 1993, he worked in setting up the ReefBase global coral reef databases with ICLARM (now WorldFish Centre) . He received his PhD in 2004 from James Cook University in Australia where he did a thesis on the biogeography of coral reef shore gastropods. He has taught in the Ateneo de Manila before assuming his appointment in the University of the Philippines
Benjamin Vallejo Jr research and teaching interests
My research and teaching interests focus on the historical and ecological factors shaping the geography of species diversity in tropical regions especially in the Philippines and island Southeast Asia. My approach is integrative using phylogeography, biodiversity informatics, geostatistics and earth science concepts to come up with testable hypotheses on the evolution of biodiversity. I have an interest on intertidal and coral reef mollusc ecology and biogeography. My research in this aspect is now applied in collaboration with Philippine, American and European archaeologists in describing subsistence patterns in prehistoric Mindoro island. I also have a research interest in urban environments and landscapes due to my interest in birdwatching. This has also allowed me to look into invasive species biogeography as an applied aspect of my biogeographical research. Aside from my interests in biogeography, I have an interest in Science, Technology and Society studies especially on how science is translated in Philippine society and on the medieval history of science, the interaction of Islamic and European culture in the development of science.