Neal Woodman, Ph.D.

Neal Woodman is a U.S. Geological Survey Research Zoologist and Curator of Mammals stationed with the Biological Survey Unit in the U.S. National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. His research focuses on morphology, diversity, taxonomy, and evolutionary relationships of mammals, with a particular emphasis on the Soricidae (shrews) and Tupaiidae (tree shrews), although his portfolio also includes work with rodents, bats, proboscideans (elephants and their relatives), and North American, Neotropical, and Asian faunas.

Professional Experience

2001–present Research Zoologist. U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center at the Patuxent Research Refuge, Laurel, MD.
2001–2018 Curator of Mammals. U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Survey Unit, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, National Museum of National History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.
1997–2000 Assistant Professor. Department of Biological Sciences. East Stroudsburg University, East Stroudsburg, PA.
1995–1997 Assistant Professor. Biology Department, Southwestern College, Winfield, Kansas.
1995–1996 Field Resource. Organization for Tropical Studies, San José, Costa Rica.
1994–1995 Adjunct Instructor. Science Division, Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, KS.
1993–1994 Adjunct Instructor. Science Department, Longview Community College, Lee’s Summit, MO.
1992–1994 Research Associate. Natural History Museum, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS.

Education and Certifications

Ph.D. 1992 Department of Systematics and Ecology, The University of Kansas, Lawrence
M.Phil. 1986 Department of Systematics and Ecology, The University of Kansas, Lawrence
M.S. 1982 Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Iowa, Iowa City
B.A. 1980 Geology Department, Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana

Affiliations and Memberships*

American Association for Zoological Nomenclature, 2004 – present
Recording Secretary, 2004 – 2013
American Quaternary Association, 1983 – present
American Society of Mammalogists (Life Member), 1987 – present
Associate Editor, Journal of Mammalogy, 2011–2015
Biological Society of Washington, 1995 – present
Councilor, 2004 – present
Auditing Committee – June 2004, August 2005
Publications Committee, 2005 – present
Membership Committee (Chair), 2011 – present
New Chaucer Society, 2010 – present
Pennsylvania Academy of Science (Life Member), 2000 – present
Senate of Scientists, Smithsonian Institution, 2001 – present
Councilor for Affiliated Agencies, 2004 – 2006
Secretary, Oct. 2006 – Sept. 2007
Society for the History of Natural History
Washington Biologist’s Field Club, 2009–present
Student Research Awards Committee Chair, 2011–2020
Finance Committee, 2014–present

Honors and Awards

2018 Smithsonian S.T.A.R. Award for an informal workshop teaching mammal preparation and field data collection
2017 Smithsonian Institution Peer Recognition Award for long-term mentorship of undergraduate scientific interns
2007 Smithsonian Institution Senate of Scientists Distinguished Service Award for service as Secretary of the Senate in 2006–2007
PATRONYMIC HONORS
Cryptotis woodmani Guevara, 2023
PATRONYMIC HONORS
Gliricola woodmani Price and Timm, 1993

Abstracts and Presentations

2018. “Musarañas como momias.” Djehuty Excavation Site, Luxor, Egypt, 29 January.
2016. “Digging the Soricidae: convergence in locomotory adaptations among shrews.” East Stroudsburg University, Pennsylvania, 2 December.
2016. “Bullet-proof Fish and Brindled Stamiters: John James Audubon’s Contributions to Constantine Rafinesque’s ‘Zoological Discoveries’ in the American West.” Wild Lives Symposium, Princeton University Libraries, 16 October.
2006. “What makes a mammal?” Science Department, Penn State University-Berks, Reading, Pennsylvania, 24 March.
2005. “Opportunities with the Smithsonian Research Training Program for undergraduates.” Honors Program, Penn State University, Berks-Lehigh Valley, Reading, PA, 17 January.
2002. “Patterns of evolution in the Cryptotis mexicana-group of small-eared shrews.” George Washington University, Washington, D.C., 1 November.
2002. “Natural History of Costa Rica.” Penn State University, Berks-Lehigh Valley, Reading, PA, 22 March.
2000. “Systematics and biogeography of small-eared shrews of the New World genus Cryptotis.” U.S. National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., August.
1999. “Mammals of the Neotropical rain forests.” University of Aleppo and University of Damascus, Syria sponsored by US Information Agency, January.
1998. “Evolution and biogeography of shrews in Central and South America.” Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, November.
1998. “Composition and structure of shrew communities in Mexico and Central and South America.” Euro-American Mammal Meeting, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Spain, July.
1996. “Structure of the mammalian communities in tropical, lowland rainforest of Amazonian Peru.” Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri, September.
1994. "Structure of the mammal community in a lowland, tropical rainforest in the Amazon Basin of Peru.” Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey, April.
1993. "Mammals of the tropical rain forest.” Teacher’s workshop, University of Kansas Museum of Natural History, Lawrence, Kansas, December.
1992. "Systematics and biogeography of the small-eared shrews, genus Cryptotis.” University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, October.
1992. "Biodiversity in a Neotropical lowland rain forest: the mammals of Cuzco Amazónico, Peru.” Denver Museum of Natural History, Denver, Colorado, August.
1992. "Biological perspectives on environmental issues in Central America.” Forum on Environmental Issues in Latin America, Lawrence, Kansas, March.
1991. “Costa Rica and its fauna, seen through the eyes of a KU naturalist.” Latin American Studies Merienda, Lawrence, Kansas, October.