Siena University is honored to recognize the accomplishments of Dr. Thomas C. Giarla as the recipient of the 2024-2025 award.
Thomas C. Giarla, Ph.D. is a mentor at Siena whose research explores the origins of biodiversity in Earth’s tropical regions, with a focus on neglected groups of small mammals like rodents, opossums, and shrews. He has contributed to cutting-edge research that has helped describe new shrew and rodent genera from around the world. Dr. Giarla has been an author on 24 peer-reviewed publications and one book chapter. His work can be found in countless publications, including ABC News and Smithsonian Magazine. He has mentored over 40 Siena students through independent studies and CURCA summer scholar projects, sharing his passion for research and discovery.