# Max Laubstein Graduate Student Scott Edwards Lab ![a person standing outside, smiling at the camera](/sites/g/files/omnuum6431/files/styles/hwp_4_5__480x600/public/2025-08/MaxHeadshot.jpg?itok=0o75TaTG) location\_on Museum of Comparative Zoology Laboratory email laptop\_windows [Max Laubstein's personal website](https://maxlaubstein.github.io/) Max is interested in merging genomics, computing, and field study to understand the processes that form and maintain biodiversity in the wild. He is especially interested in uncovering the genomic basis of adaptive traits, and how landscapes shape patterns of genomic diversification and introgression. In a dream world, he strives to integrate adaptive genomics and phylogeography to understand the evolutionary and ecological stories of entire evolutionary radiations on a molecular level. Max loves birds, and is particularly fascinated by Neotropical suboscines and tubenose seabirds. Beyond birds, he has strong interests in amphibians and nearshore fish, and is always excited to explore new groups. Max was an undergraduate in the College of Creative Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and was additionally affiliated with UC Berkeley's Museum of Vertebrate Zoology. His undergraduate research included phylogeographic study of *Batrachoseps* salamanders and range-wide landscape genomics work with Steller's Jays. In his free time, Max enjoys birding, tidepooling, hiking, and riding his bike.