Education
Dr. Grismer earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees from San Diego State University in 1981 and 1986 respectively. He received his Ph.D. in Biology from Loma Linda University in 1994. He has been a faculty member in the department since 1994.

Current Duties
Dr. Grismer teaches Herpetology, Vertebrate Natural History, Anatomy & Physiology, and a summer field course in Malaysia and General Biology. He serves on two departmental committees and advises approximately 15 students each quarter.

Research Interests
Dr. Grismer works on reptiles and amphibians. His current focus is on snakes and lizards in Baja California and Southeast Asia. He and his students ask questions about how species are formed and the reasons for the distribution of various species. His lab also works on the relationships between species and describes new species from the exotic places where he does field work. Dr. Grismer recently published a book entitled Amphibians and Reptiles of Baja California, It’s Pacific Islands, and the Islands of the Sea of Cortes. This book is based on 22 years of research in the Baja California area.

Memberships & Affiliations
Dr. Grismer is a member of Herpetologist’s League, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Systematic Biology, Evolution, and the Willi Hennig Society.

Honors & Awards
Dr. Grismer has been selected by students as teacher of the year in 1987 and 2002. The Western Book Builders Association awarded Dr. Grismer “Best of the West” in scholarship and reference for his book Amphibians and Reptiles of Baja California, It’s Pacific Islands, and the Islands of the Sea of Cortes.