Assistant Professor Nick Mason Wins Prestigious CAREER Award to Advance Ornithological Research and Student Mentorship

 

Dr. Nick Mason, Assistant Professor and Curator of Birds at Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science (LSUMNS), has been awarded the highly competitive National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award. This prestigious grant, totaling over one million dollars over five years, will support Mason’s groundbreaking research on high-elevation bird species in the Andes while fostering opportunities for undergraduate students in biodiversity science.

For Mason, the award represents a unique opportunity to integrate his three primary responsibilities—research, teaching, and curation—into a cohesive and impactful project. “I enjoy each of these aspects individually,” Mason said, “but the idea of combining them in a way that helps advance all of them simultaneously was both challenging and rewarding.”

 

Unraveling the Mysteries of High-Andean Birds

Mason’s research will focus on the birds that inhabit Polylepis forests, the highest-elevation forests in the world, scattered across the rugged Andes Mountains. These ecosystems are naturally fragmented, surrounded by puna and paramo grasslands, making them an ideal setting for studying how bird populations remain connected or isolated over time.

By sequencing the genomes of over 500 individual birds from various Polylepis-associated species, Mason’s team will investigate how differences in population connectivity relate to ecological factors. Additionally, they will analyze physical characteristics such as morphology, plumage, and song to determine rates of evolutionary change and uncover hidden biodiversity within these species.

This research will expand upon LSUMNS’s already impressive collection of South American bird specimens, which has historically focused on lowland and mid-elevation regions. Mason sees this project as an opportunity to further cement the museum’s reputation as a leader in Neotropical ornithology.

 

Investing in the Next Generation of Scientists

Beyond the scientific discoveries, the CAREER Award will also support a new initiative spearheaded by Mason—the Museum Undergraduate Science and Exploration Opportunities (MUSEOs) program. This program will provide long-term research and curatorial opportunities for LSU undergraduates, ensuring that students can gain hands-on experience throughout their academic careers, not just in their final years.

“MUSEOs will establish a community of near-peer mentors where junior students can interact with more senior students and learn from them while also contributing to Neotropical ornithology,” Mason explained.

The grant will fund student research opportunities and field expeditions to underexplored regions in Peru and Bolivia, including Arequipa, Tacna, and Potosí. These expeditions will give students firsthand experience in biodiversity research, preparing them for careers in science.

 

A Personal and Professional Milestone

For Mason, receiving the CAREER Award is not just a professional achievement—it’s a deeply personal milestone. As a graduate student, he admired LSUMNS from afar, never imagining he would one day lead groundbreaking research there.

“Joining LSUMNS as the curator of birds was a dream come true,” he reflected. “I often think that if I were to time travel back to when I started grad school in 2009 and tell myself where I ended up today, my past self wouldn’t believe it—but here we are!”

The award also validates years of dedication to museum-based research and international collaboration. Mason’s research team includes ornithologists from Peru, Bolivia, Denmark, and other South American countries, reinforcing the global nature of biodiversity science.

“Science is a collaborative endeavor,” he said. “The opportunity to carry out this research with a team of international scientists united by a common interest is so exciting.”

 

Looking Ahead

With the funding secured, Mason’s next major goal is bringing his vision to life. That includes successfully executing the research plan, mentoring his graduate students through the completion of their PhDs, and expanding LSU’s ornithology and biodiversity research footprint. He also has his sights set on launching new projects closer to home in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast, including potential research into ecotoxicology—a new field for him but one of growing importance in environmental science.

Ultimately, Mason hopes this work will leave a lasting impact—not just on ornithological research, but also on the students and colleagues he mentors along the way.

“This award enables our lab group and the LSUMNS to continue our dedication to museum-based ornithology in the Neotropics,” Mason said. “But more importantly, it strengthens our capacity to provide meaningful research experiences to students. This is about more than just science—it’s about building a legacy of discovery and mentorship for future generations.”