About Michael E. Dorcas, Ph.D.

Michael E. Dorcas, Ph.D., also published as Michael Dorcas and Mike Dorcas, is a scientist, author, editor, and consultant with more than 30 years of experience in research, teaching, and scholarly publishing. A former Endowed Professor of Biology at Davidson College, his background spans ecology, conservation biology, herpetology, physiological ecology, and environmental science. His career combines long-term field research with scientific writing, teaching, and collaboration across disciplines.

Through Tantilla Consulting, he helps researchers, organizations, and businesses evaluate evidence, develop ideas, and communicate complex information clearly. His work includes scientific and technical writing, substantive editing, research and evidence evaluation, grant and funding strategy, and science communication. Experience as an investigator, author, reviewer, and editor informs both his assessment of a project and the practical steps he recommends.

Michael E. Dorcas is the founder of Tantilla LLC, which includes Tantilla Consulting and Tantilla Art. His publications and books appear under the names Michael E. Dorcas, Michael Dorcas, and, for selected titles, Mike Dorcas.

Michael’s interest in the natural world also informs his artwork. Working in graphite and colored pencil, he draws on decades of field observation to create detailed wildlife drawings. Explore his work at Tantilla Art.

Contact Michael Dorcas

Career Highlights

118 peer-reviewed journal articles and 25 book chapters
8 scholarly books used by researchers, educators, and practitioners
$2.2M+ in competitively funded research (NSF, USFWS, USGS, USFS, Duke Energy, and numerous other organizations)
Extensive service as a peer reviewer and editorial board member for numerous scientific journals
Decades of experience mentoring students and collaborating across disciplines in academic and applied research settings

Michael’s experience extends across the research process, from developing questions and designing studies to interpreting findings, securing funding, and preparing work for publication. His teaching and mentoring also inform how he explains complex subjects, evaluates educational materials, and works collaboratively with clients.

Consulting Approach

Through Tantilla Consulting, Michael E. Dorcas provides:

Scientific and technical writing, manuscript development, and substantive editing
Literature review, source verification, and evaluation of scientific evidence
Research design consultation, funding research, and proposal development
Science communication, educational content development, and scientific review

Each project begins with its purpose, audience, and intended outcome. Michael works with clients to establish a clear scope, deliverables, and timeline, then brings careful evaluation, direct communication, and attention to detail to the work.

The goal is to strengthen the reasoning and communication while preserving the author’s meaning and voice. Recommendations reflect the evidence available, acknowledge its limitations, and focus on practical improvements.

Professional Presence

Explore the professional and scholarly presence of Michael E. Dorcas, Ph.D. (also published as Michael Dorcas) across major academic and professional platforms, where his research publications, citations, books, and broader contributions to the biological sciences are available.