Wilson James Numdi is a Master of Philosophy candidate in Forestry at the Papua New Guinea University of Technology and an EU-FCCB Scholar affiliated with the New Guinea Binatang Research Centre. His research centres on avian ecology and physiology, with a particular focus on how bird species adapt to life along tropical elevational gradients, especially on Mt. Wilhelm.

Driven by a passion for biodiversity conservation, Wilson conducts field-based research to uncover the mechanisms that allow high-elevation birds to survive under extreme conditions including low temperatures, reduced oxygen availability, and limited food resources. By examining energy metabolism and physiological responses, his work provides critical insights into species survival strategies and offers a basis for predicting how avifauna may respond to climate change. His findings contribute to conservation science in Papua New Guinea’s montane ecosystems and carry broader relevance for tropical biodiversity globally.