Jerry A. Coyne is Professor of Ecology & Evolution at the University of Chicago, where he specializes in evolutionary genetics. One of the world's leading evolutionary biologists, his textbook Speciation (2004, co-written with Allen Orr ) has become the standard reference work on speciation.

An influential commentator in the evolution-creationism debate through book reviews, popular and technical articles, and public lectures, Coyne is frequently asked to comment issues of creationism by journalists and broadcasters and has appeared on radio and television shows debating creationists. In 2007 he was elected to The American Academy of Arts and Sciences.