Per Alström is a Professor working at the Department of Ecology and Genetics at Uppsala University, Sweden. His research concerns taxonomy, systematics and evolution of birds, especially Asian passerines. He has been involved in comprehensive phylogenetic studies of multiple avian families as well as higher-level taxonomic groups, which have revealed previously unexpected relationships and complex evolutionary patterns. He uses an integrative taxonomic approach, involving analyses of e.g. morphology, vocalisations, behaviour, DNA, ecology and geographical distributions, to study the taxonomy of birds, which has resulted in a significant increase in the number of recognised species. He has also been involved in descriptions of 7 species and 3 subspecies new to science. His research subject also includes speciation, evolution of different geographical avifaunas, evolution of vocalisations of some passerine groups, evolution of UV vision in shorebirds and passerines, and biogeography of several groups of birds. He has travelled widely, especially in Asia, where he has spent altogether several years in the field since 1982. He has published a large number of scientific and popular science papers as well as two books and several book chapters.  He also serves as Deputy Editor-In-Chief of Avian Research, Associate Editor of Birds of the World (hosted by Cornell Lab of Ornithology), chairman of the Swedish Systematics Association, Advisor to the IOC World Bird List, and member of the recently founded International Ornithologists’ Union Working Group on Avian Checklists.