People

I am interested in evolution of adaptations that allowed insect to become such a diverse and abundant group of organisms. I use combination of phylogenetic, transcriptomic, genomic, and X-ray microtomographic methods to improve our understanding of evolutionary processes that generated one particularly ecologically successful group of insects: termites. From the termites’ evolutionary success benefited also diverse groups of their symbionts - from microbes to flies and beetles living in relationships with termites spanning from mutualism to parasitism. Many complex adaptations in termites and their symbionts evolved apparently repeatedly and my long-term goal is to uncover genetic and ecological drivers of convergent evolution using these organisms as a model system.

I’m an entomologist aiming to study the patterns of relationships among different groups of insects using modern molecular techniques and bioinformatics (phylogenomics). I’m also interested in the organelle genomes evolution and the population genomics of insects, which together with phylogenomics help me to understand the evolutionary history of insects in an integrative approach.

I’m a PhD student in entomology studying how genomic changes can lead to convergently evolving phenotypes, using termitophilous Aleocharinae as a model system. More broadly I’m interested in how molecular data can be used to answer a wide range of evolutionary and ecological questions.

I work on termite biology, and structure and function of insect body.

I’m a postdoc parasitologist currently also working as a Lab Assistant/Manager in the Insect Symbiosis Lab. I check for lab supplies and help my colleagues with a variety of laboratory analyses.

I enjoy reading books, working in the lab as a lab technician, and spending time outdoors in nature with my three kids. Getting out in nature with my children allows me to recharge. My interests are in the field of molecular biology, especially learning about techniques such as nanopore sequencing. I like keeping up with the latest molecular biology methods. I take pride in supporting scientific efforts to better understand life at the molecular level.

I am a taxonomist and systematist with my past research focused on Staphylinidae of the West Indies. These skills will be applied throughout my PhD to focus on termitophilous Aleocharinae and begin to understand their morphology, evolution, and taxonomy.

I am an entomologist particularly intrigued by social insects. For my PhD I will be studying the evolution of microbe-termite-termitophile tripartite symbiotic system. My research will broadly explore microbes that have been horizontally transmitted between convergent termitophile-termite associations. In addition to my academic research I like to sketch sometimes and I hope to learn scientific illustration.