Research interests: Integration of phylogenetic and ecological research to provide insight into general questions of the patterns and processes of biodiversity.

Research Interests: The phylogenetics of Myrmicine ants, focusing on the genus Aphaenogaster.  I am looking at the fulva-rudis-texana complex of this genus in North America and hope to untangle it using modern systematics and molecular tools.

Stephanie Dole - PhD Student

Research interests: Phylogenetics of Xyleborini bark beetles (particularly the genus Xylosandrus) and surveying scolytine diversity in the Ecuadorian Amazon rain forest canopy.

Research interests: Employing eco-evolutionary theory, molecular tools, large-scale sampling in the tropics, and modern systematics to ponder the ecological success and evolutionary persistence of the symbiosis between fungus-farming ambrosia beetles (Scolytinae) and microbes.

Research interests: My research interests are mostly focused on darkling beetle (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) systematics. In particular, I am interested in a tribe of flightless desert dwelling tenebrionids known as asidines. For my dissertation I am revising the North American Asidini, at the generic level, and working on species level revisions for several asidine genera (Astrotus, Stenosides, Parasida, etc). My goal is to use modern phylogenetic methods to create a phylogeny for the tribe that will help guide my revisionary work. In addition, I am examining the population genetics of the widespread asidine species Asidopsis polita (Say).

Research interests: I am interested in the systematics and evolutionary relationships of bark and ambrosia beetles. My reserch currently focuses on the phylogenetics of the bark beetle tribe Scolytini, specifically the genus Camptocerus Dejean. I am also interested in the evolution of host use in the scolytinae.