Marcus is a Professor in the Department of Ecology & Evolution and the lab PI. His research focuses on the genetics and evolution of mimicry and speciation in butterflies. He and the members of his lab apply a combination of molecular and population genetics, genomics, functional genetics, genome editing and behavioral studies to address questions regarding the evolutionary history and mechanistic basis of adaptation and speciation.

Paula Fernandez-Begne
Graduate Student

Paula is a Ph.D. student in the Ecology & Evolution graduate training program. Paula is studying the evolution and genetics of plant/insect interactions.

Undergraduate Student

Claire is studying the evolution and development of supergene mimicry in swallowtail butterflies.

Wei Lu
Graduate Student

Wei is a Ph.D. student in the Ecology & Evolution graduate program. Wei’s research focuses on the evolution and genetics of mating behavior in Heliconius butterflies.

Lab Manager

Darli is the lab manager and a research scientist with areas of expertise that include genomics and genome editing.

Sofia Sheikh
Graduate Student

Sofia is a Ph.D. student in the Ecology & Evolution graduate program. She is studying the evolution and development of supergene mimicry in swallowtail butterflies.

Hsiang-Yu Tsai
Graduate Student

Hsiang-Yu is a Ph.D. student in the Ecology & Evolution graduate program. Hsiang-Yu is studying the environmental and molecular determinants of monarch butterfly migration behavior.

Nicholas W. VanKuren
Staff Scientist

Nick is investigating the functional genomics of swallowtail supergene mimicry and the genetic basis of mate preference in Heliconius.

Undergraduate Student

Charlotte is studying the genetics of mating behavior in Heliconius butterflies

Postdoctoral Associate

Willie is a physician-scientist who is using comparative genomics to explore the genetic basis of aging across vertebrates.

Piper

Piper is a lab and greenhouse assistant and our designated butterfly herder!

Mochi is our calm, soothing lab therapy dog (well, that’s what we aspire to at least 😀).