Jim Shevock, Botany Fellow
Research Associate, Fellow, Botany
Bryophytes

My ongoing research interests are on moss floristics and basic bryophyte inventory activities. My field work shifted around 1997 from flowering plants to bryophytes with an emphasis in bryogeography through specimen acquisition to expand the diversity of the collections within the CAS herbarium. Thirteen plant species have been named in my honor including seven flowering plants and six mosses including the moss genus Shevockia endemic to Asia.

in Sao Tome
Associate Curator and Director of the Center for Comparative Genomics
Evolutionary processes, Genomics, Phylogenetics, Hybridization

The Simison lab investigates the processes that generate, maintain, and reduce biodiversity. In particular, we are interested in the process of speciation. We use comparative genomics techniques such as RADseq, Ultra Conserved Elements, transcriptomics, and whole genomes to study the role of admixture and introgression in speciation. We are currently focusing on the globally invasive red eared slider turtle system (Trachemys scripta elegans) native to North America.

Headshot for Holly Tavris
DNA Barcoding Lab Technician
California Insect Barcode Initiative
Postdoctoral Fellow, Microbiology

My research interest lies in the ecology and evolution of mosquito-borne viruses and spans across scales of the disease transmission. At the community level, I explore how changes in mosquito community diversity, human behaviors, and vector density play a role in driving disease emergence and determining endemicity. At the microbial community level, I characterize the mosquito microbiomes and viromes in relation to the environmental changes to understand how humans may influence virus transmission by changing the natural microbial diversity.

Michelle Trautwein
Assistant Curator of Entomology and Schlinger Chair of Diptera
Evolution and Diversification of Flies
Anthropology Curatorial Assistant Cheryl Tripathi
Curatorial Assistant, Anthropology
Senior Collections Manager, Botany, Emeritus
Darrell Ubick
Research Associate, Entomology
Arachnology
Matthew Van Dam, Research Scientist of Coleoptera
Research Scientist of Coleoptera
Phylogenomics, Curculionidae Systematics, Comparative Genomics

My research focuses on improving the tree of life for arthropods. Weevils (Curculionidae) are my focal taxon of choice. Weevils have specialized ecological habits, such as feeding on fungi, seeds, pollen, wood, roots and even kangaroo dung, weevils make an excellent system to study the evolution of different ecomorphologies. Currently I am focusing my efforts on whole genome sequencing and functional genomics in the genus Pachyrhynchus as well in the Cryptorhynchinae.

Martha Velez, Ornithology and Mammalogy Curatorial Assistant
Curatorial Assistant, Birds and Mammals

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