Jessica Purcell

Location: Entomology 267
Tel: (951) 827-7258
E-mail : jpurcell@ucr.edu

J. Purcell CV 2020.pdf

Research Interests: I am fascinated by the evolution of many diverse and unique social systems in a wide range of organisms. In my research, I take advantage of natural Read More...

Giulia Scarparo

Mari West

Location: Entomology 263
Tel: (951) 827-3527
E-mail : mwest008@ucr.edu

Research Interests: As a PhD student in the Entomology Department here at UCR, with a passion for insects and the outdoors, I am interested in studying the evolution and genomics cooperative behavior. My previous entomological work has focused on an aggressive and cannibalistic social spider (Delena cancerides) as an undergraduate at Cornell University and the control and eradication of an extremely cooperative and super-colonial invasive ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes) as a US Fish and Wildlife Service Volunteer. Read More...

Madison Sankovitz

Location: Entomology 263
Tel: (951) 827-3527
E-mail : msank002@ucr.edu

Research Interests: I am fascinated by the ecological interactions of insects and their role in soil health. In my Ph.D. research, I take advantage of the widespread ant genus Formica to try to understand the role of environment in shaping their function as soil ecosystem engineers. I use a combination of field sampling, laboratory experiments, genomic analyses, and landscape modeling to investigate variation in ants and their soil impacts along various gradients - latitudinal, elevational, and urbanization gradients in North America.Read More...

Marie Palanchon

Darin McGuire

Cerise Purcell

Location: Entomology 263 or the Purcell backyard

Research Interests: As the Purcell Lab's official mascot, Cerise greets everyone that visits with an irresistible happy dance. Her interests include belly rubs, bone and rope destruction, showing off her tricks (for treats, of course), and otherwise distracting everyone with her charm.

Aldo de la Mora Rodriguez

Location: Entomology 263
Tel: (951) 827-3527
E-mail : aldod@ucr.edu

Research Interests: I have been studying ants for years in Mexico. Previously, my primary research was focused on understanding the foraging behavior in Odontomachus opaciventris. Then, I went through the ant taxonomy and social behavior (but not enogh !!). During my Ph.D., I became interested in which local or landscape factors shape ant diversity and ants' ecological interactions with other organisms in agroecosystems. To respond to my inquietude, I worked on ant diversity and abundance, parasitism in ants, and ecosystem services provided by ants to explain the intensification process in coffee landscapes. Read More...

Junxia Zhang

Location: Entomology 289
Tel: (951) (951) 827-3527
E-mail : jxzhang1976@gmail.com

J. Zhang CV 2016.pdf

Research Interests: My research interests are rooted in exploring phylogeny and biodiversity of life, and have extended into a wide spectrum of fields: evolutionary patterns, mechanisms and processes in biodiversity, historical biogeography, genitalic evolution Read More...

Amanda R. Hale

Location: Entomology 263
Tel: (951) 827-3527
E-mail : ahale004@ucr.edu

Research Interests: As a microbiology Ph.D. student, my research interests are the interplay of the gut microbiome in native verses invasive ant species, ant behavior, and evolutionary ant history. Read More...

Daniel Pierce

Location: Entomology 284
Tel: (951) (951) 827-3527
E-mail : dpier004@ucr.edu

Research Interests: I am an undergraduate student at UCR with a general interest in ecology and evolution and enthusiasm for fieldwork. My research is focused on studying social polymorphism and morphology of Formica francoueri, a Southern California native ant. I want to learn broadly about the life history of these animals as well as if/how environmental factors influence their behavior and evolution.

Garrett Keating

Location: Entomology 263
Tel: (951) 827-3527
E-mail : gkeat001@ucr.edu

Joel Castelan

Location: Entomology 263
Tel: (951) 827-3527
E-mail : jcast053@ucr.edu

Research Interests: I am an undergraduate student at UCR who is interested in symbiotic relationships between insects and plants. Currently, I am researching the consequences of ant nesting and how these complex structures impact local ecosystems. I believe this research can lead to novel approaches in land reclamation, land rehabilitation, as well as potential uses in the agricultural industry.

Alyssa Canova

Location: Entomology 263
Tel: (951) 827-3527
E-mail : acano007@ucr.edu

Research Interests: I am a UCR undergraduate student with the ultimate goal of conserving and restoring ecosystems that are vulnerable to irreversible destruction. I am incredibly enthusiastic about studying insects and performing fieldwork, as I am quite fond of all living creatures and their place in nature. In addition to determining whether certain harvester ant species have a gut microbiome, my research is aimed at figuring out how we can use this knowledge if, in fact, a novel phenomenon is discovered.

Shirley Tawdros

Location: Entomology 263
Tel: (951) 827-3527
E-mail : stawd002@ucr.edu

Research Interests: I am an undergraduate student at UCR interested in how diversity of gut microbiome in ants affects their behavior. My research specifically focuses on the Velvety Tree Ant, Liometopum occidentale, that live in decaying wood. In the future I aspire to go to medical school and I am interested in how microbiome affects human health and behavior as well.

Kiera Donoghue

Location: Entomology 263
Tel: (951) 827-3527
E-mail : kdono001@ucr.edu

Research Interests: I am an undergraduate student at UCR studying bioengineering. My research includes exploring if temporal polyethism is a determinant of task allocation in Formica integroides, and determining ant aging through mandibular wear. I enjoy the challenge of applying engineering techniques to entomology. In the future I will pursue my Masters in Bioeingineering at UCR.

Jeneane Hamideh

Location: Entomology 263
Tel: (951) 827-3527
E-mail : jhami006@ucr.edu

Ka (Gary) Wu

Location: Entomology 263
Tel: (951) 827-3527
E-mail : kwu020@ucr.edu

Guadalupe (Liz) Gonzalez

Location: Entomology 263
Tel: (951) 827-3527
E-mail : ggonz070@ucr.edu

Aracely Ospina

Location: Entomology 284
Tel: (951) (951) 827-3527
E-mail : aracely.ospina@ucr.edu

Research Interests: I am the lab manager responsable for all aspects of the lab to ensure that laboratories operate smoothly. I am currently involved on the research project to identify polymorphisms in queen numbers in wild ants populations and investigate the genetic basis of these differences. In addition I am implementing the lab research website.