Dr. Corrie Moreau (she/her)
CALS Senior Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Moser Endowed Professor of Arthropod Biosystematics and Biodiversity
Director & Curator of the Cornell University Insect Collection
corrie.moreau@cornell.edu
As an organismal evolutionary biologist, who focuses on social insects and their gut-associated microbes, I am interested in the role of diversification, biogeography, and symbiosis in shaping macroevolutionary processes to better understand broad-scale evolutionary patterns of life. To accomplish these goals I leverage field-based research with molecular and genomic tools to address the origin of species and how co-evolved systems benefit both partners.
Website: https://www.moreaulab.entomology.cornell.edu/people/corrie-moreau/
Visiting Faculty
Dr. Lee Hsiang Liow (she/her)
Visiting Professor – Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Norway
l.h.liow@nhm.uio.no -AND- ll979@cornell.edu
I am an evolutionary biologist who works mostly with fossil organisms. To answer questions about evolutionary processes on different time scales, I dabble in diversification rate estimation, phenotypic evolution, paleoecology and prefer to study marine invertebrates when I do empirical work. My pet clade are cheilostome bryozoans, which are colonial organisms, like ants, but they live in the marine realm and have a great fossil record.
Websites: leehsiangliow.com -AND- bryozoanlableed.wordpress.com
Postdoctoral Fellows
Dr. Tatsuya Inagaki (he/him)
Postdoctoral Fellow – Cornell University
ti224@cornell.edu
I am interested in how symbiotic relationships have evolved in various organisms, especially social insects. I have focused on obligate mutualism between termites and their gut microbiota, including diverse protists, bacteria, and archaea. I have investigated how microbial communities are maintained in termite life history by focusing on their caste (social role of each individual), development, and colony growth. As a next step, I want to clarify the functions and interactions of each microorganism in the community and their relationship with termite ecology.
Website: https://tatsuyainagaki.wixsite.com/japanese
Dr. Axel Touchard (he/him)Postdoctoral fellow – Cornell University
att46@cornell.edu
My research, focused on chemical ecology, aims at characterizing bioactive molecules and understanding their role in biotic interactions. To achieve these objectives, I use an interdisciplinary approach to study the toxinology of ant venom peptides based on proteo-transcriptomics methodology to characterize the sequence of these toxins and then to link the toxins diversity with the ecological traits of species. The subsequent biological screening I conducted with the novel peptides permitted me to identify novel toxins having insecticidal, cytotoxic and ion channel modulation properties. Thus, my research led to the description of novel families of venom toxins and evaluated their potential application for the development of insecticidal molecules. Currently, I investigate the impact of diet specialization on the venom composition of ants.
Graduate Students
Yareli Alvarez (she/her/ella)
Ph.D. Graduate Student – Cornell University
ya92@cornell.edu
I am broadly interested in the evolution of defense mechanisms.
Megan Barkdull (she/her)
Ph.D. Graduate Student – Cornell University
mb2337@cornell.edu
I am interested in investigating how an ant’s genome gives rise to complex phenotypic traits, such as social and symbiotic behaviors. I am particularly interested in understanding the factors that create, maintain, and shape interpopulation genetic variation in these traits across the landscape.
Website: https://mbarkdull.github.io/
Leland Graber (he/him)
Ph.D. Graduate Student – Cornell University
lcg65@cornell.edu
I’m interested in the interactions of social insects with microbial symbionts. I am curious to see how microbes, when associated with insect societies, impact the behavior and physiology of the individual insects, as well as the social behaviors of the entire society. I’m also interested in the role that microbial symbionts played in shaping the evolution of different social insect species.
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/lelandgraber/home
Ayress Grinage (she/her)
Ph.D. Graduate Student – Cornell University (co-supervised with Dr. Chelsea Specht)
adg223@cornell.edu
Palm tree form is more diverse than the tall single stemmed plant most people associate with palms, think beaches and coconuts. Rather, palms can be vines, mangroves, stemless. Palm form is closely associated with their ecology, particularly habitats and pollinators, but also historical processes such as range fragmentation, isolation and selection against predation by megafauna. I am interested in investigating the diversity of palm forms in the Neotropical palms, Sabal. Thus, I work at both the interspecific and intraspecific level to investigate the transition from tall single stemmed palms to stemlessness. I use a combination of field-collected and specimen-based (herbarium and botanical garden) data to address this question from a contemporary and historical perspective.
Website: https://ayressgrinage.weebly.com/
Chloe Jelley (she/her)
Ph.D. Graduate Student – Cornell University
cmj96@cornell.edu
I am interested in morphological, behavioral, and genetic trait diversity in ants. Through my research I aim to examine how these traits have evolved over time across ant lineages via their biotic interactions within their given environments. I am especially interested in the role that various levels of aggression play in biotic interactions.
Website: https://chloejelley.weebly.com/
Annette Kang (she/her)
Ph.D. Graduate Student – Cornell University
ak2595@cornell.edu
I am broadly interested in Neotropical ants! With a background in army ant neuroanatomy and how environmental pressures inform development, I am now aiming to understand the genetic population structure and phylogeography of the Neotropical bullet ant, Paraponera clavata.
Phoebe Koenig (she/her)
Ph.D. Graduate Student – Cornell University
pak98@cornell.edu
I am interested in how ants have evolved to allocate resources and labor among individuals within a colony. How do optimal allocations vary with species life history and natural history traits? I am currently exploring how allocation of resources towards different individual traits may vary with the age of individuals and the colony.
Sylvana Ross (she/her)
Ph.D. Graduate Student – Cornell University
sbr88@cornell.edu
I am interested in understanding how organismal interactions within urban environments influence the dynamics of trait variation, selection, and species diversification. I am aiming to study the genetic variation between urban and natural ant populations to give insight to the role of human driven environmental change on a species’ phenotypes and genotypes. It is my goal to use my research to empower empathy for the natural world and intersect social and evolutionary sciences to help advance biodiversity in our growing urban ecosystems.
Cheyenne Reuben-Thomas (she/they) (Oneida Nation (Turtle Clan)/Tonawanda Seneca)
Ph.D. Graduate Student – Cornell University
cit27@cornell.edu
I am interested in integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledges (TEK) and western science through exploring species diversity and genetic variation between traditional Haudenosaunee homelands and settler lands. How have anthropogenic factors (i.e., settler colonialism) such as habitat fragmentation and soil contamination impacted ant diversity? Specifically, I aim to investigate the benefits of TEK practices, such as cultural burning, on genetic variation and evolutionary history of ants, as well as overall biodiversity on Tribal lands.
Research Assistants & Staff
Dr. Jason Dombroskie (he/him)
Collections Manager
Cornell University Insect Collection
Website: http://www.jasondombroskie.com/
Undergraduate Interns, High School Interns, & Volunteers
 Sam CavanaghCornell University |
 Seyde DelgadoCornell University |
 Mahalia DonaldsonCornell University |
 Kendrick NakamuraCornell University |
 Jaden ThomasCornell University |
 Noah WangCornell University |
Moreau Lab Alumni
Graduate Students
- Benjamin Blanchard (Now at: Postdoc at Chinese Academy of Sciences): 2014-2020
- Anais Chanson (Now at: Postdoc at University of Lincoln, UK) 2017-2021
- Peter Flynn (Now at: Postdoc at Harvard University): 2016-2022
- Jordan Greer (Now at: Staff science writer for Cell Press): 2017-2019
- Manuela Ramalho (Now at: Assistant Professor – West Chester University of Pennsylvania): 2015-2017
- Benjamin Rubin (Now at: Private biotech company): 2009-2015
- Supriya (Now at: Postdoc at Arizona State University): 2014-2019
- Max Winston (Now at: Private tech company): 2011-2017
- Lu Yao (Now at: Private consulting company): 2011-2016
Postdoctoral Researchers
- Caroline Birer (Now: Assistant Professor – University of Tours, France): 2019-2020
- Doug Booher (Now: Research Entomologist – US Forest Service): 2018-2020
- Felix Grewe (Now: Genome Analyst – Field Museum: 2014–2016
- Stefanie Kautz (Now: Assistant Professor – Portland State University): 2009–2014
- Steve Leavitt (Now: Assistant Professor – Brigham Young University): 2013–2015
- Dirk Mezger (Now: Project Manager & Photographer – AntBase.net): 2013–2014
- Matthew Nelsen (Now: Research Scientist – Field Museum): 2016-2018
- Shauna Price (Now: Teaching Professor – Loyola University, Chicago): 2015-2018
- Manuela Ramalho (Now: Assistant Professor – West Chester University of Pennsylvania): 2018 – 2022
- Jacob Suissa (Now: Assistant Professor – University of Tennessee Knoxville): 2022-2024
- April Wright (Now: Assistant Professor – Southeastern Louisiana University): 2016-2017
Research Assistants
- Matt Boot (Now at: Ohio State University): 2015-2017
- Gracen Brilmyer (Now at: University of California, Los Angeles): 2011-2014
- Jesse Czekanski-Moir (Now at: SUNY-ESF): 2008-2010
- Joe Rowlett: 2014-2015
- Alexandra Westrich (Now at: Chicago Department of Public Health): 2010–2012 & 2014–2015
- Brian Wray (Now at: Northwestern University): 2010-2017
Undergraduate Interns
- Tamana Ahmadi (Cornell University): 2021–2022
- Aaron-Bereich Apilado (School of the Art Institute of Chicago): 2012–2013
- Jenna-Marie Antonucci (Loyola University): Summer 2009
- Patrick Belenky (University of Illinois, Chicago): 2013–2014
- Matthew Boot (Grand Valley State University): 2013–2015
- Simon Briggs (School of the Art Institute of Chicago): 2013–2014
- Andrew Burchill (University of Chicago): 2013–2014 (NSF REU intern 2013)
- Kelsey Choo (School of the Art Institute of Chicago): 2014–2015
- Jessica De Smet (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign): 2009–2011
- Grant Doering (Arizona State University): Summer 2016 & 2017
- John “JC” Dombrowski (Cornell University): 2021-2023
- Ariel Fang (School of the Art Institute of Chicago): 2011–2014
- Manda Gibbs (Lake Forest College): FMWIS Kemper Scholar Summer 2014
- Charles Griggs (Middlebury College): Summer 2013
- Geneva Guinee (University of New England): Summer 2009
- Ali Gutowski (School of the Art Institute of Chicago): 2013–2014
- Caroline Hanson (School of the Art Institute of Chicago): 2012–2013
- Mallory Hinz (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign): 2013
- Madeline Jenkins (Beloit College): 2016–present
- Madeleine Kelly (Harvard University): Summer 2017
- Zoe Kim (Cornell University): 2019-2021
- Hanna Klaeser (Whitman College): Summers 2014 & 2016
- Rachel Kleban (School of the Art Institute of Chicago): 2014
- Stefanie Krim (School of the Art Institute of Chicago): 2013–2014
- Daniel Minh-Tu Le (School of the Art Institute of Chicago): 2011
- Elizabeth Loehler (Loyola University): Summer 2009 (NSF REU intern 2009)
- Ariadne Lumayag (DePaul University): Summer 2010 (NSF CIRRUS intern 2010)
- Paul Masonick (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign): 2014
- Dreyvon McCray (Governor’s State University): Summer 2016 (NSF REU intern 2016)
- Katherine McDonnell (Tufts University): Summer 2013
- Steven Medina (Tulane University): Summer 2016
- William Montag (Bowdoin University): Summer 2010 & 2011 (NSF REU intern 2011)
- Stephanie Morgan (Beloit College): Summer 2013 (Field Museum Women In Science intern)
- Amanda Mulcahy (School of the Art Institute of Chicago): 2014
- Peter Nichols (School of the Art Institute of Chicago): 2014–2015
- Timothy O’Connor (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign): 2010
- Sean O’Fallon (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign): 2016–2017
- Corey Reese (Cornell University): 2019-2023
- Destiny Reeves (University of Chicago): 2016–2017
- Ian Rines (Wofford College): Summer 2017 (NSF REU intern 2017)
- Estefany Romero (Concordia University Chicago): Summer 2015 (Field Museum Women In Science intern)
- Timothy Salazar (University of Chicago): 2014–2015
- Francesca Socki (Ohio Wesleyan University): Summer 2017 (NSF REU intern 2017)
- Kathleen Soler (DePaul University): 2009-2010
- Lynika Stozier (Dominican University): Summer 2011 & Summer 2013
- Andrea Thompson (Harold Washington College): 2014–2017
- Arista Tischner (University of Illinois, Chicago): 2011–2014 (NSF CIRRUS intern 2011; NSF REU intern 2012)
- Gabriel Trujillio (Lake Forest College): 2014–2015
- Mitchell Trychta (Rhodes College): Summer 2016
- Mariam Usmani (DePaul University): Summer 2009
- Steven Wang (Cornell University): 2019-2021
- Cody Weinberger (University of Chicago): 2013
- Alexandra Westrich (School for the Art Institute of Chicago): 2009-2010
- Jesse Williams (Roosevelt University): 2013–2014
- Sara Zufan (Loyola University): 2009–2012 (NSF REU intern 2010
High school interns
- Alexandra Gray (Deerfield Academy High School): Summer 2010
- Charles Griggs (Proviso Mathematics and Science Academy): Spring 2012–Summer 2012
- Eveline Liu (Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy): Fall 2013–Spring 2014
- Katherine McDonnell (St. Francis High School): Summer 2012
- Chelsea Wang (Naperville North High School): Summer 2013
Volunteers
- Dr. Helga Haumuller: 2014
- Daniel Le (School of the Art Institute of Chicago; Now at: Field Museum Botany Department): Undergraduate Volunteer 2011
- Dr. Amanda Wass: 2008
Visiting Scientists
- Frank Azorsa (Museo de Historia Natural, Lima, Peru): Visiting Museum Collections Assistant 2009
- Dr. Caroline Birer (University of French Guiana): Visiting Postdoctoral Researcher 2017
- Dr. Matthew Carson (Northwestern University): Visiting Postdoctoral Researcher 2013-2014
- Dr. Arietta Fleming-Davies (University of Chicago; Now at: QUBES project): Visiting Postdoctoral Researcher 2011-2014
- Dr. Cíntia Martins (Federal University of Piauí, Brazil): Visiting Fulbright Junior Faculty Member 2017-2018
- Rodolfo Probst (Museu de Zoologia da University of São Paulo): Visiting Master’s Student 2015 & Research Assistant 2016
- Dr. Gregory Putzel (Northwestern University): Visiting Postdoctoral Researcher 2013-2014
- Dr. James Waters (Princeton University; Now at: Providence College): Visiting Postdoctoral Researcher 2014
