We study adaptation and speciation, with a special focus on the genetic basis of wing pattern mimicry in butterflies. Other topics of study in the lab include mate preference evolution in butterflies, monarch butterfly migration, and poison dart frog color patterning. Our work is highly integrative, spanning genomics, population genetics, molecular and developmental biology, animal behavior, and field work.
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Bauer Fellow - Systems Biology
2012
University of Texas
Austin, Texas
post-doc - Evolutionary Biology
2007
University of Texas
Austin, Texas
Ph.D. - Ecology, Evolution & Behavior
2004
University of Miami
Miami, Florida
B.S. - Biology
1998
Environmental and Genetic Conditions Shaping Monarch Butterfly Migration Biology.
Environmental and Genetic Conditions Shaping Monarch Butterfly Migration Biology. Anim Behav. 2026 Oct; 240.
PMID: 42729918
Correction: Comparative population genetics of mimetic Heliconius butterflies in an endangered habitat; Brazil's Atlantic Forest.
Correction: Comparative population genetics of mimetic Heliconius butterflies in an endangered habitat; Brazil's Atlantic Forest. BMC Genom Data. 2026 Aug 28; 27(1).
PMID: 42665822
Evolution of compound eye cell types shapes visual behaviors across Heliconius butterflies.
Evolution of compound eye cell types shapes visual behaviors across Heliconius butterflies. bioRxiv. 2026 Jul 24.
PMID: 42539069
Emerging Patterns in the Functional and Developmental Genetics of Mimicry Supergenes.
Emerging Patterns in the Functional and Developmental Genetics of Mimicry Supergenes. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol. 2026 May 29.
PMID: 42213582
The Pieris climate accords: how climate change shapes molecular interactions between the butterfly Pieris rapae (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) and its host plant Arabidopsis thaliana (Brassicales: Brassicaceae).
The Pieris climate accords: how climate change shapes molecular interactions between the butterfly Pieris rapae (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) and its host plant Arabidopsis thaliana (Brassicales: Brassicaceae). Environ Entomol. 2026 05 05; 55(3).
PMID: 42252129
Correction: Cellular innovations and diversity in the lepidopteran compound eye.
Correction: Cellular innovations and diversity in the lepidopteran compound eye. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol. 2026 Mar; 212(2):243-244.
PMID: 41233635
Parallel Selection for Longevity in Mammals and Birds.
Parallel Selection for Longevity in Mammals and Birds. bioRxiv. 2025 Dec 16.
PMID: 41473298
A shared gene but distinct dynamics regulate mimicry polymorphisms in closely related butterfly species.
A shared gene but distinct dynamics regulate mimicry polymorphisms in closely related butterfly species. Proc Biol Sci. 2025 11; 292(2059):20250966.
PMID: 41290176
Sex-limited diversification of the eye in Heliconius cydno butterflies.
Sex-limited diversification of the eye in Heliconius cydno butterflies. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol. 2026 Mar; 212(2):259-269.
PMID: 41102534
Functional genetic elements of a butterfly mimicry supergene.
Functional genetic elements of a butterfly mimicry supergene. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Oct 14; 122(41):e2509864122.
PMID: 41060750
Biological Sciences Division Distinguished Investigator Award
University of Chicago
2016
NSF CAREER Award
University of Chicago
2015
Pew Biomedical Scholar
University of Chicago
2015 - 2020
Neubauer Family Endowed Assistant Professorship
University of Chicago
2012 - 2017
Bauer Fellows Program
Harvard University
2007 - 2012
NSF Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant
2002
Summa cum laude
University of Miami
1998
Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
University of Miami
1997