I am an integrative organismal biologist studying the evolution and expression of sexual dimorphism. My research focuses on how and why extreme phenotypic differences evolve between females and males, and what is the role played by biotic and abiotic factors, such as temperature and parasites, on the expression of such dimorphism.  To address these topics, my research integrates behavioral ecology, evolutionary biology and developmental physiology.

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Females and males may differ in many traits: size, color, body shape, the presence/absence of certain structures, or behaviors. Sexual dimorphism evolves when different sources of selection reach different equilibrium points in females versus males. What are these sources of selection, and how do they differ between the sexes? How does the phylogenetic history of a clade promote or constrain such divergence? What role does the environment play in the expression of these dimorphic traits?

To answer these questions, I combine field observations, behavioral experiments, metabolic and thermal ecology frameworks with phylogenetic methods. I am have worked on a variety of study systems, from insects to reptiles, but arachnids are at the center of my research, and crab spiders (Thomisidae) are my main study system.  These charismatic animals display several types of sexual dimorphism: color, shape, behavior, and, the most striking one, size. 

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I am currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at Duke University. To find out more about what I do, please check my Research page. I am always interested in fun collaborative projects, and I love to chat about science with people of all ages and backgrounds. If you are interested in my work, have a question, or would simply like to know more about sexual dimorphism, contact me!