About Sam


Welcome! I am an insect systematist that explores evolutionary questions about biogeography, behavior and morphology.

I am currently a PhD student in the Weirauch lab at UCR. My research is focused on the systematics and evolution of True Bugs (Heteroptera) and thread-legged assassin bugs (Emesinae: Reduviidae). The following gives a short summary of my research projects and background.


Education

PhD in Entomology

  • 2017 - Present
  • University of California, Riverside
  • Advisor: Dr. Christiane Weirauch
  • Systematics and evolution of true bugs (Heteroptera) and thread-legged assassin bugs (Emesinae: Reduviidae)

 

Education

Bachelor's in Biological Sciences

  • 2011 - 2017
  • Brigham Young University
  • Advisors: Dr. Riley Nelson, Dr. Seth Bybee
  • Evolution of rubyspotted damselflies (Hetaerina: Calopterygidae)

 

Experiences

International Fieldwork

  • 2019: Panama, Barro Colorado Island Research Station
  • 2019 & 2017: Cameroon, Bouamir research station
  • 2019: Gabon, Lope national park, Ivindo national park, Crystal mountain
  • 2017: Brazil, Manaus, Belem, São Paulo

 

Experiences

Workshops attended

  • 2019: Reduviidae Morphology, UC Riverside
  • 2019: Applied Phylogenetics, Bodega Bay CA
  • 2018: aTRAM2, Champaign IL
  • 2018: Molecular Evolution, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole MA

 

Projects

Synonymy of Mangabea and Stenorhamphus, with the description of two new species (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae: Collartidini)

  • Synonymize fossil genus Collarhamphus and extant genera Mangabea and Stenorhamphus
  • Revised diagnosis and description of Stenorhamphus
  • Describe Stenorhamphus segarak and Stenorhamphus phuphan

 

Projects

Systematics of thread-legged assassin bugs (Emesinae: Reduviidae)

  • Reconstruct phylogenetic hypothesis of Emesinae sensu lato (Emesinae, Saicinae, Visayanocorinae: Reduviidae)
  • Revise tribes within Emesinae sensu lato using ancestral character state reconstruction of morphological matrix

 

Projects

Divergence dating and biogeography of Emesinae sensu lato

  • Test hypothesis that cosmopolitan genera (Ploiaria, Gardena, Stenolemus and Empicoris) share similar dispersal patterns
  • Divergence dating in RevBayes including 6 ingroup fossils
  • Biogeographic analyses (DEC) in RevBayes

 

Publications

List of Publications