MEET THE TEAM

Click on our heads to learn more about our interests!

Armin Moczek

Armin Moczek

Principal Investigator

I’m fascinated by how novel complex traits originate in development and evolution. I want to know what it takes genetically, developmentally, and ecologically for novel traits and trait variants to arise from ancestral variation, and how such events may set to stage for subsequent major evolutionary transitions and adaptive radiations. I appreciate all types of organismal diversity, but insects have always been especially fascinating to me. My research employs diverse insect models, but especially horned beetles in the genus Onthophagus, to explore the nature of innovation and diversification in the natural world.

| armin@indiana.edu
(he/him)

Joshua Jones

Joshua Jones

Graduate Student

The communities of microbes that exist within a given space is known as the microbiome. I am broadly interested in the symbioses between organisms and their respective microbiomes. Research into these relationships can give us pivotal insight into the roles that microbes play in their host’s evolution and ecology and vise versa. From nutrient uptake and amino acid synthesis to development and reproduction, microbes have been shown to undertake many processes to their host’s benefits. I believe Onthophagus to be a particularly good model for investigating many of these interactions

| jaj35@iu.edu
(he/him)

Erica Nadolski

Erica Nadolski

Graduate Student

I am fascinated by the biodiversity apparent all around us. In particular, I am interested in how developmental processes bias heritable phenotypic variation, influence responses to selection, and shape phenotypic evolution. My past research focused on the genetic basis of a morphological novelty shaped by sexual selection in Drosophila. My current interests are centered on how developmental plasticity in particular and developmental bias broadly may affect genetic and epigenetic inheritance and contribute to biodiversity.

| emnadols@iu.edu
(she/her)

Kenzie Givens

Kenzie Givens

Graduate Student

I am interested in endosymbiosis, a highly specialized form of mutualism in which a host relies on microbes it houses within its own cells to perform essential functions. These close associations permit extensive functional integration and mutual dependence that afford many benefits to both parties, although they are not without risk. I aim to understand how these partnerships are established and the factors driving their long-term persistence using a combination of genomics and mathematical models. My current research focuses on genome instability in the mitochondria and in the bacterial endosymbionts of cicadas.

| mcgivens@iu.edu
(she/her)

Phil Davidson

Phil Davidson

Postdoctoral Researcher

Contextualizing developmental differences in terms of evolutionary change provides a powerful framework for explaining the origination of biodiversity. My primary research interests seek to identify the genomic and regulatory basis of developmental evolution to better understand the molecular drivers of novel traits and adaptations. In particular, I am interested in the roles of the non-coding genome and
selection in shaping gene network evolution, in the formation of novel, complex traits, and in mediating adaptive phenotypes. In the Moczek Lab, I am pursuing multi-species genomic and developmental
analyses in Onthophagus beetles with the goal to characterize the regulation and evolution of developmental plasticity and morphological innovation.

| phidavid@iu.edu
(he/him)

Rebecca Westwick

Rebecca Westwick

Postdoctoral Researcher

I am broadly interested in animal behavior. In particular, I focus on social behavior and developmental behavioral plasticity. How do social interactions influence the health of an organism? How do experiences in early life shape adult behavior and brain function? Why are the effects of some experiences temporary while others are long-lasting? I have previously worked on these questions in the honey bee (Apis mellifera). I am excited to bring this focus to sex-based and reproductive-tactic-based behavioral differences in dung beetles!

| rrwestwi@iu.edu
(she/her)

Kirstin Milks

Kirstin Milks

Science Outreach Consultant

Bio coming soon!

| kirstin.milks@gmail.com
(she/they)

Sadie Kidd

Sadie Kidd

Research Assistant

Bio coming soon!

| sarekidd@iu.edu
(she/her)

Isabel Manley

Isabel Manley

Research Assistant

I am interested in the study of genetics, and specifically in the interactions between genes and environmental conditions in shaping organisms and their traits.

| imanley@iu.edu

Eve Pieri

Eve Pieri

Research Assistant

Bio coming soon…

| espieri@iu.edu
(she/her)

Miranda Towse

Miranda Towse

Research Assistant

Bio coming soon…

| mtowse@iu.edu
(she/her)

Armin Moczek

Armin Moczek

Principal Investigator

| armin@indiana.edu
(he/him)

Joshua Jones

Joshua Jones

Graduate Student

| jaj35@iu.edu
(he/him)

Erica Nadolski

Erica Nadolski

Graduate Student

| emnadols@iu.edu
(she/her)

Kenzie Givens

Kenzie Givens

Graduate Student

| mcgivens@iu.edu
(she/her)

More about Armin

I’m fascinated by how novel complex traits originate in development and evolution. I want to know what it takes genetically, developmentally, and ecologically for novel traits and trait variants to arise from ancestral variation, and how such events may set to stage for subsequent major evolutionary transitions and adaptive radiations. I appreciate all types of organismal diversity, but insects have always been especially fascinating to me. My research employs diverse insect models, but especially horned beetles in the genus Onthophagus, to explore the nature of innovation and diversification in the natural world.

More about Joshua

The communities of microbes that exist within a given space is known as the microbiome. I am broadly interested in the symbioses between organisms and their respective microbiomes. Research into these relationships can give us pivotal insight into the roles that microbes play in their host’s evolution and ecology and vise versa. From neutrient uptake and amino acid synthesis to development and reproduction, microbes have been shown to undertake many processes to their host’s benefits. I believe Onthophagus to be a particularly good model for investigating many of these interactions

More about Erica

I am fascinated by the biodiversity apparent all around us. In particular, I am interested in how developmental processes bias heritable phenotypic variation, influence responses to selection, and shape phenotypic evolution. My past research focused on the genetic basis of a morphological novelty shaped by sexual selection in Drosophila. My current interests are centered on how developmental plasticity in particular and developmental bias broadly may affect genetic and epigenetic inheritance and contribute to biodiversity.

More about Kenzie

I am interested in endosymbiosis, a highly specialized form of mutualism in which a host relies on microbes it houses within its own cells to perform essential functions. These close associations permit extensive functional integration and mutual dependence that afford many benefits to both parties, although they are not without risk. I aim to understand how these partnerships are established and the factors driving their long-term persistence using a combination of genomics and mathematical models. My current research focuses on genome instability in the mitochondria and in the bacterial endosymbionts of cicadas.

More about Kat

Insects display a broad array of physiological and developmental adaptations, allowing them to colonize nearly the entirety of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. I am interested in the mechanisms that have allowed insects to be successful across such a range of environments and associated food resources. I am especially interested in how the mechanisms of developmental regulation, plasticity, and novelty have contributed to the malleability of the insect body plan to facilitate insect evolvability and adaptation.

Phil Davidson

Phil Davidson

Postdoctoral Researcher

| phidavid@iu.edu
(he/him)

Rebecca Westwick

Rebecca Westwick

Postdoctoral Researcher

| rrwestwi@iu.edu
(she/her)

Kirstin Milks

Kirstin Milks

Science Outreach Consultant

| kirstin.milks@gmail.com
(she/they)

More about Phil

Contextualizing developmental differences in terms of evolutionary change provides a powerful framework for explaining the origination of biodiversity. My primary research interests seek to identify the genomic and regulatory basis of developmental evolution to better understand the molecular drivers of novel traits and adaptations. In particular, I am interested in the roles of the non-coding genome and selection in shaping gene network evolution, in the formation of novel, complex traits, and in mediating adaptive phenotypes. In the Moczek Lab, I am pursuing multi-species genomic and developmental analyses in Onthophagus beetles with the goal to characterize the regulation and evolution of developmental plasticity and morphological innovation.

More about Kirstin

Coming soon!

More about Sadie

Coming soon!

More about Rebecca

I am broadly interested in animal behavior. In particular, I focus on social behavior and developmental behavioral plasticity. How do social interactions influence the health of an organism? How do experiences in early life shape adult behavior and brain function? Why are the effects of some experiences temporary while others are long-lasting? I have previously worked on these questions in the honey bee (Apis mellifera). I am excited to bring this focus to sex-based and reproductive-tactic-based behavioral differences in dung beetles! 

Sadie Kidd

Sadie Kidd

Research Assistant

| sarekidd@iu.edu
(she/her)

Isabel Manley

Isabel Manley

Research Assistant

| imanley@iu.edu
(she/her)

Eve Pieri

Eve Pieri

Research Assistant

| espieri@iu.edu
(she/her)

Miranda Towse

Miranda Towse

Research Assistant

| mtowse@iu.edu
(she/her)

More about Isabel

I am a broadly trained entomologist with a research background spanning the systematics and evolution of morphology of Onthophagus beetles, the community ecology and conservation of dung beetles, and the ecology, distribution, and conservation of saproxylic beetles and dragonflies. As a member of the Moczek lab, I am using Onthophagus beetles to study the parallel divergence of male and female copulatory structures, the role of appendage-patterning genes in their development, and the evolution  of ovarian development in populations subject to different levels of competition.

Contextualizing developmental differences in terms of evolutionary change provides a powerful framework for explaining the origination of biodiversity. My primary research interests seek to identify the genomic and regulatory basis of developmental evolution to better understand the molecular drivers of novel traits and adaptations. In particular, I am interested in the roles of the non-coding genome and selection in shaping gene network evolution, in the formation of novel, complex traits, and in mediating adaptive phenotypes. In the Moczek Lab, I am pursuing multi-species genomic and developmental analyses in Onthophagus beetles with the goal to characterize the regulation and evolution of developmental plasticity and morphological innovation.

More about Eve

I have a long standing interest in the role of developmental bias in channeling evolutionary change by vetoing certain evolutionary trajectories while facilitating others. Central to this concept is the notion that developmental programs interact with environmental conditions to create a rugged landscape of potential change, while evolution traces paths of least resistance through that landscape. In my research I investigate the nature and consequences of developmental channeling in the evolution of novel traits during post-embryonic development, from  annelids and nemerteans to insects.

LAB ALUMNI

Former Post-docs:
Oliver Beckers: Associate Professor, Murray State University, Department of Biology
Yonggang Hu: Assistant Professor, Institute of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
Teiya Kijimoto: Assistant Professor, West Virginia University, Department of Biology
Cris Ledon-Rettig: Assistant Professor, Indiana University, Department of Biology
David Linz: Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Post-Doctoral fellow, Environmental Protection Agency
Anna Macagno: Biostatistician and Project Manager, Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Indiana University
Melissa Pespeni: Associate Professor, University of Vermont, Department of Biology
Patrick Rohner: Assistant Professor, University of California, San Diego, School of Biology 
Emilie Snell-Rood: Associate Professor, University of Minnesota, Department of Biology
Edward Zattara: Professor and Chair, Departmento de Biología General, Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche, Universidad Nacional del Comahue

Former Graduate Students:
Bronwyn Heather Bleakley: Associate Professor and Chair, Stonehill College, MA
Sofia Casasa: Postdoctoral Researcher, Ragsdale Lab, Indiana University
Guillaume Dury: Wade Lab, Indiana University
Erik Parker: Biostatistician I, Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Indiana University
Harald Parzer: Associate Professor, Farleigh Dickinson University, Department of Biological and Allied Health Sciences
Daniel Schwab: AAAS Science and Policy Fellow, Department of Defense, DC
Matthew Stansbury: Associate Professor, Colorado Mesa University, Department of Biology
Bethany Wasik: Editor, Cornell University Press

OUTREACH

Our outreach initiative creates impactful K12 resources, enhances diversity in STEM, and trains the next generation of science communicators.

LATEST PUBLICATIONS

Read more about the various projects underway in the lab, and our work towards understanding innovation in the natural world.

GET INVOLVED

Find how to apply to join the lab, participate in our outreach programs, or contribute towards our research goals.