PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Arnaud Martin
Associate Professor Arnaud (pronounced"Arno") is a gene-nerd and evo-devotee often found day-dreaming in the lab about color pattern landscapes and tropical cloud-forests. He is dedicated to using genome editing in non-traditional laboratory animals, establishing butterfly and moths as models in developmental genetics, evolutionary genomics, and cell biology. 2005: License in Molecular and Cellular Biology -École Normale Supérieure de Lyon / Université Lyon I
2007: Master in Molecular and Cellular Biology – École Normale Supérieure de Lyon; Thesis: Development and diversity of rodent palatal rugae profiles in rodents. Advisors: Dr. Vincent Laudet, Dr. Sophie Pantalacci. 2012: Ph.D. in Biological Sciences – Evolutionary Genetics group – UC Irvine (2012); Thesis: The developmental genetics of color pattern evolution in butterflies. Advisor: Dr. Robert Reed 2012-2014: Post-Doctoral Research with Dr. Robert Reed (Cornell U) and Dr. Thomas Schilling (UC Irvine). 2014-2015: Post-Doctoral Research with Dr. Nipam Patel (UC Berkeley). 2016 : Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at The George Washington University 2022: Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at The George Washington University |
CURRENT LAB MEMBERS
JASMINE ALQASSAR - Lab Technician, PhD Student (starting Fall 2024)
Jasmine is interested in how evolution shapes development in moths and butterflies. Currently, she is working on understanding gene expression in the silk gland of the pantry moth, Plodia interpunctella, using HCR, immunostaining, transgenics, and CRISPR. If she is not in the lab, you will probably find her reading a book or knitting. |
DR. JOSEPH HANLY Research Scientist co-affiliated to GWU, the Duke University (Greg Wray Lab), and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (Owen McMillan Lab)
Joe is interested in the evolution, development and genetics of butterfly wing patterns. During his PhD he studied the wing patterns of Heliconius butterflies with population genetics and transcriptomics. Now, he is working on the mechanism of Wnt signalling in the developing wing, as well as the genetics of pattern differences between a sympatric species pair of Colias butterflies. |
DR. LUCA LIVRAGHI Postdoctoral Researcher
Luca is an evolutionary biologist interested in how development underlies morphological diversity. His postdoctoral research addresses how genes evolve to regulate differences in the wing patterns of butterflies and moths. Luca is also working on developing transgenic tools in the Indian mealmoth, Plodia interpunctella, with the hopes of developing a developmental model to address specific questions on scale development and evolution. |
DR. DONYA SHODJA Postdoctoral Researcher
Donya is interested the genetic and developmental basis of diversity in the animal kingdom. The vast array of features that are programmed during development include unique morphologies and innate behaviors that animals are born with. She spent her PhD studying the evolutionary origins of novel morphologies, particularly a male genital structure in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Now, she is interested in understanding how complex developmental programs specify innate behaviors using the pantry moth, Plodia interpunctella. Other forms of complexity she enjoys are the chocolatey notes of coffee and the “sweet science” of boxing. 
MARTINA TSIMBA - Bachelor Student
Martina is highly interested in studying the impacts of changing climate on various organisms. Cancer research and the development of new treatments are also among her top interests. At present, Martina is conducting research on the role of Doublesex in regulating sexually dimorphic wing traits in Colias eurytheme at the Martin Lab. When not in the lab, you can find her in the gym or playing sports, always striving to broaden her horizons and explore new experiences. 
ALEXANDER CARTER - Bachelor Student
Alex is interested in lab research on gene regulation and epigenomics. He is currently working on the ivory gene as well as on the determinants of UV-color patterning in Colias butterflies. Alex is an avid fan of soccer, specifically Tottenham 🫡 
AMIKA YAMADA - Bachelor Student
Amika is interested in developing transgenics in butterflies using Hyperactive Piggybac methods 
JORDAN CASSILY - Bachelor Student
Jordan is aiming to use the ivory promoter to drive stable, germ-line integration for transgenic expression specifically in the scale/socket-derived SOPs of A. gemmatalis moths. This project is fueling her excitement for evo-devo research, and she is eager to see where it will go. When not in the lab, you can find Jordan delving deeply into music, raising her vast collection of plants, or at chess club. |
FORMER LAB MEMBERS
Ling Sheng Loh (PhD Student) is interested in how cell fate decisions are made to produce diverse patterns observed in nature. Coming from an evolutionary perspective, she uses transcriptomic data, genetic tools and microscopy to probe the basis of color pattern differences in butterflies. Other than spending time in the concrete jungle, she enjoys hikes in green spaces under the sun and loves cats.
Graduated with a PhD in Summer 2024
Graduated with a PhD in Summer 2024
Taylor Kirby (undergrad) is interested in evolutionary biology research, exploring the relationships between species development, gene expression, and biodiversity with the environment. She maintains Vanessa and Junonia wall-type butterflies in the Martin Lab, adjusting methods and stocks depending on experimental needs. Out of the lab, Taylor enjoys reading, writing, and making playlists for her radio show.
Aidan Schurr (undergrad) is interested in pursuing a career as a MD/PhD at the crossroads of Medicine and Technology with interests in Tissue engineering, Artificial Intelligence and Global Health. In the Martin Lab, Aidan is responsible for the upkeep of Junonia butterflies, as well as working on scarlet mutation in Vanessa butterflies. In his spare time, Aidan can be found running all across DC, reading Charles Dickens or making friends at GW.
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Kiana Kamrava (undergrad) is interested in evolutionary neural networks and its integration with human behavior and characteristics. She is now interested in how nostalgia affects the human brain and if it has any evolutionary benefit. In the Martin Lab, she focuses on how genes affect phenotypic variations as well as a closer look into mutational mechanisms. She loves taking pictures of flowers and watching documentaries.
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Christa Heryanto (PhD student) is interested in harnessing the added economic and scientific values in manipulating prolific organisms for human endeavors, from cell-based biosensors and bioreactors, to insect models. Currently, she is on a mission to establish the pantry moth, Plodia interpunctella, a grain pest, as an animal model for lepidopteran CRISPR works. She is obsessed with fountain pens, inks, and all things stationery.
Graduated with a PhD in Spring 2024 |
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Dr. Mathilde Biot (post-doc) is interested in how the genome orchestrates cell fate to form complex organisms and contributes to their diversity. During her PhD, she studied the molecular mechanisms involved in meiotic recombination, a necessary step in the formation of genetically distinct sexual cells. Now, for her post-doctorate, Mathilde would like to use butterfly wing patterns as a model to elucidate the fundamental principles involved in development and biological diversity. As butterflies are not easy organisms to use for transgenics, Mathilde is working with the pantry moth Plodia interpunctella to develop genetic tools.
Now a post-doc at the Max Planck Institute (Meiosis Lab) |
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Dr. Anyi Mazo-Vargas (post-doc) is an evolutionary biologist investigating how development underlies morphological diversity. For her postdoctoral work, she aims to dig into the molecular mechanisms setting color patterns driven by the WntA pathway in butterflies, using a mix of functional genomics and developmental genetics. In addition, she is part of the team building genetic tools in the Indian mealmoth, Plodia interpunctella. She enjoys mentoring students, watching stand-up comedies, and coloring with her kid.
Now faculty at Duke University |
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Christian Pecoraro (undergrad) is interested in the signaling pathways behind the development of patterning in butterflies. Currently he is investigating how the WntA pathway drives coloring patterns and the molecular mechanisms behind it. Outside of the lab, he enjoys listening to music, rowing for the GW crew team, and watching sports.
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Shakthi Ramasamy (undergrad) is interested in the development of wing pattern and formation in butterflies. He is currently investigating the role of sre-14 gene in Colias butterflies and examining the molecular mechanisms behind these changes. Outside of working at the lab, he enjoys playing chess, watching sports, or going on late night runs to Captain Cookie.
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Amruta Tendolkar (PhD student) is interested in the molecular basis of diversity in the animal kingdom. Currently studying the landscape of Wnt signaling in the developing wing and the role of Hox genes in wing patterning, Amruta eventually wants to investigate the role of the same developmental pathways in other animal lineages. Other than excessive pipetting, Amruta enjoys reading and hiking.
Graduated with a PhD in Summer 2023 |
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Alexis Wilder (undergrad) is interested in the developmental interactions that outline butterfly color patterns. She is currently investigating the role of regulatory elements and their influence on the WntA pathway, and examining the phenotypic results on butterfly wing patterns. When she is not praying to the PCR gods or tending to caterpillars, she can be found drinking lots of coffee, running, or re-watching the Harry Potter movies.
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Kelsey van Horne (undergrad) is currently assessing the functions of HOX gene regulatory elements in butterfly development using CRISPR technique. Her interest in the insect HOX gene developmental pathways correlates to her desire to more greatly understand the pathways of HOX genes in human embryonic development. When she is not in SEH, she is probably at a coffee shop, a museum, reading a good book, or watching Game of Thrones with her friends.
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Neringa Luitekaite (undergrad) is interested in how signaling allows single cells to develop into complex organisms. In the lab, she is exploring the roles of Frizzled receptors in the patterning of butterfly wings. Out of the lab, she enjoys trying new recipes and drinking many cups of all kinds of tea.
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Marshall Nakatani (undergrad) is fascinated with how to study and understand cellular structure and functions using a variety of research tools. Specifically, how to combine various experimental methods to understand processes such as cell signaling, development, and gene expression. In the lab, he is involved with identifying nanostructures of wing scales that produce various colors via scanning electron microscopy. In his free time, he enjoys reading and skateboarding.
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Caroline Francescutti (undergrad) is interested in how evolution can be discerned from genetic differences in related species. At the moment she is working on the mechanism and phylogeny of UV iridescence in Delias butterflies. When she is not in SEH you can find her at a Smithsonian, Compass Coffee, or the farmer’s market.
Graduated with a BS/MS in Spring 2022, now a post-doc at the NIH Bethesda |
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Erica Robertson (undergrad) is interested in the variety of colors animals produce and their evolutionary development and function. At the moment she’s working on identifying mutated butterflies based on comparisons of wing patterns. When she’s not teaching biology or at the climbing gym, she’s probably daydreaming about her next road trip.
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Emily Earls (undergrad) is interested in the relationships between manipulated genotypic changes and the expressions of phenotypes resulting from these changes. In the lab, she is involved in the investigation of the ligands and receptors that work together within the WNT-signalling pathway. In her freetime, she enjoys watching documentaries, running, and cooking.
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Derek Long (undergrad) is investigating the interactions between genes and proteins that shape life at a molecular level. As an undergraduate researcher, he is investigating the natural range of butterfly wing patterns and attempting to see how they change as a result of minor tweaks to the genome. If he is not poring over butterfly wings or eggs, you will probably find him playing Dungeons & Dragons.
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Natalie D’Souza (undergrad) is interested in learning more about the relationships between genotype and phenotype. In the lab, she images mutated butterflies to compare the differences in wing pattern and structure to the wild type. She is currently investigating the role that frizzled genes play in vein structure on wings. In her free time, she enjoys checking out DC’s food scene and new exhibits.
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Olaf Corning (undergrad) is fascinated by how cells organize to form complex structure and how DNA acts as a dynamic driver of state. He is interested in using disparate lines of thinking to understand and engineer biological machines. As an undergrad, he is using CRISPR mutagenesis and machine learning to discover and describe key developmental cis-regulatory modules. He has outside interests but he’s out of spa--
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Anna Ren (undergrad) is broadly interested in how structure can influence material properties. Currently, she is working on how scale cells can use colorless chitin to appear as a spectrum of different colors, from iridescent blues and ultraviolets to metallic gold and silver. When she is not turning everything in Illustrator/Photoshop into a mask, she enjoys painting, baking, and walks in the city.
Graduated with a BS/MS in Spring 2021 |
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Vince Ficarrotta (PhD student) is studying the evolution and genetic basis of a sexually ornamental type of butterfly scale found in the family Pieridae. He uses ancestral state reconstruction and phylogenetic comparative methods to estimate the macroevolutionary trends of the scale type and he uses population genetics combined with CRISPR methods to uncover a locus necessary for the development of this scale type in Colias eurytheme. He is probably reading or taking long walks across chromosomes
Graduated with a PhD in Spring 2022, now a post-doc at Auburn U. (Brian Counterman Lab) |
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Postdoctoral Researchers (before 2019)
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Lab Technicians (before 2019)
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GWU Undergraduate Students (before 2019)
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