deciphering their diversity and evolutionary history

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Asiloid Flies
deciphering their diversity and evolutionary history

Sample of Asiloid Flies

Dikow Diptera Lab

Research in the Dikow Diptera Lab at the Smithsonian NMNH is focused on taxonomic and phylogenetic research on Diptera employing cybertaxonomic tools, morphological, and molecular/phylogenomic data.

Postdoctoral Fellows:

  • Allan Cabrero, Ph.D. 2023–2025 – Asiloidea phylogenomics + desert adaptations of asiloid flies – funded through NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship (link)

Past Postdoctoral Fellows:

  • Mauren Turcatel, Ph.D. 2014--2016 - Asilidae phylogenomics (doi:10.7717/peerj.2951) - now at Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, IL, USA (link, Twitter)
  • Eliana Buenaventura, Ph.D. 2016--2018 - Oestroidea phylogenomics (doi:10.1111/syen.12443) - now at Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin, Germany (link, Twitter)
  • John Hasch 2017--2018, Ph.D. - Asiloidea + Nemestrinoidea morphological phylogeny - (link, Twitter)

Visiting researchers:

  • Charlotte Alberts, Ph.D. 2021-- Asilidae + Asiloidea phylogenetics and phylogenomics

Past Undergraduate Research Interns:

  • Chris Cohen 2013 - NHRE Asilidae: Leptopteromyia - now East Carolina University (Twitter)
  • Kevin Moran 2013, 2014 - Asilidae: Euscelidia, Syrphidae - now Carlton University, ON, Canada
  • Allan Cabrero 2014 - NHRE Asilidae: Acronyches - now University of California Berkeley (Twitter)
  • Charlotte Alberts 2014, 2016 - Nearctic Asilidae collection, Asilidae: Ablautus - now University of California Davis (Twitter)
  • Stephanie Castillo 2016 - NHRE Mydidae: Plyomydas (doi:10.1016/j.rbe.2017.03.002) - now University of California Riverside
  • Brandon Claridge 2017 - South American Apioceridae - now Utah State University
  • Even Dankowicz 2017 - NHRE Mydidae: Cacatuopyga - now
  • Amanda Markee 2018 - NHRE Asilidae: Microphontes (doi:10.3897/AfrInvertebr.59.30684) - now University of Florida (Twitter)
  • Claire Boschert 2019 - NHRE Mydidae: Eremohaplomydas + Lachnocorynus (doi:10.3897/AfrInvertebr.63.76309)
  • Meliah Dubus 2022 - NHRE Asilidae: Anypodetus (doi:10.3897/AfrInvertebr.64.104283)

Past Undergraduate Interns:

  • Kyle DeMarr 2013 - Megaloptera Internship
  • Mollie Cohen 2014 - Fly Collection Internship
  • Veronica Johnson 2014 - Fly Collection Internship
  • Sally Weiner 2014 - Fly Collection Internship
  • Brittany Wingert 2014--2015 - Alberta Smithsonian Internship Program
  • Taylor Becker 2015 - Alberta Smithsonian Internship Program
  • Karine Camacho 2015 - Fly Collection Internship
  • Jonathan Chen 2015 - Fly Collection Internship
  • Suma Cheru 2015 - Fly Collection Internship
  • Charlotte Hovland 2016 - Fly Collection Internship
  • Megan Gisonda 2016 - Fly Collection Internship
  • Lucas Ferrier 2018 - Fly Collection Internship
  • Andy Goodman 2019 - Fly Collection Internship
  • Will Hamlin 2020 - Fly Collection Internship
  • York Niu 2022 - Fly Collection Internship