Diversity and inclusion are more than just words for us. These are central in guiding how we come together as a research team, cultivate excellence, and go forth into the world to share our discoveries and our love of our work. If this sounds good to you, then please inquire about joining the lab!
Our Current Grant: We are excited to focus these next several years on the influence of host plants on the evolutionary interplay of morphology and behavior, specifically the growth and structure of animal weapons and the consequences for male-male competition. Our work is funded by the National Science Foundation.
Sexual selection has resulted in some of the most astonishing traits in the animal kingdom, such as the tusks, horns, and antlers used by males as they compete with rivals for mating opportunities. These and other sexually selected weapons have evolved to function physically in battle. We are examining the ways in which plants influence weapon composition, structure, and use in a fighting, herbivorous insect, the leaf-footed cactus bug, Narnia femorata (Hemiptera: Coreidae). We bring ecology into our work on evolution and behavior, testing the profound effects that natural variation in nutrition can have on both the processes and outcomes of sexual selection.
Prospective graduate students
We are no longer accepting applications for Fall 2024 admissions. Thank you to all who applied!
Undergraduate research positions & scientific internships
Are you intrigued by scientific research? Are you considering a career in evolutionary biology, ecology, or animal behavior? If so, this is the lab for you. Your research will matter -- it will advance science, helping to direct research in the lab and beyond. UF students: University of Florida academic credit is available for the first semester, and then many students apply for a stipend, scholarship, or fellowship to continue their research (see more information on the UF Center for Undergraduate Research Website). We have high standards for our interns and our undergraduate researchers, and the sky is the limit in terms of success! This lab is a great place to start your scientific research career! To apply, email Dr. Miller, cwmiller@ufl.edu with your resume (CV), cover letter, and an unofficial transcript.
Paid internships: Thank you to those who applied for our Summer 2024 NSF REU internships. We are no longer accepting applications for this summer, but we will have two more available for Summer 2025. Details to come next year. We have funding for multiple NSF Research Experience for Undergraduate Students (NSF-REU). These are fully paid internships to work on research funded by the National Science Foundation. NSF REU funding is restricted to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. To be eligible you must be a current undergraduate student at the time of the internship with previous research experience in ecology, entomology, evolution, and/or behavior. If you are interested in applying, please send your CV, cover letter, the contact information for two references, and an unofficial transcript to Dr. Salerno, salernoc@ufl.edu Your subject line should read "REU Application" so it is sorted appropriately.