John LaPolla

John LaPolla is Professor and Associate Chair in Biological Sciences at Towson University, specializing in global ant biodiversity. His research integrates taxonomy, phylogenomics, and field studies, focusing on Acropyga ant-mealybug mutualisms and Formicinae systematics. LaPolla conducts international field surveys and investigates fossil records to understand evolutionary patterns. He teaches ecology, biodiversity, and entomology courses while mentoring graduate and undergraduate researchers.