Julian R. Dupuis

Julian R. Dupuis is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of Kentucky, affiliated with the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. He holds a BSc from Northern Michigan University (2009) and a PhD from the University of Alberta (2016). His research focuses on insect systematics, speciation, and evolution, with a particular emphasis on genomics and phylogenomics. He leads the Dupuis Lab and curates the University of Kentucky Insect Collection (UKIC), a major entomological resource in the eastern U.S.

Research Interests: Dr. Dupuis explores species delimitation, hybridization dynamics in swallowtails, conservation genetics of endangered insects, and molecular diagnostics for invasive pests. His work bridges taxonomy, bioinformatics, and applied ecology, with recent projects on Kentucky longhorn beetles, endangered butterflies, and poultry diet analysis via DNA metabarcoding.

Publications: His recent work includes studies on cryptic species discovery, genomic tools for conservation, and phylogenomic methods. Key tools developed include TaxonomR (for taxonomic evaluation) and HiMAP2 (phylogenetic marker identification).

Labs/Teams: The Dupuis Lab collaborates internationally, with ongoing projects in Brazil, Canada, and Thailand. The UKIC, under his curation, integrates historical collections and modern digitization efforts, including a focus on Kentucky’s biodiversity.