معرفی
Akito Y. Kawahara is a Professor and Director/Curator at the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, Florida Museum of Natural History, affiliated with the University of Florida's Department of Entomology and Nematology and Department of Biology. He holds a Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Maryland. His research focuses on insect evolution, phylogenomics, and biogeography, particularly in Lepidoptera. Key projects include investigating anti-bat ultrasound defenses in moths, silk protein evolution, and CRISPR-based diagnostics for invasive species. His work integrates field studies, genomic analyses, and museum specimens, with funding from NSF and other agencies. Kawahara mentors a diverse lab team, including graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, and collaborates globally on biodiversity conservation and evolutionary studies. Recent projects highlight insect declines, moth flight mechanics, and butterfly phylogenetic frameworks. Outreach efforts emphasize public education through museum programs and documentaries like Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo.
- Educations: M.S. & Ph.D. in Entomology, University of Maryland
- Research Interests: Insect evolution, phylogenomics, host-use evolution, and conservation genetics
- Funding: NSF grants totaling $4M+, including Silk Protein Innovation and Insect Decline projects
- Lab Members: Supervises over 15 graduate students and postdocs, with alumni in academia and conservation
- Expeditions: Fieldwork in Borneo, Mozambique, Hawaii, and South America
Publications span 200+ peer-reviewed articles, emphasizing genomic resources, butterfly diversity modeling, and silk gene evolution. His lab's CRISPR diagnostics work addresses invasive species detection, while anti-bat ultrasound studies highlight predator-prey coevolution. Collaborations with institutions like Harvard and Smithsonian expand global biodiversity research networks.
