Elizabeth Murray

Elizabeth Murray is an Assistant Professor (Compressed) at Washington State University (WSU), affiliated with the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences. Her research focuses on the evolutionary relationships and diversification of Hymenoptera, particularly ants, bees, and wasps. She employs phylogenomic methods, molecular dating, and historical biogeography to study insect biodiversity and systematics.

Education:

• Ph.D., Entomology, University of California Riverside (2014)
• M.S., Entomology, Kansas State University (2006)
• B.A., Biology, Gustavus Adolphus College (2004)

Research Interests:

• Phylogenetic relationships in Hymenoptera
• Patterns of diversification and biogeography
• Evolution of parasitic lifestyles in insects
• Molecular systematics and comparative genomics

Key Contributions: Her work includes studies on the evolutionary history of Aculeata (stinging hymenopterans), viral transmission in bees, and the impact of GC bias on phylogenetic accuracy. She has also contributed to taxonomic revisions of Neotropical ant parasitoids and Madagascan beetles.

Awards:

• Editor’s choice award (2017) for her paper on GC bias in phylogenomic data

Labs/Teams: While no specific lab name is mentioned, her research integrates collaborative efforts in molecular systematics, field ecology, and bioinformatics.