Torsten Dikow

Dr. Torsten Dikow is a Research Entomologist and Curator of Diptera & Aquatic Insects at the National Museum of Natural History, part of the Smithsonian Institution. His work focuses on the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history of Asiloidea flies, using morphological and genomic evidence, alongside cybertaxonomic tools for open-access biodiversity data.

• PhD in Entomology, Cornell University (2007)
• M.S. in Zoology, Universitaet Rostock, Germany (2002)

Research Interests: Deciphering diversity and evolutionary history of Asilidae (assassin flies), Mydidae (mydas flies), and Diptera broadly. He specializes in:

• Phylogenetic systematics using morphological and genomic data
• Revisionary taxonomy with cybertaxonomic tools
• Application of specimen occurrence data to biodiversity studies
• Genomic analysis of predatory fly species
• Biogeography of Afrotropical and Namib Desert Diptera

Publication Trends: His recent work spans biodiversity datasets, DNA barcoding, and phylogenomics, with a focus on Asilidae and Mydidae. He integrates museum collections and genomic tools to study evolutionary relationships and species distribution.

Scientific Awards:

• Biodiversity Open Data Ambassador (GBIF, 2018)
• NMNH Science Achievement Award (2018)
• NMNH Peer Recognition Award (2017)
• John Henry Comstock Award (2006)

Activities: Torsten contributes to international dipterology conferences and serves on co-author networks with institutions across the U.S., Germany, and South Africa. His research is published in journals like African Invertebrates and Systematic Entomology.