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Staff

Shahan Derkarabetian Ph.D., Curator of Entomology

Shahan comes to The Nat from Harvard University’s Museum of Comparative Zoology, where he served as a post-doctoral fellow with a focus on the arachnid lineage Opiliones (harvesters, harvestmen, daddy-long-legs). He integrated genomics and collections-based research, and developed new molecular techniques to sequence 100+ year-old museum specimens.

He earned his Ph.D. through the joint doctoral program between UC Riverside and SDSU, studying phylogenomics, integrative taxonomy, and population genomics of Opiliones. Shahan often incorporates iNaturalist data into his research and collaborates with community scientists on research projects and publications.

As The Nat’s Curator of Entomology, Shahan plans to develop binational projects across the U.S. and Mexico aimed at conserving the entomological biodiversity of our region. There are many insects and arachnids in The Nat’s mission region that are waiting to be discovered or formally named and, as a taxonomist, Shahan is interested in finding those species. He also plans to build up genetic capabilities in the Museum, adding DNA-based analyses to the BRCC’s research goals. Shahan can be reached by using our contact form under "Research".


Pamela Horsley, Entomology Collection Manager & Collections Registrar

Pamela Horsley happily returned to The Nat as Entomology Collection Manager and Collections Registrar in 2020. She previously worked at the museum from 2009-2012 as part of a National Science Foundation Improvements to Biological Collections grant to curate and increase the accessibility of the entomology collection.

Pamela has more than 15 years of experience working in collections management and museum registration and has a keen interest in the best practices and management of pinned, slide, and fluid-preserved invertebrate collections. She earned her M.S. in entomology from McGill University studying the systematics of central American weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Her duties include general curation, coordination and management of museum-wide collection transactions and compliance, collection digitization and database management, supervision of department science volunteers and project staff, and whenever possible joins in to conduct fieldwork for the museum. Pamela can be reached at 619.255.0193 or by using our contact form under "Research".


Christiana Mojica

Entomology Project Coordinator

Eva Horna Lowell

Entomologist

Ellie Deer

Entomology Technician

Rachel Allingham

Entomology Technician

Research Associates

Michael Wall
Executive Director for the Balsam Mountain Trust

Dr. John Brown
National Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian Institution

David Faulkner
Consultant for Environmental Surveys and Forensic Entomology

Dr. Tomas M. Mustelin
Center for Innate Immunity and Immune Disease

Dr. Marshal C. Hedin
San Diego State University

Departmental Associates

Mr. Ron McPeak
Mr. James Berrian
Mr. Matthew Graham
Ms. Daniela E. Ramirez C.

Field Associates

Robert Parks
Randy Supczak


Past LepNet staff

Josh Allen, LepNet Project Technician
Lucas Kebow, LepNet Project Technician
Sierra Teemsma, LepNet Project Technician
Lisa Kairy, LepNet Project Technician
Araceli Gomez, LepNet Project Technician
Melissa Bridges, LepNet Project Technician

LepNet Volunteers

Mary Svonovec
Quinn Tomlinson
Richard Hughes
May Lew

Past LepNet Volunteers

Tyler Kydd
Rosemary Bornstein
Victoria Severance
Sydney Stoopes
Beck Johnstone
Oasis Husband
John Horsley
Leonardo Gonzalez
Catalina Murguia
Emily Korte