Sarah Boyer - that's me! - is Professor and Chair of Biology at Macalester College and the PI of the lab. You can learn more about my research on Google Scholar, and my CV is here.

Current Lab Members

Zade Alafranji '24 is working on a phylogenetic analysis of the Aotearoa New Zealand mite harvester genus Rakaia. His work in his lab is supported by a Beckman Foundation Scholarship. In the fall he will embark on a PhD in Biological Sciences at Drexel University.

Rachel Christensen '25 has been working on identifying new species of Rakaia through sequencing of mitochondrial DNA and scanning electron microscopy imaging of anatomy.

Ruth Dunlap '26 is new to the lab and will be working with our University of Maryland - Baltimore County collaborators Mercedes Burns and her PhD student Ryan Bacon on the geography of sexual conflict in North American Opiliones.

Uni Vang '25 is documenting the first cave-adapted mite harvesters from Aotearoa New Zealand.

Elsa Vieregg '25 has worked on reproductive behavior in Phalangium opilio (the most common and widespread daddy long-legs in the world) and is now working with our UMBC collaborators on the geography of sexual conflict in North American Opiliones.

Lab Alumni

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​Sarah Henderson '24 (above, left) worked on phylogeny and species descriptions of mite harvesters from Aotearoa New Zealand. She is now a research technician in the Cariveau Native Bee Lab at the University of Minnesota.

Peter Aspholm '23 (above, second from right) worked on a phylogenetic analysis of a genus of New Zealand mite harvesters, using next-generation sequencing data, in collaboration with Shahan Derkarabetian (San Diego Natural History Museum). He is now a research assistant in the McCaghey Lab at the University of Minnesota.

Nicole Bednarik '23 worked on phylogeography of the cosmopolitan daddy long-legs species Phalangium opilio and is now a restoration ecology intern at Archbold Biological Station.

Haley Heine '23 (honors) (above, middle) worked on species delimitation in a group of cryptic species of New Zealand mite harvesters, using target-capture of ultra-conserved elements, in collaboration with Shahan Derkarabetian (San Diego Natural History Museum). Her work in our lab was supported by a Beckman Foundation Scholarship. In the fall she is headed to Johns Hopkins for a master's degree in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology.

Shanta Hejmadi (postdoctoral fellow) taught courses and advised undergraduate researchers in the lab in 2022-23. Her expertise in analysis of UCE-derived datasets was incredibly helpful to all of us! Shanta is now a senior data scientist working for local government.

Maya Schaefer-Fiello '23 worked on phylogeography of the cosmopolitan daddy long-legs species Phalangium opilio and also completed an internship at the Minnesota Insect Collection focused on designing public exhibits, combining her interests in entomology and art. After graduation she worked behind the scenes at the Great River Shakespeare Festival.

Sophia Anderson '22 (below, right) worked on identifying new species of new species of mite harvestmen from New Zealand, using a combination of molecular and morphological data. She is now a curatorial assistant at the Minnesota Insect Collection.

Nathaniel Moyes '22 (above, right and below, left) mapped the species ranges of New Zealand's mite harvestmen and explored explanations for the differential distribution of diversity across geography. He also helped to generate a next-gen sequencing dataset using a UCEs target-capture approach. He is currently a master's student in Katie Marshall's lab at UBC.

Carter Newport '22 worked on identifying new species of mite harvesters from New Zealand, based on morphological features observed with both light microscopy and SEM.

Shannon Dohr '21 worked on our New Zealand projects and also field surveys of daddy long-legs closer to home at Macalester's Ordway Field Station. They are currently a post-baccalaureate researcher studying the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii in Mike Reese's lab at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and will soon be a PhD student in Molecular Biology and Microbial Pathogenesis at Washington University in St. Louis.

Phoebe Fu '21 (above, second from left) worked on our next-generation DNA sequencing projects and masterminding our imaging work both as a student and as a post-baccalaureate researcher in the lab. Since wrapping up her work at Mac she has been a microscopy technician at the Smithsonian's Laboratory of Analytical Biology and the American Museum of Natural History's Microscopy and Imaging Facility.

Ciara Moore '21 (below, third from left) worked on analysis of UCE target-captured next-gen sequencing data from a complex of cryptic species from New Zealand. She works as a data specialist in Colorado Springs.

Yoonjin Shu '21 (above, second from right and below, second from left) worked on biogeography of New Zealand's mite harvestmen and morphological variation within a particularly thorny species complex. After graduation she completed a master's degree in Mike Alfaro's lab and now works as a researcher for the Language Education Institute at Seoul National University.

Kata Hahn '20 worked on describing a new species of mite harvestman from the South Island of New Zealand using morphology and mitochondrial DNA sequence data. After graduation she moved to Serbia to teach English, with support from a Fulbright grant. 

Rina Morisawa '20 (honors) (above, second from right and below, at right) worked on describing new species of mite harvestmen from the North Island of New Zealand using morphology as well as next-generation sequencing data generated using a targeted-capture approach based on ultra-conserved elements. After graduation she worked as a technician in the Laboratories of Analytical Biology at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural Historyand as a curatorial assistant at Harvard's Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Phuong Nguyen '20 (above, left) explored species distribution modeling of New Zealand's mite harvestmen, using the large set of georeferenced locality data that our lab and collaborators have assembled over many years. She now works with Fauna and Flora International's Vietnam Program.

Maddie Tuffield '20 (above, right) worked on describing a new species of mite harvestman from the South Island of New Zealand based on morphology and mitochondrial DNA sequence data. She also analyzed our first set of next-generation sequencing data, which we generated using a targeted-capture approach based on ultra-conserved elements. She is now a researcher at BiomeSense, a biotech startup focused on the human microbiome.

Eliza Pessereau '19 (above, left) described new species of mite harvestmen from the South Island of New Zealand. After graduation she shipped out to Cameroon as a member of the Peace Corps; the pandemic sent her back to the United States. She completed a master's degree in agroecology at the University of Wisconsin - Madison.

Pietro Tardelli Canedo '19 (honors) (above, second from right) studied phylogeography of a widespread mite harvestman species from the South Island of New Zealand. Since graduation he has been working as a technician in the Laboratories of Analytical Biology at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. He has now embarked on a PhD in the Hormiga Lab at George Washington University, where he continues to collaborate with us on our New Zealand projects.

Rainah Ward '19 worked on on systematics and biogeography of mite harvestmen from New Zealand. After graduation she worked as a sea kayaking guide in the San Juan Islands, WA.

Raine Ikagawa ’17 (honors) (below, right of Sarah) studied reproductive behavior with our collaborator Kasey Fowler-Finn (St Louis University), as well as microhabitat use of Minnesota’s daddy long-legs. She is working on a PhD in entomology in the Moore Lab at the University of Arizona.

Penny Kahn ’17 (honors) (below, far right) worked on harvestman chemical ecology in collaboration with Macalester chemist Dennis Cao and Mercedes Burns, a Macalester alum. After graduation she worked in the Ratcliff Lab at Georgia Tech; she is currently a PhD student at the University of British Columbia.

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Dan Klonowski '17 (below, back row on right) worked on paleodistribution modeling of mite harvestmen from the Pacific Northwest and is now a financial advisor.

Eva Larsen ’17 (below, second from left) studied reproductive behavior with our collaborator Kasey Fowler-Finn, as well as microhabitat use of Minnesota’s daddy long-legs. Eva now works in the Division of Invertebrate Zoology at the American Museum of Natural History.

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Alex Lewanski '17 (below, far left) worked on phylogeny and biogeography of mite harvestmen from the Pacific Northwest. After graduation he worked as a field technician, studying bird behavior. He finished up a master's degree in evolutionary biology in the Wagner Lab at the University of Wyoming, and is now working on a PhD in Sarah Fitzpatrick's lab at Michigan State.

Maddy Olson '17 (below, down in front) worked on diversity of harvestmen from Minnesota and latitudinal clines in species size.

​Michelle Coblens ’16 (below, far left) studied the diversity and evolution Queensland’s mite harvestmen and as well as sexual selection in Minnesota daddy long-legs. She earned her MD at Oregon Health and Science University and is now a resident in family medicine in Colorado.

Mito Imagawa ’16 (below, middle) identified new species of armored harvestmen from Queensland and went on to earn her PhD in environmental chemistry from the University of Minnesota. 

Katya Jay ’16 (below, 4th from right) studied the diversity and evolution Queensland’s mite harvestmen went on to earn her PhD in Integrative Biology at Oregon State University in Sally Hacker's lab. She is currently a postdoc in Katie Suding's lab at the University of Colorado - Boulder.

Joanne Johnson ’16 (honors) (below, far right) studied the diversity and evolution Queensland’s armored harvestmen. After graduation she completed a master's in public health at UNC-Chapel Hill, and she now works for the CDC.

Kaelyn Lemon ’16 (below, left of Sarah) worked on molecular phylogeny and dating of Queensland’s mite harvestmen. She worked for the Public Library of Science (PLoS) publishing group in San Francisco for a number of years before becoming a clinical research coordinator at the University of Colorado.

Jill Oberski ’16 (below, 4th from left) studied the diversity and evolution of Queensland’s mite harvesters. Jill earned her PhD in Entomology and Nematology at UC-Davis where she focused on ant evolution in Phil Ward's lab. She is now a postdoctoral fellow at the Senckenberg Natural History Museum in Frankfurt, Germany. 

Kenji Shoemaker ’16 (below, 2nd from left) worked on diversity and reproductive behavior of Minnesota’s daddy long-legs. After graduation he worked as a tech in the Sharma Lab in U Wisconsin - Madison’s Zoology Department for a summer, and is currently working in theatre.

Mo Usavage ’16 (below, 3rd from left) worked on the relationship between genetic diversity and habitat history in Queensland’s mite harvestmen, and is currently working toward a DVM at the University of Minnesota. 

Charlie Benck ’15 worked on DNA barcoding of zooplankton from the St. Croix River, in collaboration with the National Park Service. 

Amanda Wareham ’15 worked on DNA barcoding of zooplankton from the St. Croix River, in collaboration with the National Park Service. 

Sarah Couser ’14 worked on DNA barcoding of zooplankton from the St. Croix River, in collaboration with the National Park Service. She went on to earn an MD from Tufts University.

Domokos Laukó '14 worked on the effect of invasive buckthorn on leaf litter arthropods, and also on the diversity and evolution of mite harvestmen from Queensland, Australia. He earned his PhD in Plant and Molecular Biology at UC-Berkeley, completed a postdoctoral fellow at UCSF, and now works at the biotech company 4D Molecular Therapeutics.

Rachel Quay ’14 worked on taxonomy of mite harvestmen from Australia’s Wet Tropics and now works for College Possible.

Margot White ’14 worked on DNA barcoding of freshwater mussels. She earned a PhD in chemical oceanography from the Scripps Institute and recently started a faculty position in Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of British Columbia.

Hannah Wiesner ’14 worked on the diversity and evolution of mite harvesters from Queensland, Australia and went on to work as an outdoor educator in northern California.

Zach Popkin-Hall ’13 (honors) studied the diversity and evolution of mite harvestmen from Queensland, Australia. He earned his PhD in entomology from Texas A&M University and is now a postdoc at UNC-Chapel Hill, working on the biology of malaria vectors in the Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Ecology Lab.

Forest Schenk ’13 worked on population genetics of freshwater mussels using microsatellites. He earned his PhD in marine ecology at Northeastern University.

Venetia (Matt) Vance ’13 worked on species delimitation of mite harvestmen from Queensland, Australia. 

Caitlin Baker '12 (honors) studied the diversity, evolution, and biogeography of mite harvestmen from Australia’s Wet Tropics. After graduation she worked as a technician in the Laboratories of Analytical Biology at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. She earned her PhD in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology in the Giribet Lab at Harvard University and worked as a postdoc in the Sharma Lab at the University of Wisconsin - Madison.

Meghan Davies ’12 worked on DNA barcoding of juvenile freshwater mussels. After graduation she worked for many years as an education specialist at the Norman Bird Sanctuary in Rhode Island.

Sam DelSerra '12 explored methods for identifying juvenile freshwater mussels using SEM. She went on to earn a master's in Ecology and Evolution at Stony Brook University.

Joel Soma ’12 explored the utility of nuclear ITS for DNA barcoding of juvenile mussels. He went on to earn his MD at University of Minnesota - Duluth.

Whitney Watson '12 identified new mite harvestmen species from the northernmost reaches of Australia’s Wet Tropics. She spent many years as a seasonal field tech in the Pacific Northwest and earned her master's degree in Wildlife Ecology at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. She is now a PhD student at New Mexico State University.

Jordan Eckstein ’11 used DNA barcoding to Identify juvenile mussels recovered from naturally-infested fishes from Grand Sable Island (MI), in collaboration with the National Park Service. She is currently an senior assistant scientist wtih Sea Education Association.

Nate Juergens ’11 worked on DNA barcoding of juvenile mussels from the St. Croix River. He finished his MD at the University of Minnesota and completed residency in hospital medicine and an MPH in San Francisco.

Jessica Ramirez ’11 explored scanning electron microscopy as a tool for identifying juvenile mussels. She went on to earn a master’s degree in physical therapy from the University of Central Florida.

Catherine Reuter ’10 collaborated on descriptions of new species of mite harvestmen from Queensland’s Wet Tropics and went on to earn a master’s degree in aquatic ecology at Louisiana State University and work in outdoor environmental education.

Scott Petesch '10 worked on genetic diversity of mite harvestmen and went on to earn his DVM at the University of Pennsylvania, where he specialized in clinical neurology and neurosurgery. He now practices at the Maine Veterinary Medical Center.

Sam Wershow ’10 studied the effect of invasive buckthorn on leaf litter invertebrate diversity, and earned his MS in Biology at U of Western Washington, working on species distribution modeling of alpine plants. He is currently a lecturer at Everett Community College. 

Zoë Campbell '09 collected Opiliones in Madagascar during her study abroad semester, and worked to identify them for her senior capstone project. She earned her PhD through an interdisciplinary program focused on livestock welfare, sponsored the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and now works for the International Livestock Research Institute in Nairobi, Kenya.

Alex Howe '09 helped to develop our approach to DNA barcoding of mussels from the St. Croix River. He is working on his PhD in ecology at Utah State, studying fire ecology and management.

Emily Lauer (formerly Sabo) ’09 studied genetic diversity of mite harvestmen, and went on to complete an MA in genetic counseling from UW-Madison.

Suzy Szumowski’ 09 (honors) studied mussel population genetics as an undergraduate, and went on to earn a PhD in Cellular and Developmental Biology at UCSD. She now works in the biotech industry.

Jessica Baker ’06 (Harvard University) collaborated with me on a population genetic study of New Zealand mite harvestmen when I was a PhD student in the Giribet Lab at Harvard. Jess obtained her MD from NYU and is a faculty member in the Department of Neurology at UW-Madison.

Prashant Sharma ’06 (Harvard University) got his start as my research assistant when I was a PhD student in the Giribet Lab at Harvard, taking hundreds of scanning electron micrographs of New Zealand mite harvestman anatomy. His undergraduate research focused on mite harvestman biogeography and evolutionary relationships, including fieldwork in Sri Lanka with me and Gonzalo. He went on to obtain his PhD from Harvard in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, and is now a faculty member in the Department of Integrative Biology at UW-Madison.