The Barbosa Lab
Behavioral Ecology and Evolution
WELCOME !
WELCOME !
We study sexual selection - specifically, communication, female preferences, and the evolution of elaborate sexual traits.
We study sexual selection - specifically, communication, female preferences, and the evolution of elaborate sexual traits.
We focus on insects because they are abundant and easy to work with. But mostly because they perform the most fascinating behaviors one can imagine! Our current research involves beetles and moths.
We focus on insects because they are abundant and easy to work with. But mostly because they perform the most fascinating behaviors one can imagine! Our current research involves beetles and moths.
If you are interested in undergraduate research opportunities, contact us!
If you are interested in undergraduate research opportunities, contact us!
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE LAB...
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE LAB...
2021
2021
2021 lab members: Dari Gomez'22, Beth DeFoe'23, Desire Uwera Nalukwago'22, Iman Shepard'23 and Dr. Flavia Barbosa
2021 lab members: Dari Gomez'22, Beth DeFoe'23, Desire Uwera Nalukwago'22, Iman Shepard'23 and Dr. Flavia Barbosa
Dr. Barbosa was awarded an NSF grant to continue the lab's work on evolutionary trade-offs in bean beetles.
Dr. Barbosa was awarded an NSF grant to continue the lab's work on evolutionary trade-offs in bean beetles.
Hannah Gurholt'20 stopped by for a visit before heading out to WashU, where she will start as a PhD student!
Hannah Gurholt'20 stopped by for a visit before heading out to WashU, where she will start as a PhD student!
Everyone is excited to be back in lab after a year of remote work!
Everyone is excited to be back in lab after a year of remote work!
But sometimes, we still work from home...
But sometimes, we still work from home...
Iman Shepard and Beth DeFoe presented their research at the Richters Research Symposium!
Dari Gomez, Dr. Flavia Barbosa and Desire Uwera Nalukwago attended the 2021 Virtual Meeting of the Animal Behavior Society.
Dari Gomez, Dr. Flavia Barbosa and Desire Uwera Nalukwago attended the 2021 Virtual Meeting of the Animal Behavior Society.
Desire's poster at the 2021 ABS conference.
Lab hiking day!
Lab hiking day!
2020
2020
The Lake Forest College campus was closed for most of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We pivoted from our original plans, and mostly focused on writing and data analysis. Still, we came up with some creative ways to continue some data collection!
The Lake Forest College campus was closed for most of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We pivoted from our original plans, and mostly focused on writing and data analysis. Still, we came up with some creative ways to continue some data collection!
Desire Uwera Nalukwago and the beetle dissection station she set up in her dorm room for Summer 2020!
Desire Uwera Nalukwago and the beetle dissection station she set up in her dorm room for Summer 2020!
Sam Gascoigne, Flavia Barbosa and Desire Uwera Nalukwago working on a manuscript...
Sam Gascoigne, Flavia Barbosa and Desire Uwera Nalukwago working on a manuscript...
Congratulations to Sam Gascoigne for defending his senior thesis with distinction!!!
Congratulations to Sam Gascoigne for defending his senior thesis with distinction!!!
2019
2019
Annual lab picture, Summer'19: Hannah Gurholt, Desire Uwera Nalukwago, Flavia Barbosa, Elise Grossman, Sam Gascoigne
Annual lab picture, Summer'19: Hannah Gurholt, Desire Uwera Nalukwago, Flavia Barbosa, Elise Grossman, Sam Gascoigne
Elise Grossman presented her research at the Glassman Symposium, Fall 2019
Elise Grossman presented her research at the Glassman Symposium, Fall 2019
Desire Uwera Nalukwago also presented at the Glassman Symposium
Desire Uwera Nalukwago also presented at the Glassman Symposium
Chris Edomwande, lab alumnus, came back for the Glassman Symposium!
Chris Edomwande, lab alumnus, came back for the Glassman Symposium!
Once again, the lab attended the Animal Behavior Society annual conference - this time, in Chicago!
Once again, the lab attended the Animal Behavior Society annual conference - this time, in Chicago!
Elise Grossman presented her research at the ABS conference in Chicago
Elise Grossman presented her research at the ABS conference in Chicago
Sam Gascoine also presented his research at ABS in Chicago
Sam Gascoine also presented his research at ABS in Chicago
Desire Uwera Nalukwago presented her research at the Richter Symposium
Desire Uwera Nalukwago presented her research at the Richter Symposium
Celebrating after the 2019 Richter Research Symposium!
Celebrating after the 2019 Richter Research Symposium!
We have a fondness for beetles at the Barbosa lab.
We have a fondness for beetles at the Barbosa lab.
We are the proud losers of the 2019 Annual Plate Race
We are the proud losers of the 2019 Annual Plate Race
Elise Grossman and Dr. Jen Hamel from Elon University took care of the jukebox during some post-conference fun at ABS in Chicago
Elise Grossman and Dr. Jen Hamel from Elon University took care of the jukebox during some post-conference fun at ABS in Chicago
One of many summer lunches at the Mean Weiner! We also have a fondness for tacos and milkshakes...
One of many summer lunches at the Mean Weiner! We also have a fondness for tacos and milkshakes...
spring 2019
spring 2019
The lab had much to celebrate as the spring semester ends!
The lab had much to celebrate as the spring semester ends!
Jeannie McDonald was awarded an NSF GRFP! She will pursue a PhD in evolution and development at Cornell University
Chris Edomwande accepted a research assistant position at UIC with Alex Shingleton
Ellie Bacon is going to veterinarian school at U of Illinois
Sam Gascoigne was awarded a Goldwater Scholarship
Sam and Elise are gearing up to work on their senior thesis!
The lab welcomes Hannah Gurholt'21 and Desire Uwera Nalukwago'22
Ellie Bacon'19 defended her senior thesis!
Ellie Bacon'19 defended her senior thesis!
fall 2018
fall 2018
Chris Edomwande'19 and Sam Gascoigne'20 present their research at the 22nd Annual Steven Galovich Memorial Student Symposium at Lake Forest College.
Chris Edomwande'19 and Sam Gascoigne'20 present their research at the 22nd Annual Steven Galovich Memorial Student Symposium at Lake Forest College.
The lab was represented at the grand opening of the Lillard Science Center! John and Paula Lillard check out our beetles.
The lab was represented at the grand opening of the Lillard Science Center! John and Paula Lillard check out our beetles.
Below: Ellie Bacon'19, Chris Edomwande'19 and Sam Gascoigne'19 hard at work!
Below: Ellie Bacon'19, Chris Edomwande'19 and Sam Gascoigne'19 hard at work!
SUMMER 2018
SUMMER 2018
Annual lab photo, Summer'18: Jeannie McDonald, Sam Gascoigne, Aaron O'Neill, Ellie Bacon, Chris Edomwande, Elise Grossman, Flavia Barbosa
At the 2018 Animal Behavior Society Meeting!
At the 2018 Animal Behavior Society Meeting!
Chris Edomwande'19 and Jeannie McDonald'19 presented posters at ABS. Jeannie won a Turner Award, and Chris won a Genesis Award for best undergraduate poster!
Chris Edomwande'19 and Jeannie McDonald'19 presented posters at ABS. Jeannie won a Turner Award, and Chris won a Genesis Award for best undergraduate poster!
Catching bugs near the Wildlife Discovery Center
Catching bugs near the Wildlife Discovery Center
Aaron O'Neill'21 was our Richter scholar this summer, and worked on a project on sperm competition in bean beetles.
Aaron O'Neill'21 was our Richter scholar this summer, and worked on a project on sperm competition in bean beetles.
Lab movie night!
Lab movie night!
Sonny Messar dissecting bean beetle genitalia
Sonny Messar dissecting bean beetle genitalia
With the Shingleton Lab, at the 2018 Summer Research Picnic
With the Shingleton Lab, at the 2018 Summer Research Picnic