Kaminski Lab: Systematic Entomology

Background:

The primary focus of my research has been reconstructing the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history of beetles. Over the past 14 years, my work has played an important role in clarifying relationships within the darkling beetle family (Tenebrionidae)—for example, leading to the reinstatement of the subfamily Blaptinae, a global radiation of over 280 genera and 4,000 species, discovery of over 80 previously unrecognized species, investigation selected biogeographic patterns (e.g., the European–African amphitropical disjunction). Furthermore, my interest in darkling beetles has led me to engage with several other biological disciplines. To date, I have participated in pioneering research projects in developmental biology, functional anatomy, and the recovery of ancient insect DNA. As a result, I have authored more than 70 peer-reviewed publications, in journals such as Cladistics, Insect Systematics and Diversity, Journal of Biogeography, Scientific Reports, Systematic Entomology, and Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. My publication record reflects the collaborative nature of my research. I have been the lead author on papers published with more than 30 researchers from Belgium, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the USA. Additionally, my mentoring approach—centered on publication—has enabled me to co-author 18 papers with students under my supervision.

My academic background includes two years of postdoctoral experience in insect systematics at Northern Arizona University (NAU) and Purdue University (ranked among the top 100 universities worldwide). My enthusiasm for exploring new research ideas, combined with a strong record of collaboration, has allowed me to secure extramural funding in both the EU and the US. To date, I have received two grants (SONATA and OPUS) from the Polish National Science Center (totaling over 1,350,000 PLN), three grants from the European Commission (SYNTHESYS), and additional funding from the University of Illinois (Small Grants for Beetle Nomenclature) and The Coleopterist Society (Ross Taylor and Joyce Rockenbach Bell Research Grant). In recognition of my contributions, I was awarded the Research Scholarship for Outstanding Young Researchers by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education, as well as the Jean Theodore Lacordaire Prize for an outstanding paper based on a PhD thesis (granted by The Coleopterist Society). In 2023, I was awarded the scientific title of full professor. 

Selected publications:

10. Szara. T, Kamiński M.J., Gündemir O. 2025. Exploring desert-adapted beetles with 3D geometric morphometrics. Scientific Reports, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05967-1  

9. Lumen, R. Kamiński, M.J. 2024. Redefining generic boundaries in subtribe Eurynotina (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae): taxonomy of the Schyzoschelus generic group. The European Zoological Journal https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/24750263.2023.2300723 

8. Lumen R., Kamiński M.J. 2023. Revision of the darkling beetle genus Eurynotus (Blaptinae: Platynotini) and new records of ovovivipary in Tenebrionidae. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 201: 358–386. https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad146  

7. Kamiński M.J., Gearner O.M, Raś M., Hunsinger E.T., Smith A.L., Mas-Peinado P., Girón J.C., Bilska A.G., Strümpher W.P., Wirth C.C., Kanda K., Swichtenberg K., Iwan D., Smith A.D. 2022. Female terminalia morphology and cladistic relations among Tok-Tok beetles (Tenebrionidae: Sepidiini). Cladistics. https://doi.org/10.1111/cla.12510    

6. Smith A.D., Kamiński M.J., Kanda K., Sweet, A.D., Betancourt J.L., Holmgren C.A., Hempel E., Alberti F., Hofreiter, M. 2021. Recovery and analysis of ancient beetle DNA from subfossil packrat middens using high-throughput sequencing. Scientific Reports, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-91896-8 

5. Kamiński, M.J., Gearner, O.M, Kanda, K., Swichtenberg, K., Purchart, L. & Smith, A.D. 2021. First insights into the phylogeny of tok-tokkie beetles (Tenebrionidae: Molurina, Phanerotomeina), and examination of the status of the Psammodes vialis species-group. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 191: 883–901 https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa052 

4. Kamiński, M.J., Lumen, R., Kanda, K., Iwan, D., Johnston, M.A., Kergoat, G., Bouchard, P., Bai, X-L., Li, X.-M., Ren, G.-D., Smith A.D. 2021. Reevaluation of Blapimorpha and Opatrinae: addressing a major phylogeny-classification gap in darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Blaptinae). Systematic Entomology, 46(1): 140-156 https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12453

3. Iwan, D., Löbl, I., Bouchard P., Bousquet, Y., Kamiński, M., Merkl O, Ando, K., Schawaller, W. 2020. Family TENEBRIONIDAE Latreille, 1802 in Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera Volume 5, Tenebrionoidea Revised and Updated Second Edition by Iwan, D., Löbl., I. Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands, 969pp [ISBN: 978-90-04-43498-1] https://brill.com/view/title/59110

2. Kamiński MJ, Lumen R, Kubicz M, Steiner W, Kanda K, Iwan D. 2019. Immature stages of beetles representing the ‘Opatrinoid’ clade (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae): an overview of current knowledge of the larval morphology and some resulting taxonomic notes on Blapstinina. Zoomorphology, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-019-00443-7 

1. Kaminski MJ, Kanda K, Raś M, Smith AD. 2017. Pythiopina, an enigmatic subtribe of darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pedinini): taxonomic revision, microtomography, ecological niche models and phylogenetic position. Systematic Entomology, 43: 147-165.