Grace Barrett

Undergraduate digitization assistant

Macy Fraunfelter

Undergraduate volunteer

Anastasia Baluk Garavaglia

Undergraduate Museum Intern

I am an undergraduate majoring in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. From a young age, I have been deeply curious about wildlife, spending countless hours outdoors and even bringing nature into my home by raising
caterpillars, ladybugs, and tadpoles. What began as a personal passion has now opened the door to the exciting possibility of working at the Kawahara Lab with Dr. Bert Foquet, where I am rearing caterpillars to study the evolution of silk glands through CT scans.

Andrew Hong

Undergraduate volunteer

Nothing gets me excited like Lepidoptera. I’ve raised, pinned, and studied hundreds of them, especially the giant silkmoths. When I was three, my parents took me to the Butterfly Rainforest which triggered a passion that continues to this day. I now rear caterpillars in this lab and carry out silk gland dissections to get a better understanding of these winged beauties.

Ava Johnson

Undergraduate volunteer

I love all things insects, but especially Lepidoptera! I’ve been raising caterpillars since as long as I can remember, from swallowtails to monarchs to woolly bears and even hornworms. These creatures inspire me not only as a scientific curiosity, but they also make wonderful subjects for my art. Whether I’m drawing a caterpillar, releasing a butterfly, or simply cleaning up poo, Lepidoptera have always been a fascinating part of my life.

Kadie Mariano

Undergraduate Museum Intern

I am a freshman majoring in Entomology and Nematology. I have always had a passion for science, loving to learn and explore new things. I own blue death feigning and darkling beetles and I enjoy drawing in my spare time. Entomology is a newfound interest for me that I am very excited to explore through the Kawahara lab!

Skyla Sheehy

Undergraduate volunteer

My initial venture into insects involved volunteering in a butterfly house. Teaching young children about Lepidoptera sparked my curiosity and inspired me to continue my experience with entomology. Coming full circle, I now rear caterpillars in the Kawahara lab to study the evolution of silk glands. I’m excited to expand my involvement with this project and continue to grow more comfortable around these fascinating creatures!

Olivia Van Der Vlugt

Undergraduate volunteer

I’m an undergraduate Entomology and Nematology student on the pre-professional track. I’m currently interested in medical entomology, particularly how insects and insect-byproducts can be used as medicine and medical equipment. In the Kawahara Lab, I help Dr. Bert Foquet rear caterpillars and collect their silk for further testing.

For questions about undergraduate research opportunities in the Kawahara Lab, please contact Akito Kawahara (kawahara@flmnh.ufl.edu) and Jacob Bethin (bethinj@ufl.edu)