NMNH Partnerships with Affiliated Agencies

National Systematics Laboratory

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
The partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NMNH began in 1871. The National Systematics Laboratory (NSL) was formally established in 1942. Through this partnership NSL scientists stationed in-residence at NMNH conduct research on marine biodiversity and provide information and scientific services to a wide array of customers and stakeholders in both the public and private sectors, with special emphasis on marine organisms of economic or ecological importance to the United States. Contact: Michael Vecchione

Affiliated Research Staff

COLLETTE, Bruce B., Adjunct Scientist, Systematics Laboratory, National Marine Fisheries Service, Department of Commerce. B.S. (1956), Ph.D. (1960) Cornell University. Research specialties: Systematics, evolution, zoogeography, anatomy, and biology of marine fishes, especially Scombroidei (mackerels and tunas), Xiphioidei (billfishes), Beloniformes (needlefishes and halfbeaks), and Batrachoididae (toadfishes).

COLLINS, Allen Gilbert, Adjunct Scientist, Systematics Laboratory, National Marine Fisheries Service, Department of Commerce. B.A. (1987) Amherst College; Ph.D. (1999) University of California, Berkeley. Research specialties: Evolutionary history and systematics of cnidarians and sponges.

MUNROE, Thomas, Adjunct Scientist, Systematics Laboratory, National Marine Fisheries Service, Department of Commerce. B.A. (1973), M.S. (1976) Southeastern Massachusetts University; Ph.D. (1987) College of William and Mary. Research specialties: Systematics, evolution, biogeography, and biology of marine fishes, especially the flatfishes, Order Pleuronectiformes.

NIZINSKI, Martha, Adjunct Scientist, Systematics Laboratory, National Marine Fisheries Service, Department of Commerce. B.S. (1983) West Virginia Wesleyan College; M.S. (1986) University of Maryland; Ph.D. (1998) College of William and Mary. Research specialties: Taxonomy, systematics and biodiversity of decapod crustaceans, especially squat lobsters; biodiversity and community ecology of the invertebrate faunal assemblage associated with deepwater coral habitats.

VECCHIONE, Michael, Adjunct Scientist, Systematics Zoologist and Director, National Marine Fisheries Service Systematics Laboratory. B.S. (1972) University of Miami; Ph.D. (1979) College of William and Mary. Research specialties: Systematics, development, biogeography, and ecology of cephalopods.

Systematics Entomology Laboratory

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
The US Department of Agriculture, Systematics Entomology Laboratory (SEL) and the Smithsonian have worked together since 1881. Together NMNH and SEL have developed one of the largest and most important insect collections in the world, comprising more than 35 million specimens. SEL scientists in-residence at NMNH focus their efforts on providing taxonomic identification services to Federal, state, and private organizations and individuals as well as conducting research on insect groups that are major agricultural pests and potential invasive species to the U.S. Contact: Michael Gates

Affiliated Research Staff

BUFFINGTON, Matthew, Adjunct Scientist and Research Entomologist, Systematic Entomology Lab., ARS-USDA. B.S. (1997) University of California, Riverside; M.S. (2000) Texas A&M; Ph.D. (2005) University of California, Riverside. Research specialties: Systematics of parasitic Hymenoptera, specifically the Cynipoidea, Proctotrupoidea and Platygastroidea; molecular systematics; digital imaging techniques involving small insects.

CHAMORRO, Lourdes. Adjunct Scientist and Research Entomologist, Systematic Entomology Lab., ARS-USDA. B.S. (1998) Ohio State University; Ph.D. (2009) University of Minnesota, St. Paul. Research specialties: Systematics of Curculionoidea, specifically Dryophthorinae (palm weevils) and Eustylini (Entiminae) (broad nose weevils).

GATES, Michael W., Adjunct Scientist and Research Entomologist, and Research Leader Systematic Entomology Lab., ARS-USDA. B.A. (1992) Hendrix College; M.S. (1995) Oklahoma State University; Ph.D. (2000) University of California, Riverside. Re-search specialties: Taxonomy and systematics of Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera), especially Eurytomidae and Eulophidae; collecting techniques, rearing and diversity of Chalcidoidea; digital imaging and image databasing.

GOLDSTEIN, Paul Z., Research Entomologist, Systematic Entomology Lab., ARS-USDA. B.A. (1991) Harvard University; Ph.D. (1999) University of Connecticut. Research specialties: Phylogenetic systematics, life history evolution, and host plant associations of moths, especially Noctuoidea; faunal change and comparative faunistics; phylogenetic theory, molecular systematics, and species diagnostic tools.

HENRY, Thomas J., Adjunct Scientist and Research Entomologist, Systematic Entomology Lab., ARS-USDA. B.A. (1971) Purdue University; M.S. (1980) Pennsylvania State University; Ph.D. (1995) University of Maryland. Research specialties: Systematics of Heteroptera (Hemiptera), especially Berytidae and Miridae.

KONSTANTINOV, Alexander S., Adjunct Scientist and Research Entomologist, Systematic Entomology Lab., ARS-USDA. M.A. (1981) Belarusian State University; Ph.D. (1988) Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia. Research specialties: Systematics, comparative morphology, biogeography, and host plants relationships of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) with particular emphasis on flea beetles, worldwide.

KULA, Robert, Adjunct Scientist and Research Entomologist, Systematic Entomology Lab., ARS-USDA. B.S. (1998) Peru State College; M.S. (2001) Texas A&M University; Ph.D. (2006) Kansas State University. Research specialties: Systematics of Ichneumonoidea, particularly parasitoids of cyclorrhaphous flies.

LINGAFELTER, Steven W., Adjunct Scientist and Research Entomologist, Systematic Entomology Lab., ARS-USDA. B.S. (1989), M.S. (1991) Midwestern State University; Ph.D. (1996) University of Kansas. Research specialties: Systematics and taxonomy of Cerambycidae and Curculionidae (longhorned wood boring beetles and weevils); bionomics of Silphidae (carrion beetles).

McKAMEY, Stuart H., Adjunct Scientist and Research Entomologist, Systematic Entomology Lab., ARS-USDA. B.S. (1985) University of California, Berkeley; M.S. (1989) North Carolina State University; Ph.D. (1994) University of Connecticut. Research specialties: Bio-systematics of Auchenorrhyncha, principally Membracoidea (leafhoppers and tree-hoppers).

METZ, Mark A., Research Entomologist, Systematic Entomology Lab., ARS-USDA. B.S. (1988) UCLA; M.S. (1995) California State University, Northridge; Ph.D. (2002) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Research specialties: Evolutionary biology, systematics, and comparative morphology of Microlepidoptera; computer and information systems and quantitative methodologies in biology.

NORRBOM, Allen L., Adjunct Scientist and Research Entomologist, Systematic Entomology Lab., ARS-USDA. B.A. (1980) Drexel University; M.S. (1983), Ph.D. (1985) Pennsylvania State University. Research specialties: Systematics (taxonomy, nomenclature, identification) and natural history of true fruit flies (Insecta: Diptera: Tephritidae) and related families.

SOLIS, M. Alma, Adjunct Scientist, Research Entomologist, Systematic Entomology Lab., ARS-USDA. B.A. (1978), M.A. (1982) University of Texas, Austin; Ph.D. (1989) University of Maryland. Research specialties: Systematics of snout moths (Pyraloidea); Pyraloidea of Neotropical areas, particularly Costa Rica.

WOODLEY, Norman E., Adjunct Scientist and Research Entomologist, Systematic Entomology Lab., ARS-USDA. B.A. (1976) Washington State University; Ph.D. (1983) Harvard University. Research specialties: Taxonomy and phylogeny of Diptera (especially Brachycera, Orthorrhapa, and Oestroidea).

Patuxent Biological Survey Unit

United States Geological Survey (USGS)
Collaborations between the U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Biological Survey Unit and the NMNH began in 1889. Through this partnership, biologists stationed at NMNH conduct collections-based research on the systematics and biodiversity of vertebrate species and curate the North American collections of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Annually BSU biologists accession more than 50 collections totaling over 10,000 specimens of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals to the NMNH Collection. Highlights from 2011 include the Walter Bulmer Collection of more than 2,500 bird specimens and nearly 3,000 mammal specimens collected from throughout the West Indies, Central America, and the Southeastern United States. Contact: Robert Reynolds

Affiliated Research Staff

CHESSER, Robert Terry, Adjunct Scientist and Research Zoologist, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey. B.A. Georgia State University; Ph.D. (1995) Louisiana State University. Research specialties: North American birds; seasonal distribution of South American austral migrant birds; biogeography and systematics of birds; modern molecular and cladistic techniques for reconstruction of phylogeny, character evolution, and biogeographic history.

GARDNER, Alfred L., Adjunct Scientist and Research Zoologist, Biological Resources Division, Patuxent Wildlife Re-search Center, U.S. Geological Survey. B.S. (1962), M.S. (1965) University of Arizona, Tucson; Ph.D. (1970) Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. Research specialties: Systematics and nomenclature of mammals of the Western Hemisphere.

McDIARMID, Roy W., Adjunct Scientist and Research Zoologist, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey. B.A. (1961), M.S. (1966), Ph.D. (1969) University of Southern California. Research specialties: Natural history and evolution of amphibians and reptiles, especially Neotropical forms; morphology and evolution of amphibian eggs and larvae (tadpoles); standard methods for inventory and monitoring species; world snake diversity; bibliographic history of herpetology.

WOODMAN, Neal, Adjunct Scientist, Research Zoologist and Curator of Mammals, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey. B.A. (1980) Earlham College; M.S. (1982) University of Iowa; M.Phil. (1986), Ph.D. (1992) University of Kansas. Research specialties: Taxonomy, systematics, biogeography, morphology, and phylogenetics of mammals, especially the Soricidae (shrews); tropical mammal communities.

Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit

Department of Defense (DOD)
The Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit (WRBU), supported by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), is a unique resource for mosquito taxonomic research and a world leader in the development of insect disease vector identification tools and distribution prediction methods. WRBU scientists at NMNH utilize the vast NMNH mosquito collection to accomplish their work. Contact: Pollie Rueda and Lewis Long

Affiliated Research Staff

FOLEY, Desmond, Adjunct Scientist, Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit. B.S. (1979) University of New England; M.S. (1984), Ph.D. (1997) University of Queensland. Research specialties: Molecular systematics, distribution modelling, biogeography, and spatial ecology of mosquitoes.

RUEDA, Pollie M., Adjunct Scientist and Research Entomologist, Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit. B.S. (1976), M.S. (1980) University of the Philippines; Ph.D. (1984) North Carolina State University. Research specialties: Mosquito Biosystematics (Culicidae, Diptera).