Lab Members

Dr. Chris A. Hamilton

My goal as an advisor is to help students become broadly trained in arthropod systematics and phylogenetics while they develop as independent researchers by learning to identify interesting questions and the approaches necessary to address those questions. As a Native person in academia, I want to be effective in my roles – as a mentor, a researcher, as a holder of knowledge, and as an educator.

This is me holding a new species of Aphonopelma found in Sonora, MX.

Past President, Systematics, Evolution, & Biodiversity section of the Entomological Society of America (SysEB)

• Faculty profile
• Email: hamiltonlab [at] uidaho.edu
• Twitter (X): @8legs2fangs
• Instagram: 8legs2fangs

Karina Silvestre Bringas

Karina is working on understanding the diversity and evolutionary history of the tarantula genus Aphonopelma across the Madrean Pine-Oak Woodlands Hotspot (aka - the sky islands of southern Arizona, New Mexico, and northern Mexico).

Karina came to us from Marshal Hedin’s lab at San Diego State University, where she worked on jumping spider research as an undergraduate.

This is Karina holding a mature male A. catalina.

Arnau Calatayud Mascarell

Arnau is working on understanding the diversity and evolutionary history of the mygalomorph genera Euagrus, Hexura, and Microhexura. This research occurs across the Pacific Northwest, the American Southwest, and northern Mexico.

Arnau came to us from Miguel Arnedo’s lab at the Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Fac. Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, where he worked on mygalomorph spider research for his Masters degree.

This is Arnau looking at specimens of Hexura vandal, the Idaho Vandal spider, a species we described in honor of the university and residents of the great state of Idaho.

Andrea Noble Stuen

Andrea is the glue that holds together the Arthropod Molecular Systematics Lab. She joined the AMS lab in Fall 2020 and is loving the variety of working here, from molecular lab techniques to data management to macro photography and teaching and supporting others. She received her MS in Natural Resources from the University of Idaho, and a BA in Environmental Biology and Fine Arts from University of Colorado. She managed the daily work in a limnology (freshwater ecology) lab in Colorado, and brings experience from work in analytical chemistry, tree physiology, soils, fish ecology, and forestry. She is now thoroughly enjoying exploring arthropods and DNA.

Dr. Erik Ciaccio

Erik worked on understanding the species diversity and evolutionary patterns and processes within the trapdoor spider genus Antrodiaetus. This is Erik finding his very first Antrodiaetus, in the Galiuro Mountains of Arizona! Erik now works for the University of Idaho.

Dr. Ethan Briggs

Ethan worked on spider and moth genomics while in the lab. He is currently at the Australian Museum where he is continuing his research on the biogeography and systematics of the Australian tarantulas.