Team Bio

In order to sequence and analyze the firefly genome, we’ve assembled an outstanding research team from several top universities across the U.S. Our team is made up of researchers with expertise in firefly evolution and behavior, biochemistry and evolution of bioluminescence, phylogenetics, genome evolution, and bioinformatics. Most importantly, we all have a strong love for fireflies.

(Collaborator names are listed alphabetically by last name.)

Jing-Ke Weng

Jing-Ke spent much of his childhood time catching insects, collecting rock and plant specimens, and later building electronic devices. To him, becoming a scientist studying those amazing phenomena of nature is a dream come true.

Check out more fun research projects happening in his lab at the Whitehead Institute/MIT at: http://wenglab.wi.mit.edu/



Megan Behringer

Megan is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Indiana University with Mike Lynch and Jay Lennon. She considers herself a genome detective: looking for small changes in DNA, which cause large changes in how organisms behave and interact. Her favorite food is popcorn and she basically views it as a food group at this point.

Seth Bybee

Seth is an assistant professor at Brigham Young University. He is intrigued by the evolution of color visual systems and color signals and how the diversity of life on earth is connected. He is the most biological fit biologist you will ever meet...he has seven kids.

Tim Fallon

Tim is a PhD student at MIT in the laboratory of Dr. Jing-Ke Weng. Working at the intersection of biochemistry, genomics, and evolution, he thinks bioluminescence is the best thing since sliced bread. He is a big reader. His favorite book is currently Nick Lane's "The Vital Question"





Amanda Larracuente

Amanda is an evolutionary biologist interested in genome evolution. When she’s not wrangling insect genomes, she’s playing outside with her two rambunctious sons who enjoy watching fireflies as much as she does.



Sara Lewis

Sara is an evolutionary ecologist at Tufts, and is convinced that even scientists can hold fast to wonder. To celebrate the science and the wonder of fireflies, she recently wrote a book called Silent Sparks: The Wondrous World of Fireflies (2016).

Gavin Martin

Gavin is a PhD student working at BYU with Dr. Seth Bybee. He has always been captivated by the vast diversity found within beetles. He currently enjoys sharing the joy of firefly bioluminescence with his three children.

Sarah Sander

Originally from California, where there are no flashing fireflies, Sarah vividly remembers the first time she saw the displays of these enchanting insects during her PhD work at the University of Georgia. An evolutionary biologist, she is fascinated by firefly biology and genomes. Recently, you may have heard her on NPR's Science Friday discussing the evolution of firefly flash color. She enjoys hunting for fireflies while hiking with her new puppy, Bjorn.





