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Paul Marek
Curriculum Vitae (pdf)
Entomology (MC0319)
Price Hall, Rm 216, Virginia Tech
170 Drillfield Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Phone (
Fax (
Education
Ph.D. in Biology, East Carolina University, NC 2008
M.A. in Systematic Biology and Ecology, San Francisco State University, CA 2002
B.S. in Biology, Loyola University of Chicago, IL 2000
Teaching Experience
Adjunct Professor, Pima Community College, 2009
Course: General Biology II Lecture and Laboratory
Syllabus (download pdf)
Teaching Assistant, East Carolina University, 2007
Course: Phylogenetic Theory Laboratory
Teaching Assistant, East Carolina University, 2004
Course: Terrestrial Arthropod Biology Laboratory
Teaching Assistant, San Francisco State University, 2001-2002
Course: Insect Taxonomy Laboratory
Research Grants
NSF Biodiversity: Discovery & Analysis Grant, co-PI, 2013-present
National Science Foundation ($783,747)
NSF Phylogenetic Systematics Grant, sole PI, 2011-present
National Science Foundation ($254,385)
Expeditions Council Grant, sole PI, 2012-2013
National Geographic Society ($17,050)
NSF Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant, 2006-2008
National Science Foundation ($10,510)
Student Project Grant, 2002
College of Science and Engineering, San Francisco State University ($150)
Travel Grant, 2002
Graduate Student Council in Biology, San Francisco State University ($200)
Travel Grant, 2002
Division of Research, California Academy of Sciences ($300)
Mulcahy Grant, 1999-2000
Department of Biology, Loyola University ($2000)
Peer Reviewed Publications
Kamali, M., P.E. Marek, C. Antonio-Nkondjio, C. Ndo, Z. Tu, F. Simard, I.V. Sharakhov. 2013. Temporal diversification of major African malaria vectors inferred from multigene phylogenetics, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, submitted
Marek, P.E., W.A. Shear, and J.E. Bond. 2012. A redescription of the leggiest animal, the millipede Illacme plenipes with notes on its natural history and biogeography (Diplopoda, Siphonophorida, Siphonorhinidae), ZooKeys, 241, 77–112. [Open access]
Marek, P.E., D.R. Papaj, J. Yeager, S. Molina*, W. Moore. 2011. Bioluminescent aposematism in millipedes, Current Biology, 21, R680-R681. [Open access]
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Video abstract online at Cell Press YouTube channel.
Marek, P.E. 2010. A revision of the Appalachian millipede genus Brachoria Chamberlin, 1939 (Polydesmida, Xystodesmidae, Apheloriini), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 159, 817-889. [72 published pages]
Shear, W.A. and P.E. Marek. 2009. Andrognathus hoffmani, n. sp., a second species in the genus and the first species of Andrognathidae from México (Diplopoda, Platydesmida, Andrognathidae). Festschrift in honor of Richard Hoffman, Memoirs of the Virginia Museum of Natural History, 16, 149-158.
Marek, P.E. and J.E. Bond. 2009. A Müllerian mimicry ring in Appalachian millipedes, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA. 106, 9755-9760.
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Commentary by Merrill, R.M. and C.D. Jiggins. 2009. Müllerian mimicry: sharing the load reduces the legwork, Current Biology, 19, 687-689.
Walker, M.J.*, A.K. Stockman, P.E. Marek, and J.E. Bond. 2009. Pleistocene glacial refugia across the Appalachian Mountains and coastal plain in the millipede genus Narceus: Evidence from population genetic, phylogeographic, and paleoclimatic data, BMC Evolutionary Biology. 9, 25.
Marek, P.E. and J.E. Bond. 2007. A reassessment of apheloriine millipede phylogeny: additional taxa, Bayesian inference, and direct optimization. Zootaxa. 1610, 27-39.
Marek, P.E. and J.E. Bond. 2006. Phylogenetic systematics of the colorful, cyanide-producing millipedes of Appalachia (Polydesmida, Xystodesmidae, Apheloriini) using a total evidence Bayesian approach. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 41, 704-729.
[25 published pages]
Marek, P.E. and J.E. Bond. 2006. Biodiversity hotspots: Rediscovery of the world's leggiest animal. Nature. 441, 707.
Marek, P.E. and D.H. Kavanaugh. 2005. The evolutionary relationships of North American Diplous Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Patrobini) inferred from morphological and molecular evidence. Invertebrate Systematics. 19, 145-168.
Marek, P.E., J.E. Bond, and P. Sierwald. 2003. Rhinocricidae Systematics II: A species catalog of the Rhinocricidae (Diplopoda: Spirobolida) with synonymies. Zootaxa. 308, 1-108. [108 published pages]
Bond, J.E. and P.E. Marek. 2003. Rhinocricidae Systematics I: The taxonomic placement of the species of Zipyge Chamberlin, 1925 and Oxypygides Chamberlin, 1922 (Diplopoda: Spirobolida: Rhinocricidae: Oxypyginae). Zootaxa. 292, 1-8.
* student co-authored publications | ** pdfs below
Websites
Marek, P.E. 2012. Diplopoda.org, An online resource for millipedes, online at www.diplopoda.org.
Marek, P.E. 2010. Brachoria Chamberlin 1939. Version 16 September 2010. http://tolweb.org/Brachoria in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/.
Manuscripts in preparation
Marek, P.E. et al. 2013. Colors and species of Xystodesmidae (Diplopoda, Polydesmida)
Marek, P.E. 2013. Taxonomic review of Rudiloria (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Xystodesmidae)
Marek, P.E. 2013. Phylogenetic systematics of Xystodesmidae (Diplopoda, Polydesmida)
Professional Appointments
Assistant Professor, Virginia Tech, 2013-present
Department of Entomology, Insect Taxonomy & Systematics.
Research Associate/Principal Investigator, University of Arizona, 2011-2013
Evolution of bioluminescence in millipedes
Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Arizona, 2008-2011
Evolution of luminescence in Californian millipedes. Advisors: Wendy Moore and Dan Papaj
Doctoral Fellow, East Carolina University, 2003-2008
Systematics and evolution of mimicry in Appalachian millipedes. Advisor: Jason Bond
Graduate Assistant, San Francisco State University, 2000-2002
Systematics of the North American ground beetle Diplous. Advisor: David Kavanaugh
Expedition Entomologist, California Academy of Sciences, 2002
Spider biodiversity of the Gaoligong Mountains of China. Advisor: Charles Griswold
Curator, San Francisco State University, 2001-2002
Curation of San Francisco State University Entomology Museum. Advisor: John Hafernik
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Field Museum of Natural History, 2000
Classification and systematics of the millipede family Rhinocricidae. Advisor: Petra Sierwald
Undergraduate NSF REU Intern, California Academy of Sciences, 1999
Beetle systematics (Summer Systematics Institute). Advisor: David Kavanaugh
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Loyola University Chicago, 1999
Effects of elevated CO2 on leaf chemistry and crane fly detritivory. Advisor: Nancy Tuchman
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Loyola University Chicago, 1999
Cladistic analysis of the leaf-rolling weevil genus group Attelabina. Advisor: Robert Hamilton
Undergraduate Volunteer, Field Museum of Natural History, 1998-1999
Curation of Austral rove beetles. Advisors: Margaret Thayer and Alfred Newton
Awards & Honors
Sigma Xi Helms Award for Student Research, 2010
East Carolina University
Faculty Standards Teaching Award, 2009
Pima Community College
Ernst Mayr Award Nomination, 2009
Society for Systematic Biology, Annual Meeting
Postdoctoral Excellence in Research and Teaching (PERT) Fellowship, 2008
National Institutes of Health, Center for Insect Science, University of Arizona
Second Place Presentation, 2007
Student Paper Competition, Entomological Society of America
First Place Presentation, 2007
Student Paper Competition, East Carolina Graduate Student Research Day
Partnerships for Enhancing Expertise in Taxonomy (PEET) Fellowship, 2003-2008
National Science Foundation, East Carolina University
Scholars Award, 2003-2005
Graduate School, East Carolina University
Graduate Assistantship, 2000-2002
Division of Research, California Academy of Sciences
Partnerships for Enhancing Expertise in Taxonomy Internship, 2000
Department of Zoology, Field Museum of Natural History
REU Internship, Summer Systematics Institute, 1999
Division of Research, California Academy of Sciences
Research Talks
Invited seminar, University of Missouri - St. Louis 2012: “Millipede systematics and the evolutionary ecology of warning coloration”
Invited seminar, Purdue University 2012: “Millipede systematics and the evolutionary ecology of warning coloration”
Invited seminar, Field Museum of Natural History, Watson Armour Research Seminar Series 2012: “The glow means No: the evolution of bioluminescence in millipedes”
Invited seminar, University of Illinois at Chicago 2012: “The glow means No: the evolution of bioluminescence in millipedes”
Invited lecture, Millsaps College Moreton Lecture 2012: “Glow-in-the-dark millipedes, mimicry rings and the 750-legged beast”
Invited lecture, University of Arizona, Topics in Behavioral Ecology class 2012: “Behavioral ecology of color and light”
Invited seminar, University of Vermont 2011: “Millipede systematics and the evolutionary ecology of warning coloration”
Invited seminar, Stephen F. Austin University 2011: “Millipede systematics and the evolutionary ecology of warning coloration”
Invited seminar, California Academy of Sciences 2011: “The glow means No: the evolution of bioluminescence in millipedes”
Invited seminar, Stetson University 2011: “Millipedes, mimicry, and bioluminescence”
Invited seminar, Cleveland Museum of Natural History 2011: “Mimicry, bioluminescence, and the 750-legged beast”
Invited lecture, San Diego State University, Systematics class 2011: “The future of taxonomy and cybertaxonomy”
Invited seminar, San Diego State University, Biology Department 2011: “The glow means No: the evolution of bioluminescence in millipedes”
Tuesday seminar, University of Arizona, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department 2010: “The glow means No: the evolution of bioluminescence in millipedes”
Hexapodium, University of Arizona, Center for Insect Science 2010: “The glow means No: the evolution of bioluminescence in millipedes”
Invited lecture, University of Arizona, Insect Taxonomy class 2010: “The Myriapoda: diversity and evolution”
Society of Systematic Biologists, Evolution 2009: “Mimicry in Appalachian millipedes”
Invited seminar, University of Arizona, Entomology Department 2008: “Warning, cyanide and masquerade: A Müllerian mimicry ring in Appalachian millipedes”
Richard Hoffman Birthday Festschrift 2007: “A molecular phylogenetic approach to genus delimitation within the xystodesmid tribe Apheloriini (Polydesmida)”
North Carolina Academy of Science 2007: “Systematics and color mimicry evolution of the cyanide-producing millipedes of Appalachia”
East Carolina University, Graduate Student Research Day 2007: “Systematics and color mimicry evolution of the cyanide-producing millipedes of Appalachia”
Entomological Society of America 2007: “Systematics and color mimicry evolution of the cyanide-producing millipedes of Appalachia”
Invited lecture, East Carolina University, Field Zoology class 2006: “Bizarrodiversity”
Southeastern Population Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics 2006: “Systematics and color mimicry evolution of the cyanide-producing millipedes of Appalachia”
Society of Systematic Biologists, Evolution 2006: “An exemplar phylogenetic approach to evaluating higher-level classification problems in cyanogenic xystodesmid millipedes in Appalachia”
Association of Southeastern Biologists 2006: “Systematics and color mimicry evolution of the cyanide-producing millipedes of Appalachia”
Entomological Society of America 2005: “Systematics and mimicry evolution of colorful cyanide-producing millipedes of Appalachia”
Southeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference 2005: “Systematics and mimicry evolution of cyanide producing millipedes”
East Carolina University, Graduate Student Research Day 2005: “Systematics and mimicry evolution of cyanide producing millipedes”
Professional Societies
Entomological Society of America
Society of Systematic Biologists
Reviewer for National Science Foundation, Systematic Biology and Biodiversity Inventories Cluster; Encyclopedia of Life, Rubenstein Fellows Program; Current Biology, Evolutionary Ecology; International Journal of Myriapodology; Coleopterist Society; Journal of Arachnology; Journal of Cave and Karst Studies; Zootaxa
Students Mentored
Avery Lane (2012 - present, University of Arizona, UBRP)
Bree Gomez (2010 - present, Pima Community College and University of Arizona)
Sergio Molina (2009 - present, Pima Community College)
Eric O’Donnell (2009 - 2010, Pima Community College)
Matt Walker (2004 - 2008, East Carolina University)
Chad Spruill (2003 - 2008, East Carolina University)
Lynn Swafford (2006 - 2008, East Carolina University)
Michael Brewer (2005 - 2008, East Carolina University)
Community Engagement and Public Outreach
Interviewed by Christopher Intagliata from National Public Radio’s Science Friday Radio Show for research on the leggiest animal on the planet, Illacme plenipes, 2012
Interviewed by Rebecca Morelle from the BBC News for research on millipedes and the leggiest animal on the planet, the enigmatic Illacme plenipes, which is the subject of an article in the journal ZooKeys, 2012.
Scientific advisor for bioluminescent millipedes - part of National Geographic Television’s 3-part TV series entitled “Wild Wild West” showcasing animals of the U.S., west of the Great Plains, series to air 2013.
Interviewed by National Public Radio’s Science Friday Radio Show for research on bioluminescent and biofluorescent millipedes, 2012
Scientific contributor for Xylem and Phloem’s educational iPad app, “Isopod: The Roly Poly Science Game” featuring scientific topics authored by entomologists, biologists and teachers.
** Screen shot of “environment” play level four, here.
Scientific contributor for American Museum of Natural History’s science exhibit “Creatures of Light: Nature’s Bioluminescence”
** included as part of the exhibit, an iPad app, “Creatures of Light”. The educational app takes a closer look at the extraordinary organisms that produce light, including the Californian millipede Motyxia sequoiae and our recent study.
BioBlitz Saguaro National Park, National Geographic/National Park Service, Organized public arthropod inventory focused on bioluminescence, fluorescence, and animal coloration, 2011.
Interviewed by Canadian Broadcast Corporation’s Quirks & Quarks Radio Show, LiveScience, Discover Magazine, New Scientist, MSNBC, National Geographic for research on bioluminescent aposematism in millipedes, 2011.
Arizona Insect Festival, Organized D.E.A.D. tent (Decomposer Education and Appreciation Destination), 2011.
Undergraduate Biology Research Program, Group Leader, University of Arizona, 2011.
Millipedia Blog, online at , blog on millipedes, insects and the natural world, 2009 - present.
Meet the Beetles! Playing live at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 2010.
Darwin Day, Darwin 200th Birthday Celebration, University of Arizona, 2009.
Interviewed by National Public Radio, New York Times, Voice of America*, BBC News, Reuters, Associated Press, Telegraph, & Science News for research on Illacme plenipes, “leggiest animal on the planet,” and millipede biodiversity, 2006 (*VOA interview broadcast globally through shortwave radio).
BugFest, North Carolina State Museum of Natural History, 2005.
“Don’t Bug Me” event tutor, Science Olympiad, C.M. Eppes Middle School, NC, 2005-2007.
Teacher Services Assistant, California Academy of Sciences, 2000-2002.
Museum Curatorial Experience
Curator, San Francisco State University, 2001-2002
Curation of San Francisco State University Entomology Museum.
Research Assistant, CalBug. California Academy of Sciences. May-June 2002.
Retrospective databasing and georeferencing entomology collections.
Undergraduate Volunteer, University of Central Florida, February-August 2000
Curation and identification of Florida Carabidae backlog.
Undergraduate Volunteer, Field Museum of Natural History, 1998-1999
Curation of Austral rove beetles.
Biodiversity Surveys and Expeditions
University of Arizona 2008 - present
Arizona, Sonoran Desert (>15 trips), taxa collected: millipedes, beetles, spiders.
California, southern mountains (7 trips), taxa collected: millipedes, beetles, spiders.
East Carolina University 2003-2008
Appalachian Mountains (30 trips), taxa collected: millipedes, spiders, salamanders.
California, northern mountains (4 trips), taxa collected: millipedes, spiders, beetles.
Costa Rica, Corcovado National Park (1 trip), taxa collected: millipedes, spiders.
California Academy of Sciences 2001-2002
Gaoligong Mountains, Yunnan, China (1 trip), taxa collected: spiders, myriapods.
California, southern and northern mountains (4 trips), taxa collected: beetles, millipedes, spiders.
Field Museum of Chicago 1999-2000
The giant cross in Alto Pass Illinois, the illuminated surface attracts nocturnal insects (by night worshipped by entomologists and drunken teens)
Loyola University of Chicago 1998-1999
Survey of the Asian Long-horned beetle invasion in Chicago.