John Lapolla Email & Phone Number

I am a systematic entomologist. A key feature of my research program is to merge the techniques of both morphological and molecular analyses to create a powerful framework for addressing interesting, organism-based questions. My focal organisms are primarily ants, although I have ventured into projects involving other hymenopterans (bees and wasps) and non-hymenopterans as well that are associated with ants (primarily scale insects). I am passionate about doing science in a university setting. I am currently on the biology faculty of Towson University. I am also a research associate at the National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian), where I have several long-term collaborators. I have been the major advisor for 5 Master’s degree students and have mentored over 20 undergraduate research students in my laboratory. Working with both graduate and undergraduate students I have published over 40 peer-reviewed articles, several of them with students as coauthors. I have received research funding from various sources including the National Science Foundation and National Geographic Society. I teach three primary courses at Towson University: Entomology, Invertebrate Zoology and Introduction to Ecology and Evolution. I care deeply about producing science-literate students regardless of their eventual career paths. In my view, science is not only a discipline, but also a way of viewing the world by using the critical thinking skills that the scientific process requires.

Listed skills include Research, Entomology, Teaching, University Teaching, and 8 others.