About me

Hello! My name is Alex (he/him) and I am a 6th-year PhD Candidate in Elizabeth Jakob’s Lab at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. I am in the Organismic & Evolutionary Biology (OEB) program, which is part of the Interdepartmental Graduate Programs in Life Sciences. I originally trained in ecology, evolution, and behavior, and I now approach neuroscience with that foundation in mind.

My research story:

As a child, I was fascinated with nature and all of its peculiar organisms. My journey in science preceded my earliest memories, fostered by my parents who supported my interests. I had a notable obsession with dinosaurs, which compelled me to learn everything about them. I eventually moved on to easily observable organisms.

^{A budding arachnologist collecting spiders. Not much has changed, except a decrease in telomere length and an increase in cynicism.}

I obtained my undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Florida. I conducted entomology research in the Miller and Dale labs under Pablo Allen, who introduced me to academic science. Pablo was my first research mentor and instructor for a Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) course at UF, which set everything in motion. After that, I joined the Taylor lab, which seeks to investigate the extravagant displays that animals use to communicate. The first time I visited the lab, someone was recording the courtship display of the jumping spider Habronattus pyrrithrix. It was fascinating and beautiful. In the Taylor lab, I was mentored by Malika Ihle and Lisa Taylor, both of whom provided many opportunities, such as an NSF-funded “Research Experiences for Undergraduates” (REU) internship that brought me to Arizona. Here I need to make a special note about Malika. Her boundless investment in mentorship had a profound impact on my development as a student, researcher, and human being. Words cannot express my gratitude. This experience led me to be passionate about mentoring students!

^{Field crew striking a pose in the sweltering Arizona sun.}

The next step of my journey was moving to Massachusetts to pursue a PhD in Elizabeth (Beth) Jakob’s lab. The OEB program at UMass has an interdisciplinary culture with an emphasis on breadth, which aligns with my own philosophy. Beth is affording me the resources and intellectual freedom to pursue my interests, which has been tremendous for my development as a researcher (check out my projects in the research tab). I have much more to say here, but I’ll wait until the next milestone!

^{In the lab with Gui Pagoti dissecting spider brains. We look rough. It must have been a long night.}

My hobbies:

I started lifting weights as a freshman in high school, and I’ve stuck with it since. Lifting heavy is cathartic, especially when paired with heavy music. This hobby is fulfilling because you can objectively measure progress, and carrying groceries gets much easier.

^{Contemplating the meaning of life at the top of a deadlift.}

I compete in a strength sport called powerlifting. This sport is simple: you get three attempts to lift the heaviest weight you can on the squat, bench press, and deadlift (gravity is the nemesis). Powerlifting is fun and has a great community (usually). I have taken a hiatus from competing to focus on research and general fitness, but I plan to revisit it someday.

^{The competition history of any competitor can be found at https://www.openpowerlifting.org/}

My primary creative outlet is writing. In my opinion, using language creatively is among the most beautiful forms of artistic expression. I mostly write poetry and essays, but I’d love to write a novel one day. I hope to eventually self-publish collections of my poetry, but for now these works are sworn to secrecy.

I have been venturing into macrophotography to take pictures of spiders and other small animals. The overlooked animals of this world often are the most brilliant. I am trying to learn “absent-background” shots before moving into the field.

^{A male bold jumping spider Phidippus audax looking curiously at the camera.}

I really enjoy discovering new music. Recently, I have been listening to hardcore punk (e.g., Tørsö, Kublai Khan TX, Have Heart), metalcore (e.g., Heaven Shall Burn), deathcore (e.g., Lorna Shore), and technical death metal (e.g., Ulcerate). The latter might sound jarring at first, but the instrumental composition is incredibly complex. I also like hip-hop, spoken word, and indie. I am particularly drawn to lyrics, especially when they involve progressive social and political commentary.

My pets:

I have an American Bulldog named Myla (10 years old) and a boa constrictor (15+ years old). I also have a ton of spiders including pet tarantulas (of course), but they stay in the lab. Western Massachusetts has wonderful hiking terrain, which is also great for the dog!

^{Myla walking a somber beach in Acadia, Maine (left) and the red tail boa basking in the bright Florida sun (right). I intentionally juxtaposed the stark contrast in weather because it seems I am still adjusting to the winters here.}

^{One of my pet tarantulas, a beautiful blue and yellow Poecilotheria metallica. While this is my favorite genus of Old World tarantulas, this species in particular is better suited for more experienced hobbyists.} ^{It’s important to note that many tarantula keepers become keenly aware of intricate species-specific behaviors from many years of observation. Scientists have much to learn from this!}

Closing thoughts:

Thanks for reading! I hope this helps demystify the person behind the research.

Share this: