Erika L. Garcia
National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellow
Fulbright Scholar

Solifugae, commonly known as camel spiders or wind scorpions in North America, are important insect predators in desert and semi-desert biomes on all continents except Australia and Antarctica. The evolutionary relationships of Solifugae were historically uncertain, however, until recently, several researchers have made devoted efforts to formally begin to understand the evolutionary history of this enigmatic group by adopting modern techniques necessary for taxonomic delimitation.

Dr. Garcia's research program focuses on the systematics, biogeography, and comparative genomics of this enigmatic group of arthropods, with the goal of understanding the genomic basis for their adaptations to arid habitats.

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