Jeremy Frank

Email:
jfrankSPAMFILTER@amnh.org

Education

  • Ph.D. in Comparative Biology, Richard Gilder Graduate School at the American Museum of Natural History, Expected Graduation: 2019.
  • B.A. in Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Graduated: May 2015.


Research Interests

Jeremy Frank’s research focuses on sand wasps (Crabronidae; Bembicinae), a group of ground-nesting wasps, which, unlike the well-known hornets and yellowjackets, nest individually rather than in social groups. Solitary wasps such as these are well known for their interesting behaviors, which include excavating underground nests and maternal care of offspring, and have been suggested as potential model organisms for the study of behavioral evolution. However, the evolutionary histories of many solitary wasp groups remain unclear, which has limited our ability to understand how their behavior has evolved. To address this problem, Jeremy is researching Bembix, a large, worldwide group of sand wasps displaying great interspecific behavioral diversity, especially in the construction and form of their nests. Jeremy’s research focuses on developing an evolutionary tree for Bembix, which will elucidate the relationships between the hundreds of different species in this group. With this information, it will be possible to analyze the evolution of their behavior, providing insight into how behavioral diversity develops. The results of this research will not only enhance our understanding of insect behavior, but also our understanding of animal behavior in general.

Publications

2011

  • Carpenter, J.M., Dvořák, L., Kojima, J-I., Nguyen, L.T.P., Perrard, A., Pickett, K.M. 2011. Taxonomic notes on the Vespinae of Yunnan (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). American Museum Novitates 3709. (Received acknowledgement)

Teaching Experience

  • Undergraduate Teaching Assistant for BIOL 216L (Development and Physiology Lab), Case Western Reserve University (August 2013-December 2013, August 2014-December 2014): Responsibilities included setting up laboratory for experiments, answering student questions, and general troubleshooting.