Education

• Arizona State University, School of Life Sciences, Ph.D.

  Dissertation: Color and communication in Habronattus jumping spiders: tests of sexual and ecological selection (advisor: Kevin McGraw) (2012)

• Organization for Tropical Studies 8-week graduate field course on Tropical Ecology in Costa Rica (2006)
• University of Kentucky, Department of Entomology, part-time graduate coursework in entomology (21 credits) while working as a full-time research technician (2001-2003)
• Cornell University, B.A. with distinction (Biology), Magna cum laude (2001)

  Honors thesis: Social behavior, aggregation, and mother-offspring interactions in two species of captive tailless whip scorpions (Order Amblypygi), (advisor: Dr. Linda Rayor)

• University of Melbourne, Australia, one semester abroad (2000), coursework focus: Australian culture, geography, and wildlife

Research and Employment

• (2014 to present) Assistant Research Scientist

  Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida. Research focus: Invertebrate coloration and communication.

• (2013 to present) Courtesy Research Scientist

  Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida. Research focus: Jumping spider coloration, learning, and predation on chemically defended prey.

• (2013 to present) Adjunct Faculty

  Santa Fe College, General Biology (non-majors)

• (2012-2013) Postdoctoral researcher

  Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Laboratory of Dr. Nathan Morehouse, Project: Salticid coloration, vision, learning, and sensory exploitation

• (2010-2011) Sustainable Phosphorus Summit, conference and outreach event organizer, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ

  Curated an art exhibition and competition that partnered artists with scientists to communicate research and ideas about phosphorus sustainability to the public. The final exhibition included twenty works from artist-scientist teams and was displayed at the Desert Botanical Garden (Phoenix, AZ) and the Step Gallery (Tempe, AZ) in February 2011. The exhibits were attended by more than 300 people and received media attention from Arizona PBS and the National Science Foundation. Visit our gallery for images of the work.

• (2010) National Science Foundation EAPSI Fellow

  University of Canterbury, New Zealand (with travel to Mbita Point, Kenya), Laboratory of Dr. Robert Jackson, Project: The use of color as a visual cue in prey selection and mate choice in a mosquito-eating jumping spider (pilot study)

• (2006-2009) National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow

  Arizona State University, Laboratory of Dr. Kevin McGraw, Project: Color and communication in Habronattus jumping spiders

• (2004-2005) Faculty Research Assistant

  Appalachian Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences, Laboratory of Dr. Steven Seagle, Project: Effects of white-tailed deer on invertebrate food webs and litter decomposition

• (2003) Field Assistant

  Department of Biology, University of Maryland, Laboratory of Dr. Gerald Borgia, Project: Sexual selection in satin bowerbirds (conducted in Wallaby Creek, NSW Australia)

• (2001-2003) Senior Laboratory Technician

  Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Laboratory of Dr. David H. Wise, Project: Spider ecology and food web dynamics

• (1999) Undergraduate research assistant

  Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Laboratory of Dr. Linda Rayor, Project: Predatory behavior and learning in paper wasps

• (1998-2000) Undergraduate research assistant

  Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Laboratory of Dr. Michael Hoffmann (supervisor: Dr. Rebecca Smyth), Project: Behavior and ecology of cucumber beetles

Teaching Experience

• Teaching assistant/associate positions

  BIO 182/187: General Biology II (laboratory for majors), 3 semesters, Arizona State University

  BIO 100: The Living World (biology laboratory for non-majors), 1 semester, Arizona State University

• Mentoring of undergraduate research assistants: more than 20 undergraduates have been directly involved in my research program to date
• Workshops designed and taught for non-profit educational organizations

  Indoor Vermicomposting, taught for the Phoenix Permaculture Guild and Arizona Homegrown Solutions

  Garden Entomology, taught for the Phoenix Permaculture Guild

Publications

Taylor, L.A., D. Clark, and K.J. McGraw. 2014. From spiderling to senescence: ontogeny of color in the jumping spider, Habronattus pyrrithrix. Journal of Arachnology 42(3): 268-276. PDF. (Cover photo shown above).

Taylor, L.A., D. Clark, and K.J. McGraw. In press. From spiderling to senescence: ontogeny of color in the jumping spider, Habronattus pyrrithrix. Journal of Arachnology.

Taylor, L. A., D. Clark, and K. J. McGraw. 2014. Natural variation in condition-dependent display coloration does not predict male courtship success in a jumping spider. Animal Behaviour 93: 267-278. PDF.

Taylor, L.A., E. B. Maier, K.J. Byrne, Z. Amin, and N.I. Morehouse. 2014. Colour use by tiny predators: jumping spiders exhibit colour biases during foraging. Animal Behaviour 90: 149-157. PDF.

Taylor, L.A. and K.J. McGraw. 2013. Male ornamental coloration improves courtship success in a jumping spider, but only in the sun. Behavioral Ecology 24(4): 955-967. PDF.

Corman, J. R., K.A. Wyant, L.A. Taylor, D. Iwaniec, and R. Hale. 2013. Preface. In: Phosphorus, food, and our future (Ed. by K. A. Wyant, J. R. Corman & J. J. Elser). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Moore, D., T.C. Holbrook, M.G. Meadows, L.A. Taylor. 2012. The mating game: A classroom activity that explores the evolutionary basis for differences in sex roles. The American Biology Teacher 74(9): 648-651. PDF. Supplementary material.

Taylor, L.A., D.L. Clark, K.J. McGraw. 2011. Condition-dependence of male display coloration in a jumping spider. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 65: 1133-1146. PDF.

Toomey, M.B., M. W. Butler, M.G. Meadows, L.A. Taylor, H.B. Fokidis, K.J. McGraw. 2010. A novel method for quantifying the glossiness of animals. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 64:1047-1055. PDF. BBC news coverage.

Meadows, M.G, M.W. Butler, N.I. Morehouse, L.A. Taylor, M.B. Toomey, K.J. McGraw and R.L. Rutowski. 2009. Iridescence: views from many angles. Journal of the Royal Society Interface 6: S107-S113. PDF. Iridescence issue JRS Interface (open-access).

Taylor, L.A. and K.J. McGraw. 2007. Animal coloration: sexy spider scales. Current Biology 17:R592-R593. PDF.

Rayor, L.S. and L.A. Taylor. 2006. Social behavior in Amblypygids, and a reassessment of arachnid social patterns. Journal of Arachnology 34: 399-421. Science Daily coverage.

Fellowships, Grants, and Awards

Fellowships

Research Grants

Conference organization grants and other awards

Conference travel grants