Ph.D. 2005 — Harvard University, MA, USA
M.S. 1997 — St. Petersburg University, Russia
B.S. 1995 — St. Petersburg University, Russia
Research interests:
I am interested in the processes underlying phenotypic divergence and the establishment of reproductive isolation between incipient species. I have used an interdisciplinary approach and different insect systems. I believe both in harnessing the power of standard models (e.g. Drosophila) and in ranging beyond traditional study species to capitalize on the biological peculiarities of some taxa (e.g. the extraordinary patterns of karyotype evolution in Agrodiaetus).
Selected Publications:
Kandul, N. P., V. A. Lukhtanov and N. E. Pierce 2007. Karyotypic diversity and speciation in Agrodiaetus butterflies. Evolution 61: 546-559.
Lukhtanov*, V. A., N. P. Kandul*, J. Plotkin, A. V. Dantchenko, D. Haig and N. E. Pierce 2005. Reinforcement of pre-zygotic isolation and karyotype diversification in Agrodiaetus blue butterflies. Nature 436: 385-389.
* These authors contributed equally to this work.
Als, T. D., R. Vila, N. P. Kandul, D. R. Nash, S.-H. Yen, Y.-F. Hsu, A. A. Mignault, J. J. Boomsma and N. E. Pierce 2004. The evolution of alternative parasitic life histories in Large Blue butterflies. Nature 432: 387-390.
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