Amanda Markee
She/Her
I am bisexual and I am an evolutionary biologist and professional bug enthusiast.//
I am a first-generation scientist with a deep interest in the ecology and evolutionary biology of insects. I grew up surrounded by biodiversity being born in Hawaiʻi and raised between Southern California and Florida. It was natural to develop an early and everlasting appreciation for the natural world. I later discovered my passion for insects at New College of Florida, where I earned my B.A. in Biology studying butterfly conservation genetics and aiding in imperiled species management.
I migrated to the swamps of Gainesville, Florida, where I worked at the Florida Museum of Natural History and the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity while completing an M.Sc. in Interdisciplinary Ecology. There, I applied -omics approaches to investigate the evolution and basis of silk production in the luna moth (Actias luna).
I am now a Ph.D. candidate in Comparative Biology at the American Museum of Natural History, where my research broadly explores the evolution of silk production across insects and other arthropods using comparative genomic, morphological, and developmental tools. Beyond my research, I am deeply committed to fostering community and advocating for inclusive academic environments.