Vanessa Verdecia   Curatorial Assistant Section of Invertebrate Zoology Carnegie Museum of Natural History 4400 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213-4080 U.S.A. Office phone: (412) 622-3259 FAX: (412) 688-8670 E-mail: verdeciav@carnegiemnh.org	Academic Degree: B.S., University of Pittsburgh, 2002 Responsibilities: Responsibilities include preparing and labeling insect specimens for survey work. Assist with curation including sorting, identification, arranging, specimen renovation, databasing and tray labeling.
	Projects: Assisted in fieldwork, collecting, and preparation of insect specimens for the Susquehanna Floodplains Survey (2003) conducted by The Nature Conservancy and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. Currently involved with field and laboratory work for projects on the Macromoths of Northern Utah, Pennsylvania ground beetles, and Pennsylvania fireflies. General Research Interest: Focused on acquiring a thorough entomological background with concentration on Lepidoptera, especially revisionary and biological work on the tent caterpillar family Lasiocampidae. Interested in applying approaches of systematic biology to understanding the evolution, ecology, and conservation biology of insects, with aspiration to publish and further education through graduate studies. Interested in aspects of insect ecology that are influenced by symbiotic and social behavior -the benefits and trade-offs of mutualism and
	gregarious behavior. Concerned with environmental issues and how to apply knowledge from systematic research to issues of protection, use of bio-indicators, and resource management. Interested in pursuing a research position that touches on these subjects and has practical environmental and educational applications.