Caroline Gaskin (She/Her) investigates communication pathways in swarming flies, focusing on flashing wing beat frequency and its role in intraspecific mate recognition. Her research examines how visual signaling interacts with swarm dynamics, light environment, and behavioral context.
Before beginning her graduate studies, Caroline earned her undergraduate degree at Colgate University, where she conducted research across diverse ecological systems. In Costa Rica, she worked at multiple biological stations examining biodiversity patterns in insect pollinators, avian communities, and plant taxa, and investigated antlion larvae reaction times to prey stimuli under varying population densities. She also monitored the development of newly established colonies of Columbian ground squirrels at Flathead Lake Biological Station. These experiences shaped her interest in species interactions, behavioral ecology, and the conservation of complex natural systems.
Outside of research, Caroline enjoys reading and spending time with loved ones, especially her cat, Yogurt-Sherbert.
Contact email: cng2131@columbia.edu
Xiaoyan “Yan” Zhang (she/her) received the E3B Amazon Scholarship and is conducting research in Peru at LXG Farm, where she investigates how fire influences mycorrhizal communities. Her work focuses on understanding how disturbance shapes below ground ecological processes, with particular emphasis on soil fungal dynamics and ecosystem recovery. By linking disturbance ecology with soil biology, her research contributes to broader questions about resilience, land-use change, and conservation in tropical systems.
Yan completed her undergraduate degree at University of California, Davis, where she conducted research on various agricultural topics relating to pest management.
Beyond research, she loves food, music, and spending time with her loving cat, Hapi.
Contact email: xz3348@columbia.edu
Yijie Shen (he/him) got his bachelor degree in entomology from Purdue University, where he focused on beetle taxonomy and pest management.
At the E3B Bug Lab, Yijie is developing a research project focused on marine coastal ground beetles (Carabidae) in New York City in collaboration with and support of RISE Rockaway and NYC Parks. His master’s research integrates open-access biodiversity data from GBIF with standardized pitfall trapping across reclaimed and reference coastal habitats to evaluate whether public biodiversity records can reliably detect population trends.
Yijie is also the owner of an exotic pet invertebrate business, where he provides unique and visually striking invertebrates while educating customers about responsible care and conservation awareness. Beyond entomology, he enjoys movies, video games, badminton, tennis, playing piano, and reading.
Yijie is also the owner of an exotic pet invertebrate business, where he provides unique and visually striking invertebrates while educating customers about responsible care and conservation awareness. Beyond entomology, he enjoys movies, video games, badminton, tennis, playing piano, and reading.
Contact email: ys4015@columbia.edu
Ke Coco Deng (she/her) recieved a scholarship through Great Hollow Nature Preserve and is researching the spotted lanternfly, focusing on vibratory communication, microhabitat use, and how environmental context influences signal transmission. Her work integrates behavioral ecology with applied questions about management, including how understanding communication systems may inform control strategies for this introduced species.
Prior to joining the lab, Coco graduated from Bard College at Simon’s Rock, where she completed a thesis on vertebrate pollination on the Caribbean island of Montserrat. She has worked in a variety of ecological field settings, including researching Hawaiian honeycreepers with the Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project and monitoring seabird colonies with Project Puffin. These experiences shaped her interest in species interactions, conservation biology, and the intersection of behavioral ecology and management.
Malcolm Rosenthal
LAB ALUMNI
Alice Wang 2023-2025
Mads Moore 2023-2025
Altrim Mamuti 2022-2024
Xingya Zhao 2022-2024
Katherine Poulos 2022-2024
Garrett Rees 2022
Maddie Schafer 2022
Wesley Beuck 2020-2022
Sarah Romer 2019-2022
Evelyn Blakeman, 2018-2022
Helen Stec, 2020-2022
Wesley Walsh, 2021-2022
Makayla Deyling, 2021-2022
Emi Olin, 2019-2022
Morgan Bickel, 2019-2020
Madeline Sudnick, 2018-2020
Mitch Duffner, 2018-2020
Glenn Pauley, 2018
Julie Hixon, 2018
Aydan Wilson, 2016-2017
BRODIE BUG LAB 