Principal Investigator
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Tauana Cunha, PhD
Assistant Professor
PhD, Harvard University, 2019
BSc, Universidade de São Paulo, 2012
Tauana grew up and started her career in Brazil, fascinated by the beautiful diversity of small invertebrate critters that dominate the oceans. After obtaining her bachelor’s at USP and PhD at Harvard, she became a Smithsonian Institution Postdoctoral Fellow at STRI in Panamá, and then the Women’s Board Postdoctoral Scientist at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. In 2025, Tauana joined the faculty of the Department of Biology at Loyola University Chicago.
Postdoctoral Scientists
Staff
Graduate Students
Undergraduate Students
Lab Alumni
Prospective students & postdocs
MS students. Loyola offers two thesis-track Master's programs (& fellowships) that fit our lab: the MS in Biology and the MS in Bioinformatics. Reach out before you apply so we can talk about how your interests align with our research.
Undergraduates. Loyola undergrads interested in biodiversity, evolution and/or bioinformatics are welcome to inquire about joining the lab. New students usually start helping with ongoing projects and are encouraged to develop their own.
Postdocs. Prospective postdocs are encouraged to look into funding opportunities early on (e.g. NSF, Fulbright, Walder Foundation). Get in touch to discuss possible projects. Grant-based positions will be advertised when available.
» When you write to me, please include a short paragraph on your past experiences and how your interests and skills might be a good fit for the lab, plus your CV.
Contact: tcunha [at] luc.edu