Asking questions like:

  • Why are their eyes so big?

  • How do spiders detect prey?

  • How do males find females?

  • Why are they nocturnal?

  • How well can they see in the dark?

  • Can spiders smell?

  • Why are their eyes so big?

  • Why are they nocturnal?

  • What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?

Asking questions like:

  • Why are their eyes so big?

  • How do spiders detect prey?

  • How do males find females?

  • Why are they nocturnal?

  • How well can they see in the dark?

  • Can spiders smell?

  • Why are their eyes so big?

  • Why are they nocturnal?

  • What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?

A little bit about myself.

I’m fascinated by the tremendous diversity of sensory systems found on Earth. The driving force behind my research is to uncover how/why sensory systems have evolved.  More specifically, as a postdoctoral researcher at Cornell  University, I utilize a neuroethological approach to better understand the sensory ecology and behavior of net-casting spiders – truly one of the most interesting animals out there.

A little bit about myself.

I’m fascinated by the tremendous diversity of sensory systems found on Earth. The driving force behind my research is to uncover how/why sensory systems have evolved.  More specifically, as a postdoctoral researcher at Cornell  University, I utilize a neuroethological approach to better understand the sensory ecology and behavior of net-casting spiders – truly one of the most interesting animals out there.

Net-casting spiders Coolest. Study system. Ever.

A little bit about the spiders.

Net-casting spiders (Family: Deinopidae) are my favorite and certainly have a lot to offer a budding research scientist like myself. For one, they possess one of the most sensitive visual systems ever discovered. They also exhibit unique foraging behavior, called “net-casting,” and it is something you need to see to believe. There is relatively little known about these animals, so I’m doing my best to share the love and get them into the limelight.

A little bit about the spiders.

Net-casting spiders (Family: Deinopidae) are my favorite and certainly have a lot to offer a budding research scientist like myself. For one, they possess one of the most sensitive visual systems ever discovered. They also exhibit unique foraging behavior, called “net-casting,” and it is something from out of this world. There is relatively little known about these animals, so I’m doing my best to share the love and get them into the limelight.

Thanks for visiting  : )

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Thanks for visiting  : )

Click on any of the tiles above to navigate through my website.

Jay A. Stafstrom, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral researcher
Neurobiology and Behavior
Hoy Lab – Cornell University
JS2627 “at” cornell.edu

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