-Licenciatura in Biological Sciences. Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Argentina. April 2001. Degree thesis on Spiders Systematics and Morphology.

-PhD Student, The George Washington University (GWU), Department of Biological Sciences, Washington, D.C., started on Fall 2002. Advisor: Dr. Gustavo Hormiga

-Ad-Honorem collaborator, Division of Arachnology, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia", Buenos Aires, Argentina. With Martín J. Ramírez and Cristina L. Scioscia. Since January 1998.

My main interests are systematics, biology and evolution of spiders, particularly the minute mysmenids and other symphytognathoids. I'm also interested in basal araneomorphs web building behavior, and biodiversity of spiders in Argentina.

The main goal of my PhD project is to build a robust and stable phylogenetic hypothesis of mysmenid relationships to serve as the basis for a classification of Mysmenidae and to provide the comparative basis for a better understanding of the evolution of web architecture and kleptoparasitism within this family and its close relatives, and I'm also part of a project in arachnid biodiversity of the Misiones Province, in Argentina.

-Lopardo, L., N. Dupérré and P. Paquin. 2008. Expanding horizons... The first report of the genus Mysmena (Araneae, Mysmenidae) from continental North America, with the description of a new species. Zootaxa 1718: 36–44.

-Brescovit, A.D. and Lopardo, L. 2008. The first record on the spider genus Trogloneta Simon in the southern hemisphere (Araneae, Mysmenidae), with descriptions of three new species from Brazil and remarks on the morphology. Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 89: 93–106

-Lopardo, L. and G. Hormiga. 2007. On the spider genus Cepheia Simon 1894 (Araneae, Synaphridae). American Museum Novitates 3575:1-18. Download PDF

-Lopardo, L., G. Hormiga and A. Melic. 2007. Spinneret spigot morphology in synaphrid spiders (Araneae, Synaphridae), with comments on the systematics of the family and description of a new species of Synaphris Simon 1894 from Spain. American Museum Novitates 3563:1-14. Download PDF

-Lopardo, L., and M.J. Ramírez. 2007. The combing of cribellar silk by the prithine Misionella mendensis, with notes on other filistatid spiders (Araneae: Filistatidae). American Museum Novitates 3556:1-26. Download PDF

-Lopardo, L. and J.A. Coddington. 2005. Chapter 40: Mysmenidae. In: D. Ubick et al. (eds.) Spiders of North America: an identification manual. Download PDF

-Lopardo, L. 2005. Phylogenetic revision of the spider genus Negayan (Araneae, Anyphaenidae, Amaurobioidinae). Zoologica Scripta 34:245-277. Download PDF

-Lopardo, L., M. J. Ramírez, C. Grismado and L. A. Compagnucci. 2004. Web Building Behavior and the Phylogeny of Austrochiline Spiders. Journal of Arachnology 32:42-54 Download PDF

-Ramírez, M.J., Lopardo, L. and Platnick N.I. 2004. Notes on Chilean Anapids and Their Webs. American Museum Novitates. 3428:1-13. Download PDF

-Grismado, C. and L. Lopardo. 2003. Nuevos datos sobre la distribución de las familias australes de arañas Malkaridae y Mecysmaucheniidae en Argentina, con la descripción de la hembra de Mecysmauchenius thayerae Forster & Platnick (Arachnida, Araneae). [New data on the distribution of the austral spider families Malkaridae and Mecysmaucheniidae in Argentina, with the description of the female of Mecysmauchenius thayerae Forster & Platnick (Arachnida, Araneae)]. Revista Ibérica de Aracnología 8:37-43 Download PDF

-Grismado, C., L. Lopardo, & N. I. Platnick. 2003. A New Species of Austrochilus from Chile (Araneae, Austrochilidae, Austrochilinae). Journal of Arachnology 31(1):148-150 Download PDF

-Ramírez, M. J., Lopardo,L. & Bonaldo, A. B. 2001. A Review of the Chilean Spider Genus Olbus, with Notes on the Relationships of the Corinnidae (Arachnida, Araneae). Insect Syst. Evol. 31: 441-462. Copenhagen. ISSN 0013-8711.

-Ramírez, M. J., y L. Lopardo. 1999. Telas Cribeladas y Filogenia de Araneomorfas Basales. [Cribellate Webs and Basal Araneomorphs Phylogeny]. Boletín de la Sociedad Entomológica Argentina 15(1):7-8.

-Grismado, C.J., L. Lopardo, G.Rubio, L. Piacentini, and Ana Quaglino. Diversidad de arañas en tres areas protegidas de la provincia de Misiones, Argentina [Spider diversity in three protected areas in Misiones Province, Argentina]. II National Meeting on Biodiversity Conservation, Buenos Aires, Argentina. November 2006. (Poster)

-Lopardo, L. and Hormiga, G. An attempt to understand males... Hypotheses of primary homology for the palps of mysmenid spiders (Araneae, Mysmenidae). 30th Annual Meeting of the American Arachnological Society, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. June 2006. (Oral communication)

-Lopardo, L. and Hormiga, G. Intentando comprender a los machos… Homologías potenciales en palpos de misménidos (Araneae, Mysmenidae) [Attempting to understand males… Potential homologies in mysmenid palps (Araneae, Mysmenidae)]. I Arachnological Meeting of Latin America, Minas, Uruguay. December 2005. (Oral communication)

-Lopardo, L. and Hormiga, G. Phylogenetic Revision of Mysmenid Spiders and their Webs (Araneae, Araneoidea, Mysmenidae). Partnerships for Enhancing Expertise in Taxonomy, Fifth Biennial Conference. Illinois, U.S.A. September, 2004. (Poster)

-Lopardo, L. and Ramírez, M.J. The combing of cribellar silk by the prithine Misionella mendensis, with notes on other filistatid spiders (Araneae: Filistatidae). XVI International Congress of Arachnology, Ghent, Belgium, August 2004. (Poster)

-Lopardo, L. and Ramírez, M.J. Chilean Anapids and Their Webs, a phylogenetic approach (Araneae, Orbiculariae). XXIII Willi Hennig Society Meeting, Paris, France, July 2004. (Poster)

-Lopardo, L., Ramírez, M.J., and Platnick N.I. Anapidas de Chile y sus telas, un enfoque filogenetico (Araneae, Orbiculariae). [Chilean Anapids and Their Webs, a phylogenetic approach (Araneae, Orbiculariae)]. IV Arachnological Meeting of Latin America, Sao Paulo, Brazil, December 2003. (Oral communication)

-Ramírez, M. J., and L. Lopardo. Comportamiento de cribelado en Misionella mendensis, con notas en otras filistatidas (Araneae, Filistatidae). [The combing of cribellar silk by the prithine Misionella mendensis, with notes on other filistatid spiders (Araneae: Filistatidae)]. IV Arachnological Meeting of Latin America, Sao Paulo, Brazil, December 2003. (Poster)

-Lopardo, L., Ramírez, M.J., GrismadoC.J. and Compagnucci, L.A. Web Building Behavior and the Phylogeny of Austrochiline Spiders. XXII Hennig Meeting, New York, U.S., July 2003. (Oral communication)

-Grismado, C.J., Lopardo, L. and Platnick, N.I. Una Nueva Especie de Austrochilus Gertsch y Zapfe de Chile (Araneae, Austrochilidae) [A New Species of Austrochilus from Chile]. V Congreso Argentino de Entomología, Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 2002. (Poster)

-Grismado, C.J., Lopardo, L. and Platnick, N.I. Una Nueva Especie de Austrochilus Gertsch y Zapfe de Chile (Araneae, Austrochilidae) [A New Species of Austrochilus from Chile]. III Encuentro de Aracnólogos del Cono Sur, Córdoba, Argentina, February 2002. (Poster)

-25th Annual Meeting of the American Arachnological Society, New Hampshire, USA. July 2001

-Lopardo, L. Phylogenetic Revision of the Gayenna tridentata Species Group (Araneae, Anyphaenidae, Amaurobioidinae). 15th International Congress of Arachnology, Badplaas, Sudáfrica, March 2001. (Oral communication)

-Ramírez, M. J., Nieto, L. and Lopardo, L. Filistatidae, Austrochilinae, and the Conflictive Relationships of Basal Araneomorphs. 15th International Congress of Arachnology, Badplaas, Sudáfrica, March 2001. (Oral communication)

-Lopardo, L., Ramírez, M. J., Compagnucci, L. A. y Grismado, C. J. Comportamiento de Construcción de Telas y Parentescos de Austrochilinae (Araneae). [Web Building Behavior and Relationships of Austrochilinae (Araneae)]. II Encontro de Aracnólogos do Cone Sul, Porto Alegre, Brasil, December 1999. (Oral communication)

-Ramírez, M. J., Lopardo, L. y Bonaldo, A. Revisión del Género Olbus Simon, y Notas sobre la Monofilia de Corinnidae (Araneae) [A Review of the Genus Olbus, and Notes on the Monophyly of Corinnidae (Araneae)]. II Encontro de Aracnólogos do Cone Sul, Porto Alegre, Brasil, December 1999. (Poster)

-Ramírez, M. J., Lopardo L., Compagnucci L. A. y Grismado C. J. Comportamiento de Cribelado en Austrochilinae y en Araneomorfas Basales [Combing Behavior in Austrochilinae and Basal Araneomorphs]. II Reunión Argentina de Cladística y Biogeografía, Buenos Aires, March 1999. (Oral communication)

Fellowships
-Teaching Assistant, Department of Biological Sciences, George Washington University, Washington D.C. September 2003 to May 2004.

-Weintraub Fellowship in Biological Sciences. George Washington University, Washington D.C. September 2002 to May 2003.

-Visiting Scholar, National Museum of Natural History , Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.. July 2001 to December 2001. Advisor: Dr. Jonathan A. Coddington

-Student research fellowship. University of Buenos Aires (UBA). September 1999 to February 2001. Advisor: Dr. Axel O. Bachmann.

-Member of the research group under supervision of Dr. Axel O. Bachmann, Entomology Lab., Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, University of Buenos Aires. September 1999 to February 2001.

Awards

-Cosmos Club Foundation, Program of Grants-In-Aid to Young Scholars. Young Scholar Award for travel and fieldwork in Misiones Province, Argentina. 2005

-Rosen Award for the most outstanding poster presentation, XXIII Willi Hennig Society Meeting. Paris, France 2004.

-Best Student Oral Communication Competition, second place, XVI International Congress of Arachnology. Ghent, Belgium 2004.

-Marie Stopes Student Travel Award, XXIII Willi Hennig Society Meeting, Paris, France 2004.

-Best Graduate Student Oral Communication Competition, second place, IV Arachnological Meeting of Latin America. Brazil 2003.

-Marie Stopes Student Travel Award, XXII Willi Hennig Society Meeting, New York 2003.

-AUSTRALIA: Western Australia, Tasmania and Queensland. February 20-March 19, 2006. With Gustavo Hormiga, Charles Griswold, Martín J. Ramirez, Nikolaj Scharff, Diana Silva, Lisa Joy Boutin, and Tamás Szüts.

-MEXICO: Reserva de la Biosfera Montes Azules y Frontera Corozal (Chiapas). October 19-November 3, 2005. With Fernando Alvarez Padilla and José Luis Castelo Calvillo.

-ARGENTINA: Parque Provincial Salto Encantado, Parque Provincial Cruce Caballero, Parque Nacional Iguazú (Misiones Province). January 9-22, 2005. With Cristian Grismado, Luis Piacentini, Gonzalo Rubio and Ana Quaglino.

-ARGENTINA: Puerto Blest, Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi (Neuquén Province). January 7-19, 2000. With Ana Quaglino.

-ARGENTINA: Parque Nacional Iguazú (Misiones Province). December 11-17, 1999. With Martín Ramírez.

-CHILE: Parque Nacional Puyehue (Osorno) and Monumento Natural Contulmo (Malleco). December 13-21, 1998. With Martín Ramírez, Luis Compagnucci and Cristian Grismado.