Biology Student Explores Spider Behavior Through Freedman Prize Research
Luna Lopez ’26 didn’t expect research to involve wading into a creek in pitch darkness to catch spiders, but that’s exactly where the project led.
Through the Freedman Prize for Student-Faculty Research, the biology major worked alongside Assistant Professor of Biology Alexander Sweger to study the mating behavior of the striped fishing spider, Dolomedes scriptus, a species found locally but about which relatively little is known. Their research examined the frequency of sexual cannibalism in spider pairs and whether environmental factors, such as water flow and shoreline complexity, influenced this behavior.
Lopez said the species’ limited research drew particular interest.
“Dolomedes scriptus is a locally found species about which relatively little is known,” Lopez said. “I was particularly motivated to work with live organisms due to my interest in veterinary science.”
Lopez observed a range of behavioral patterns in spider pairs.
“Through experimentation, we gained a better understanding of their mating behavior, and this research will serve as a foundation for further studies using a similar environmental setup,” Lopez said.
The project was supported by the Freedman Prize for Student-Faculty Research, a competitive award established by Allen and Judy Freedman in 2002 that provides grant funding for original collaborative work between students and faculty. Lopez was named a 2025 recipient and awarded research support of up to $4,000.
“I was incredibly excited when I was named a recipient of this prize. Achieving this prize was important to me and my project because it allowed my professor and me to complete this research without having the budget be a limiting factor in the quality of our work.”
Luna Lopez ’26
Biology Major
