Alumni

Graduate Student Alumni

Grace Anderson, MS, 2017, Shultz Lab
Research: Revision of the North American Harvestman Genus Hadrobunus (Opiliones, Sclerosomatidae)

Ebony Argaez, MS, 2023, Pick Lab
Research: Assessing the susceptibility of rna interference in the milkweed bug, oncopeltus fasciatus (hemiptera)

Alec Armstrong, PhD, 2022, MEES, Palmer Lab
Research: Relating biogeochemistry to hydrologic connectivity in stream and wetland ecosystems with a particular focus on organic matter dynamics.

Arielle Arsenault-Benoit, PhD, 2023, Fritz Lab
Research: Urbanization and landscape heterogeneity influence in culex species ecology and genetics in Eastern North America

Lindsay Barranco, MS, 2024, vanEngelsdorp Lab
Research: EVALUATING SOLITARY BEE NESTING PREFERENCE: DOES THE GROUND COVER MATTER?

Olivia Bernauer, MS, 2017, vanEngelsdorp Lab
Research: The Maryland Native Pollinator Survey: combining Citizen Scientists with a specimen collection to determine the floral preferences of Maryland’s native pollinators.

Maira Bezerra, PhD, 2017, MEES, Palmer Lab
Research: Sugarcane agriculture as an agent of geomorphic change and stream degradation in Brazil.

Elizabeth Brandt, MS, Hawthorne Lab
Research: The genetics of insect detoxification pathways, specifically honey bees and the upstream detoxification gene regulator Nrf2.

Mercedes Burns, PhD, 2014, BEES, Shultz Lab
Research: Phylogenetic Exploration of Mating System Evolution in the Eastern North American Leiobunine Harvestmen (Opiliones: Sclerosomatidae)

Mengyao Chen, MS, 2018, Pick Lab
Research: Evolution of segmentation genes in non-holometabolous insects.

Peter Coffey, MS, 2018, Hooks Lab
Research: Can cover crop residues seuppress pests and improve yield in eggplant?

Crystal Cooke-McEwen, PhD, 2018, Mitter Lab
Research: Forest micro-hymenoptera, including those attacking trees (cynipidae oak gall wasps) and those potentially defending them (parasitic pteromalidae).

Brock Couch, MS, 2019, BEES, Lamp Lab
Research: Biological connectivity of wetland and stream habitats on the Delmarva Peninsula using aquatic macroinvertebrates.

Maria Cramer, PhD, 2024, Hamby Lab
Research: UNDERSTANDING NON-TARGET INSECTICIDE IMPACTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL IN FIELD CORN

Aditi Dubey, PhD, 2020, Hamby Lab
Research: Evaluating the potential benefits and long-term sustainability of neonicotinoid seed treatments in mid-atlantic grain crop production

Becca Eckert, PhD, 2020, Lamp Lab
Research: Leaf-associated periphyton in heterotrophic streams: Effect on macroinvertebrate assemblages and growth.

Steve Epting, MS, MEES, Palmer Lab
Research: Using landscape metrics to predict hydrologic connectivity patterns between forested wetlands and streams in a coastal plain watershed.

Rosemary Fanelli, PhD, 2016, MEES, Palmer Lab
Research: Effects of urbanization and infiltration-based watershed restoration on the hydro-ecology of headwater streams.

Max Ferlauto, PhD, 2024, Burghardt Lab
Research: THE EFFECTS OF LEAF LITTER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON OVERWINTERING INSECT COMMUNITIES AND ECOSYSTEM FUNCTION: IMPACTS AND APPLICATIONS IN RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPES

Matthew Fischer (he/him), PhD, 2022, MOCB, Pick Lab
Research: Quantifying the relative contribution and furthering qualitative understanding of ftz cis-regulatory elements in Drosophila melanogaster

Alexander Forde, BEES, Gruner Lab
Research: Community ecology, multi-trophic interactions, ecological effects of biodiversity.

Andrew Garavito, MS, 2017, vanEngelsdorp Lab
Research: Pollen Nutrition, Pesticides, and Pathogens: Interactive Effects on Honey Bee Health.

Ryan Gott, PhD, 2016, Lamp/Hawthorne Lab
Research: Tying the molecular to the ecological: Gene expression as a biomarker of exposure in the amphipod Hyalella azteca.

Jessica Grant, MS, 2016, Lamp Lab
Research: Phenology and Cold Tolerance of Megacopta cribraria: An Invasive Soybean Pest at its Northern Limit.

Eric Hartel, MS, 2024, vanEnglesdorp Lab
Research: PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN BEESWAX PREDICT THE OCCURRENCE OF VARROA WITH ALLELES THAT CONFER AMITRAZ RESISTANCE

Maggie Hartman, MS, 2024, Lamp Lab
Research: ODONATA SPECIES COMPOSITION IN AGROECOSYSTEMS: PRELIMINARY SURVEYS WITH AN EMPHASIS ON POTENTIAL FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL ON FARMS

Jackie Hoban, MS, 2017, Shrewsbury Lab
Research: Effect of habitat factors and host plant on natural enemies of emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) and implications for biological control.

Kelly Hondula, PhD, 2021, MEES, Palmer Lab
Research: Links between hydrology and carbon cycling in forested wetlands

Jake Hosen, PhD, 2015, MEES, Palmer Lab
Research: Alterations to headwater stream microbial communities and carbon cycling in response to environmental change.

Lauren Hunt, MS, 2016, Hooks Lab
Research: Influence of a native insectary plant, Chamaecrista fasciculata (Michx.) on organic field corn and arthropod communities.

Kristin Jayd, MS, 2023, Burghardt Lab
Research: A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD TO RAISE A BROOD: TREE SPECIES DIVERSITY DECREASES PERIODICAL CICADA OVIPOSITION AND TREE FLAGGING RESPONSE

Ana Jesovnik, PhD, 2016, Mitter Lab
Research: Taxonomy, phylogenomics, and natural history of the fungus-farming ant genus Sericomyrmex.

Cora Ann Johnston, PhD, 2016, BEES, Gruner Lab
Research: Marine community assembly in a dynamic ecotone.

Hanna Kahl, MS, 2017, Hooks Lab
Research: Using living mulch and wolf spiders to manage arthropods in cucumber.

Anna Kottkamp, MS, 2019, MEES, Palmer Lab
Research: Organic matter biogeochemistry of terrestrial-wetland interfaces.

Lisa Kuder, MS, 2023, vanEngelsdorp Lab
Research: EVALUATING INTEGRATED VEGETATION MANAGEMENT (IVM) TECHNIQUES TO IMPROVE POLLINATOR HABITAT

Kelly Kulhanek, PhD, 2020, vanEngelsdorp Lab
Research: Characterizing effectiveness of and obstacles to best beekeeping management practices

Dylan Kutz, MS, 2020, Lamp Lab
Research:Agricultural drainage ditches as sources of beneficial spiders to enhance conservation biocontrol in adjacent croplands

Zachary Lamas, PhD, 2022, Hawthorne Lab
Research: Studying the feeding behavior of Varroa destructor mites.

Alan Leslie, PhD, 2014, Lamp Lab
Research: The diversity of burrowing benthic invertebrates and their impact on phosphorus dynamics in agricultural drainage ditches.

Maggie Lewis, PhD, 2020, Hamby Lab
Research: Evaluating the interactions between spotted wing drosophila and its yeast and fungal microbes, as well as improving spotted wing drosophila integrated pest management.

Brian Lovett, PhD, 2019, St. Leger Lab
Research: Mycology and genetics in agricultural and vector biology systems, currently analyzing mycorrhizal interactions in agricultural systems, the transcriptomics of malaria vector mosquitoes, and the genomes of entomopathogenic fungi.

Gussie Maccracken, PhD, 2020, Shultz Lab
Research: Plant-arthropod associations of southern laramidia during the campanian (late cretaceous)

Mintong Nan, PhD, 2024, St. Leger Lab
Research: EXAMINING INTERACTIONS AMONG FUNGAL INFECTION, SLEEP, AND HOST DEFENSE IN POPULATIONS OF WORLDWIDE, SLEEP INBRED PANEL, ANDMUTANT DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

Mayda Nathan, PhD, 2020, Gruner Lab
Research: Plant-insect interactions in a shifting coastal ecosystem: Avicennia germinans and its associated arthropods

Lasair M. Ní Chochlain, MS, 2024, Hamby Lab
Research: Understanding and predicting the effects of climate change on IPM of soybean and other crops

Anna Noreuil, MS, 2020, Fritz Lab
Research: Studies on host-seeking behavior and differential chemosensory gene expression in above- and below-ground Culex pipiens

Turtle shell- place holder for Demian Nunez photo

Demian Nunez, MS, 2022, Hooks Lab
Research: Studying the potential biocontrol benefits of intercropping row crops with perennial ground cover in order to increase the natural abundance of ground predators such as wolf spiders.

Eva Perry, MS, 2024, Burghardt Lab
Research: Tree genetics and greenspace management intensity influence urban tree insect communities, damage, and foliar traits

Maddie Potter (she/her), MS, 2023. Shrewsbury Lab
Research: Elucidating factors to improve biological control of Halyomorpha halys by egg parasitoids

Samuel Ramsey, PhD, 2018, vanEngelsdorp Lab
Research: Novel adaptations in morphology, development, and nutrient acquisition for host exploitation in the mesostigmatid honey bee parasite varroa destructor.

Katie Reding, PhD, 2024, Pick Lab
Research: USING CRISPR/CAS9 TO FUNCTIONALLY DISSECT BLIMP1, A NEWLY IDENTIFIED PAIR-RULE GENE IN THE HEMIPTERAN ONCOPELTUS FASCIATUS

Armando Rosario-Lebron, MS, 2016, Hooks Lab
Research: The effect of barley cover crop residue and herbicide management on the arthropod community in no-till soybeans.

Justin Rosenthal, PhD, 2021, Yaun/Pick Lab
Research: Using the Drosophila larval visual circuit as a model to determine how synaptic activity influences development of the postysnapse in central neurons.

Andrew Sensenig, PhD, 2009, Shultz Lab
Research: Elastic Sclerites and Hydraulics in Arachnid Locomotion.

Huiyu Sheng (she/her), PhD, 2024 St. Leger Lab
Research: THE EVOLUTIONARY TRAJECTORY OF METARHIZIUM ROBERTSII ENDOPHYTIC CAPABILITY AND ENTOMOPATHOGENICITY

Ali Shokoohi, MS, 2024, Lamp Lab
Research: ENHANCING BIOLOGICAL CONTROL BY GROUND BEETLES (COLEOPTERA: CARABIDAE) THROUGH AGRICULTURAL DRAINAGE DITCH MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

Serhat Solmaz, MS, 2021, vanEngelsdorp Lab
Research: Studying the effects of Nosema cerenae on honey bee pathophysiology

Elanor Stevens, PhD, 2016, BEES, Lamp Lab
Research: Analysis of macroinvertebrate communities in seasonal wetlands through time, space, and species traits.

Nathalie Steinhauer, PhD, 2016, vanEngelsdorp Lab
Research: Reducing the risk of honey bee colony loss through beekeeping management practices.

Graham Stewart (he/him/his), PhD, 2024 Palmer Lab
Research: MECHANISMS REGULATING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND SOIL CARBON STORAGE IN MID-ATLANTIC COASTAL PLAIN WETLANDS

Ted Striegel, MS, 2021, Hawthorne Lab
Research: A Survey of bees in the University of Maryland campus area

Christopher Taylor, PhD, 2016, Mitter/Dively Lab
Research: Understanding the Relationship between the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), and its symbiont, Candidatus Pantoea carbekii, with implications for stink bug management.

Elske Tielens, PhD, 2019, BEES, Gruner Lab
Research: Diversity and structure of Metrosideros polymorpha canopy arthropod communities across space and time.

Morgan Thompson, MS, 2019, Lamp Lab
Research: Evaluating the effect of potato leafhopper (Empoasca fabae) feeding on biological nitrogen fixation in alfalfa (Medicago sativa)

Madvhi Venkatraman, PhD, 2021, BEES, Gruner Lab
Research: Population genomics and adaptation to novel environments in the invasive Japanese white-eye (Zosterops japonicus)

Rebecca Wilson, PhD, 2018, Lamp Lab
Research: Spatial Distribution, Habitat Preference, and Societal Impact of the Nuisance Black Fly, Simulium jennings

Jie Xiang, PhD, 2017, MOCB, Pick Lab
Research: Dermestes maculatus, a new beetle model system to study segmentation.

Veronica Yurchak, PhD, 2023, Hooks Lab
Research: Evaluating the potential benefits and sustainability of a novel living and dead cover crop mixture in mid-Atlantic crop production