MSU Entomology’s 2021 standout students and staff
Congratulations to these Department of Entomology students and staff who were outstanding despite the challenges of the 2020-2021 pandemic restrictions.
Rhodes (Gene) Thompson Endowed Fellowship in Entomology
Amanda Howland is a doctoral student with Marisol Quintanilla-Tornel. She is researching controlling plant-parasitic nematodes, specifically the northern root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne hapla, on daylilies.
Department of Entomology Outstanding MS Award
Ariana Hernandez is graduating with her MS degree summer semester 2021. She has been working with Matt Grieshop researching the winter morph of spotted wing Drosophila (SWD).
Department of Entomology Outstanding Student Award in Extension
Jennifer Zavalnitskaya graduated with her MS degree spring 2021 and will be continuing in the department as a doctoral student with Zsofia Szendrei. Her research interests include plant-insect interactions, insect behavior, integrated pest management and agroecology.
Robert R. Dreisbach Endowed Fellowship in Entomology and Department of Entomology Outstanding PhD Award
Zinan Wang is a doctoral student with Henry Chung and his research focuses on the genetic mechanisms underlying desiccation resistance in desert fruit flies.
Department of Entomology Eugenia McDaniel Award
Nicole Wonderlin is a doctoral student with Peter White. Her research is exploring how moth populations are distributed in gardens throughout urban environments with emphasis on flower visiting guilds.
Roger and Barbara Hoopingarner Endowed Graduate Fellowship in Entomology
Jenna Walters is working on her PhD with Rufus Isaacs and is studying the impacts of extreme heat on blueberry pollination.
Paul Wooley Endowed Fellowship in Entomology
Natalie Constancio is a master’s student with Zsofia Szendrei and is developing an integrated pest management program for onion thrips in onion fields in Michigan.
Department of Entomology Outstanding Staff Award
Elizabeth “Lizz” D’Auria is a former lab manager and research technician for Doug Landis’ lab. She has relocated to New York and will be job hunting there.
Gordon E. Guyer Endowed Fellowship in Aquatic Entomology
Joe Receveur will graduate with his PhD summer semester 2021. Under the direction of Eric Benbow, Receveur’s research has been evaluating the microbial communities of various aquatic habitats and how these communities influence development and behavior of aquatic insects.
Merritt Endowed Fellowship in Entomology
Alexandra Bauer is a doctoral student with Eric Benbow. Her research interests include how insects impact our lives through their involvement in decomposition, disease transmission and nutrient recycling.
Department of Entomology Outstanding Undergraduate Award
Osten Eschedor is an entomology major and is working with Doug Landis’ field research summer 2021. She plans to pursue an MS degree in entomology after she graduates.
Department of Entomology Outstanding Postdoc Award
Andrea Glassmire is now a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Biological Sciences at Louisiana Sate University in Baton Rouge working with James Cronin. She worked with Will Wetzel during her time here at MSU.
Department of Entomology Distinguished Alumni Award
Dr. John Wallace received his PhD from the Department of Entomology in 1997. He is a professor in the Department of Biology and Director of the Millersville University Center for Environmental Sciences at Millersville University.
Hutson Research Proposal
Master of Science recipient
Natalie Constancio for the proposal titled “Assessing action thresholds of organic insecticides on bulb yield in onion fields.”
Doctor of Philosophy recipient
Amanda Howland for the proposal titled “Determining alternative management strategies to control nematodes in daylily production.”
Olsen Undergraduate Entomology Proposal
Allison Fisher for the proposal titled “Drosophila suzukii response to 11-cis Vaccenyl Acetate.”
J.E. and Jean M. McPherson Travel Awards for the 2020 Annual Entomological Society Virtual Meeting
- Brianna Alred
- Ellie Camerato
- Natalie Constancio
- Brianna Foster
- Kayleigh Hauri
- Shelley Linder
- Jessika Maas
- Omar Posos-Parra
- Olivia Simaz
- Jennifer Zavalnitskaya