I study how invasive species and management practices affect insect communities and their services in agroecosystems. My work bridges ecological theory with real-world challenges to help farmers manage land more sustainably. My goal is to generate foundational ecological knowledge to inform IPM and beneficial insect conservation. I’m also passionate about scientific outreach and collaborate with UK Cooperative Extension and Kentucky’s Office of the State Entomologist to ensure that my research can be put into practice by the communities who need it most.
My current projects include-
- The invasion of imported fire ants (IFA) in Kentucky: How IFA invasion restructures arthropod communities & services, and what physiological & behavioral mechanisms are driving their recent range expansion.
- Leveraging symbiotic diversity in pastures: How the pasture grass cultivars that growers use, and the fungal endophytes they contain, influence ant community structure, and ultimately function.
Primary Interests: Insect Ecology, Invasion Biology, Plant-Insect Interactions, IPM & Extension Entomology
Education
- Transylvania University, B.A. in Biology, 2022
Associated Departments