I recently completed my Ph.D. in Plant, Insect and Microbial Sciences within the Entomology Program Area at the University of Missouri and have ten years of research experience. My research examined landscape interactions and patterns of invasion for subterranean termites in subdivisions of different ages under the direction of Dr. Richard Houseman. We developed working relationships with more than 200 property owners to sample termites along a gradient of urban development to determine how termite communities are affected by disturbances associated with urbanization, and how they reassemble as subdivisions age. Spatial analyses were used to assess landscape factors that may influence subterranean termite invasions into residential areas via dispersal flights. We identified species using molecular techniques and compared termite populations in different areas by genotyping termites at eight microsatellite loci. We drafted a grant proposal and were funded to pay for a large portion of this study. I have presented this research at seven national and regional conferences, and won several awards for student poster and oral presentation competitions. We are currently preparing three manuscripts to publish the findings of this study.

My Master’s research focused on foraging behavior and chemical ecology of subterranean termites in the research program of Dr. Timothy Judd. We measured soil cations that leach from decomposing woody debris using ICP-OES analysis and tested whether termites were attracted to these soil cations in laboratory bioassays. Between graduating in December 2007 and beginning my Ph.D. in August 2008, I worked full-time for the Missouri Department of Conservation. During this time, I conducted field research in bottomland hardwood forests, analyzed data sets, and assisted in grant writing and preparing manuscripts for publication.

I am self-motivated, enthusiastic, and have actively sought out teaching opportunities and methods of involving myself in campus leadership groups. During my Ph.D., I volunteered to teach three semesters of an Insect Diversity lab, and one semester of a Forest Health and Protection lab emphasizing insect pest management. I taught five semesters of Human Anatomy and Physiology as a paid TA during my Master's program. As a doctoral student, I was involved in the campus-wide Graduate Professional Council student organization as a representative for the Division of Plant Sciences. I also served as vice president for three years in the C.V. Riley Entomological Society where I coordinated the assembly and sale of FFA insect pest reference collections to high schools in Missouri. As an officer of C.V. Riley Entomological Society, I was involved in planning and participating in eleven public outreach events and elementary classroom educational demonstrations. I participated in an industry sponsored bioassay study on the effectiveness of commercially available baits on subterranean termite mortality in 2012. I completed 15 graduate-level credits in GIS to earn a GIS certificate from the Department of Geography, and I have assisted in cartography on several projects within our program area.