MSU Entomology’s 2021 standout students and staff

July 26, 2021

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.