Undergrad to Post-Doc: Meet Anne Johnson
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EmailAnne Johnson is an MSU Entomology alum whose path brought her back to MSU Entomology as a postdoctoral researcher studying biological control and emerald ash borer parasitoids.
Anne Johnson is a postdoctoral researcher whose path in entomology began early and led her back to Michigan State University after getting her Ph.D. in the subject. An MSU Entomology alum with a long-standing interest in forest insects and biological control, Johnson now studies parasitoids of emerald ash borer while continuing the outreach work that first drew her to the department. Fun fact: Anne was our featured undergrad in a 2017 edition of our department newsletter. Check out her past interview here for a full circle moment.
Q: What originally brought you to MSU and how did you choose entomology as an undergrad?
A: I always loved insects and knew I wanted to be an entomologist as soon as I found out it was an option, including dressing up as an entomologist for a “what you want to be when you grow up” play in elementary school! Given this interest at a young age, I actually first connected with MSU as a kid when I participated in the Insect World Science Camp, first as a camper and then later as a junior counselor. It was a lot of fun and definitely made Michigan State my first choice when it came time to apply to college!
Q: In your current postdoc, what questions or problems are you working on?
A: We are looking at how the environment of the United States affects parasitoids of emerald ash borer. The effects of winter on diapause and potential alternative hosts are the main factors we are focusing on right now.
Q: Was there a particular moment, class, or mentor that sparked your interest in insects or forest entomology?
A: My interest in forest insects stems from a very young age as well, as I grew up interacting most often with the insects and other arthropods found in the woods in our backyard growing up. Invasive insects held a particular fascination for me after emerald ash borer came through our area when I was a kid, as it was incredible to realize that something so small could cause such a huge change in the landscape. It’s absolutely incredible to be able to research these insects now!
Q: Did you work with any faculty or labs as an undergrad? How did those experiences shape your interests or career direction?
A: As an undergrad, I worked with quite a few of the faculty in the entomology department. I took pretty much all of the entomology classes that were available, for which all of the instructors were fantastic and definitely helped me solidify which areas of entomology I was interested in.
Outside of class, I worked in Rufus Isaacs’ lab, which is where I really got interested in some of the integrated pest management tactics that could be used to control invasive insects with fewer impacts on beneficial species we want to conserve. My first paper I was ever an author on coming out of this lab was based on work around how altering humidity through mulching or changes in irrigation could potentially act as a cultural control for spotted wing drosophila. In my final year of undergrad the lab started working on spotted wing drosophila parasitoids, which really got me interested in biological control and has continued to be a feature in a lot of the research I do.
I also really enjoyed working with Amanda Lorenz as part of the Bug Club in undergrad, and really enjoyed the outreach work I was able to do in the Bug House. This actually inspired me to volunteer as the Entomology Department Outreach Coordinator while I was at Penn State, where I got to continue doing outreach work by taking care of their Insect Zoo and organizing outreach events, which was definitely a lot easier based on the experiences I had gained here! It’s fantastic to be able to come back here and help out with Bug House events again.
Another notable faculty member who I worked with was Deb McCullough. I was in the Honors College as an undergrad, and as part of that students were able to make a course into an Honors Option by doing additional work. I did this for Diseases and Insects of Forest and Shade Trees, which Dr. McCullough teaches, and through this was able to help produce my first Extension publication and the first for the University on spotted lanternfly. This helped me learn a lot of the background information for this invasive insect and become familiar with the research on it that existed at that time, which helped inspire the direction of my Ph.D. thesis. It also helped me learn how to communicate to different audiences, which has been very useful as I have done further Extension work in my career.
Q: How did your experiences at MSU prepare you for graduate school and eventually a postdoc position?
A: Being an entomology undergrad at MSU prepared me really well for graduate school and even the work I’m doing as a postdoc now. I went straight into a Ph.D. program, but didn’t feel at all behind people who had done master's degrees first as I already had experience in the basics of entomology and research experience from my time at MSU. I even had more experience in entomology than some of my fellow grad students who hadn’t had the opportunity to do a degree in it before. Having the chance to be in a lab environment so early in my career and look into different areas of entomology definitely helped me discover what I was most interested in and what research I wanted to do now and in the future.
Q: Do you have a favorite memory or defining moment from your time in the department?
A: So many! I loved any time I was in the Bug House, especially Bug Club meetings. Beepalooza was also a lot of fun to help out with, as the gardens here are beautiful and it was fantastic to be able to spend a day enjoying them and sharing what I loved about insects with people. I also really enjoyed going with friends to find winter stoneflies when they emerged from the river, and it was great to see them again only a few weeks after I returned as a postdoc!
Q: What made you want to continue your career within MSU Entomology?
A: I had a fantastic time at MSU as an undergrad, and love living in Michigan. It also was amazing to finally have a chance to work on my favorite pest management tactic (biological control) for the invasive insect that first drew me to forest entomology as a kid.
