The Ohio State University at Newark

I joined the OSU Newark faculty in 2004, where I teach introductory biology to majors and non-majors, engage undergraudates in independent research, and train graduate students. My research investigates the interactions between plants and pollinators. I am especially interested in understanding factors that influence the populations and communities of native bees. In Ohio, I have worked to understand how mine reclamation influences pollinator communities, how crop management practices influence important crop pollinators, and how invasive species interact with pollinators. I aim to apply basic ecological principles to solve real-world problems that influence the sustainability and productivity of natural and agricultural systems.

Current projects include

• Testing the role of floral diversity, landscape composition, and nest site availability on pollinator communities in prairie patches planted on reclaimed minelands.
• The application of state-based matrix models to understand patterns po population demography of solitary bees.
• The interactions between pesticide applications, pests, and pollinators in pumpkin fields.
• Mapping the distribution and habitat associations of Ohio’s bumble bees

Areas of Expertise

Plant-pollinator interactions
Community ecology
Native bee conservation

Education

PhD, Ecology and Evolution, SUNY Stony Brook
MSc, Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California Riverside
BA, Biology and Medicine, Brown University