Find Academic Supervisors

Christelle A. M. RobertView profile

Professor

• Plant Ecology
• Chemical Ecology
• Insect-Plant Interactions
• +3 more

Prof. Christelle A. M. Robert is a Professor and Head of the Chemical Ecology Group at the University of Bern's Institute of Plant Sciences. Her work focuses on plant defense mechanisms against herbivores, particularly the chemical and ecological interactions between plants, insects, and microbes. She leads research on how plants produce and utilize secondary metabolites like glucosinolates and benzoxazinoids to resist herbivory and pathogen attack. Her studies also explore how root herbivores exploit plant defenses or induce volatile signals that attract natural enemies. Prof. Robert collaborates extensively with international teams and publishes in top journals such as Science and PNAS . Her research spans plant-insect interactions, entomopathogenic nematodes, and the role of environmental factors like light and drought on plant defense strategies. Notable contributions include uncovering how insect herbivores sequester plant toxins for self-defense and how plant volatiles mediate communication between organisms in ecological communities. Prof. Robert's recent work emphasizes root exudation dynamics, microbial interactions in soil, and the application of chemical ecology to sustainable agriculture. Her lab integrates field experiments, biochemical analysis, and genomic approaches to understand multitrophic interactions in natural and managed ecosystems.

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
• Invasive Species Biology
• Agricultural Entomology
• +4 more

Hannah Burrack is a Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Entomology at Michigan State University (MSU), serving since January 2022. Previously, she held professorial roles at North Carolina State University (NC State) from 2007–2021, including leadership as inaugural Director of Education & Outreach for the NC Plant Sciences Initiative (2020–2021). Her research focuses on integrated pest management (IPM), invasive species like Drosophila suzukii (spotted-wing drosophila), and pollinator ecology in specialty crops such as blueberries, grapes, and hemp. She has secured $10.8M in research funding, authored 71 peer-reviewed publications, and delivered over 500 extension presentations to 28,000+ stakeholders. As department chair, she oversees MSU’s Entomology Department—comprising 145+ faculty/staff—managing budgets (~$19M annually), strategic planning, and collaborations with interdisciplinary programs like the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center and MSU AgBioResearch. Her administrative role emphasizes bridging research, teaching, and outreach while addressing food security, biodiversity, and sustainable agriculture challenges. Research Priorities: Developing IPM strategies for invasive pests in specialty crops Understanding Drosophila suzukii biology and resistance dynamics Enhancing pollinator health in agroecosystems Evaluating pesticide impacts on non-target species Leadership & Outreach: Burrack collaborates with industry leaders, extension services, and international organizations to translate research into actionable pest management practices. She champions stakeholder engagement in emerging technologies like gene drives and advocates for equitable access to IPM tools. Her work aligns with MSU’s land-grant mission through community-based initiatives and policy-informing studies. Grants & Funding: Over $10.8M secured for research, including USDA-NIFA projects and industry partnerships. Current efforts focus on hemp pest management and pollinator conservation.

Marianna SzucsView profile

Associate Professor

• Biological Control
• Eco-evolutionary Dynamics
• Insect-Plant Interactions
• +3 more

Marianna Szucs is an Associate Professor in the Department of Entomology at Michigan State University (MSU), part of the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources. Her research focuses on biological control of invasive weeds and insect pests, integrating ecological and evolutionary theory to enhance program success and safety. She leads the Szucs Lab, emphasizing experimental approaches ranging from lab studies to large-scale field experiments. Education and Professional Experience: Szucs earned her Ph.D. from the University of Idaho (2005–2010). Before joining MSU in 2018, she held roles at Colorado State University, including Postdoctoral Fellow (2011–2014) and Research Scientist (2014–2017). Her current assignment is 60% research, 25% teaching, and 15% extension. Research Interests: Szucs explores eco-evolutionary dynamics in biological control agents and pests, including hybridization effects on agent efficacy, genetic diversity’s role in population persistence, and adaptation mechanisms in novel environments. Her work bridges laboratory and field studies to address invasive species challenges. Teaching and Extension: She teaches courses on biological control and eco-evolutionary dynamics, promoting critical thinking and engagement. Through extension, she advises Michigan stakeholders on biological control practices and implements new programs targeting invasive species. Labs/Teams: Szucs Lab focuses on experimental and applied research in biological control, with collaborations on projects like samurai wasp releases for brown marmorated stink bug control and swallow-wort management.

Anurag AgrawalView profile

Professor

• Biodiversity
• chemical ecology
• coevolution
• +4 more

Anurag Agrawal is the James A. Perkins Professor of Environmental Studies at Cornell University, affiliated with the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Entomology. He holds a Ph.D. in Population Biology from the University of California, Davis (1999), and degrees from the University of Pennsylvania (M.A. Conservation Biology, 1994; B.A. Biology, 1994). His research focuses on plant-insect interactions, particularly coevolution, herbivory, and species invasions. Agrawal’s work combines field experiments, phylogenetic analysis, and lab studies to explore ecological and evolutionary dynamics. His lab investigates milkweed-monarch butterfly relationships, plant defense strategies, and conservation biology. He has been elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Educational Background: Ph.D., Population Biology, University of California - Davis (1999) M.A., Conservation Biology, University of Pennsylvania (1994) B.A., Biology, University of Pennsylvania (1994) Research interests include chemical ecology, phenotypic plasticity, and the ecological impacts of climate change. His lab’s current projects address plant-herbivore coevolution, invasive species success, and monarch butterfly conservation. Agrawal teaches courses on chemical ecology, community ecology, and field ecology. He actively engages in outreach, including school programs promoting monarch conservation.

Mark MescherView profile

Lecturer

• Ecological Interactions
• Chemical Ecology
• Plant Defense Mechanisms
• +3 more

Prof. Dr. Mark Mescher is a Lecturer at the Department of Environmental Systems Science at ETH Zürich, Switzerland. His research focuses on ecological interactions between plants and insects, particularly exploring plant defense mechanisms, chemical ecology, and the impacts of environmental changes on biodiversity. He investigates how plants respond to herbivory, pathogen infection, and symbiotic relationships, with a strong emphasis on natural and agricultural ecosystems. Key research interests include the role of plant volatiles in defense priming, insect behavior modification by pathogens, and the ecological consequences of invasive species. His work integrates field studies with controlled experiments to understand multitrophic interactions and their implications for pest management, conservation, and sustainable agriculture. Recent studies highlight his contributions to understanding how plant-microbe interactions influence herbivore populations, the effects of climate change on pollinator behavior, and the application of ecological principles to mitigate agricultural pests. Mescher’s research also explores the broader implications of biodiversity loss and habitat management strategies in restoring ecosystem functions.

Hannier Pulido BarriosView profile

Researcher

• Chemical ecology
• Multitrophic interactions
• Data mining techniques
• +3 more

Dr. Hannier Pulido Barrios is a Researcher affiliated with the Professorship for Biocommunication and Ecology at ETH Zurich's Department of Environmental Systems Science (D-USYS). His primary role involves advanced ecological and biochemical research, focusing on plant-microbe interactions and their broader ecological implications. Research Interests: Chemical ecology and multitrophic interactions Beneficial effects of rhizobacteria on plant-insect dynamics Plant defense mechanisms Metabolomics and transcriptomics analysis Dr. Pulido Barrios employs high-throughput data mining techniques to analyze complex biological datasets, including GC-MS data in malaria biomarker research. His work bridges experimental ecology with computational methods to uncover patterns in species communication networks. No specific scientific awards or articles are listed in the provided text, but his contributions to transdisciplinary research methodologies are implied through collaborative projects. Contact details include phone numbers and an institutional email address.

Cyren M. RicoView profile

Associate Professor

• Environmental Chemistry
• Nanotechnology
• Plant Biology
• +4 more

Dr. Cyren M. Rico is an Associate Professor and Roy D. Blunt Life Science Endowed Professor at Missouri State University's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. He holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Texas at El Paso (2014), an MS in Agriculture from Kyungpook National University (2005), and a BS in Chemistry from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (1999). His postdoctoral research was conducted at the US Environmental Protection Agency (2015-2017). Research Focus: Dr. Rico specializes in environmental chemistry and nanomaterial interactions, employing spectroscopic, microscopic, and isotopic techniques. His investigations span: Translocation and transformation of engineered nanomaterials Ecological impacts on plants and soil systems Food safety implications of nanomaterial exposure Agricultural applications of nanotechnology Metabolomic and transcriptomic responses to contaminants His work connects nanomaterial behavior with metabolic pathways across generations of plants. Publication Trends: Recent articles (2021-2025) demonstrate a focus on: Metabolomic/transcriptomic analysis of plant-nanoparticle interactions Generational impacts of contaminants (PFOS, nanoceria) Soil microbial community responses Foliar absorption mechanisms Green synthesis of nanomaterials Studies frequently employ cereal crops (wheat, maize) and vegetables (pakchoi) as model systems. Awards and Honors: Roy D. Blunt Life Science Endowed Professorship MSU Foundation Excellence in Research Award Research Associateship (UC CEIN) UTEP Dissertation Award & Outstanding Graduate Student Dodson Research Grant and Frank B. Cotton Scholarship Academic Activities: Dr. Rico leads a research group investigating plant nano-biology, mentors students through CURE programs, serves on the editorial board of Plant Nano Biology , and reviews for high-impact journals. His laboratory utilizes advanced instrumentation for environmental analysis.

Kathryn LindsayView profile

Adjunct Professor

• Biodiversity Conservation
• Climate Change Impacts
• Landscape Ecology
• +4 more

Kathryn Lindsay is an Adjunct Research Professor in the Department of Biology at Carleton University and Senior Advisor affiliated with the National Wildlife Research Centre under Environment Canada. She holds a B.Sc. from Queen's University and a Ph.D. from Carleton University. Her research focuses on biodiversity conservation and the impacts of land-use changes on wildlife, particularly birds, across diverse ecosystems. Dr. Lindsay explores how multi-species approaches can inform policy and management strategies, with a strong emphasis on climate change adaptation, conservation planning, and sustainable agriculture. Her work integrates landscape ecology principles to analyze species-habitat relationships, future land-use scenarios, and the effectiveness of protected areas. Key research topics include farmland biodiversity, systematic reserve design, and the implications of species range shifts due to climate change. She collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to develop decision-support tools for balancing ecological and human land-use needs. Dr. Lindsay’s publications emphasize the importance of landscape configuration, crop diversity, and conservation strategies in mitigating biodiversity loss. Her studies often highlight the role of small-scale agricultural practices in enhancing biodiversity, as well as the vulnerability of wetland species to habitat fragmentation and climate pressures. She advocates for evidence-based policies that harmonize agricultural productivity with ecological sustainability.

PetermannView profile

Researcher

• Ecology
• Biodiversity
• Multitrophic Interactions
• +3 more

Petermann is a researcher at the Department of Environment & Biodiversity within the Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences at the University of Salzburg. His work focuses on understanding ecological systems through the lens of multitrophic interactions, particularly in biodiversity maintenance and loss. He collaborates with international research teams and institutions across Europe, North America, and South America. Funding Sources: FWF, ÖAW, HFSP, European Research Council, and others Collaborators: Srivastava lab (Canada), Romero lab (Brazil), Gonzalez lab (US), and field sites in Costa Rica and temperate forests Research spans diverse ecosystems including European grasslands, Costa Rican bromeliad food webs, and tree-hole metacommunities. His lab emphasizes experimental ecology and interdisciplinary approaches to ecological complexity. Funding opportunities for students and postdocs are highlighted through programs like Marie Curie and DAAD. Current projects investigate how species coexistence is mediated by trophic interactions and the cascading effects of biodiversity loss on ecosystem stability.

Helge BruelheideView profile

Professor

• Forest Ecology
• Biodiversity-Ecosystem Functioning
• Plant Traits
• +3 more

Helge Bruelheide is a Professor at the University of Halle's Department of Botany. He serves as Principal Investigator (PI) for multiple large-scale ecological research projects including the BEF-China experiment, TreeDì International Research Training Group, and MultiTroph initiative. His work focuses on biodiversity-ecosystem functioning in subtropical forests, particularly examining how tree diversity influences ecosystem processes like decomposition, herbivory, and productivity. He leads efforts in data management, synthesis, and experimental design for international collaborations involving over 100 researchers. Key projects include managing the BEF-China experiment's European subprojects, analyzing functional traits of over 100 tree species, and investigating climate change impacts on forest resilience. Bruelheide has coordinated over 30 datasets and 20+ peer-reviewed papers, emphasizing multitrophic interactions, plant-soil feedbacks, and biodiversity-driven ecosystem stability. His research spans 15+ years with continuous funding from German Research Foundation (DFG) and Chinese partners. Ongoing work explores drought mitigation through biodiversity, ant-plant interactions, and long-term succession dynamics in subtropical forests. He supervises international PhD cohorts and maintains active labs focused on functional ecology and global change biology.

• Soil Informatics
• Big Data Mining
• Ecological Theory
• +3 more

Jun-Tao Wang is a Senior Lecturer at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment (HIE), Western Sydney University, within the Soil Biology and Genomics department. His research focuses on soil informatics, big data mining, and ecological theory applied to agriculture and environmental sustainability. He joined HIE in 2019 as a Research Fellow and has since contributed to projects addressing soil health, microbial dynamics, and ecosystem resilience under climate change. Research Interests: His work bridges computational methods with ecological theory to study soil microbial communities' roles in agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability. Key areas include soil health indicators, microbial community dynamics, and global soil biodiversity patterns. Grants & Collaborations: An integrated disease management program for Australian potatoes (2024-2029) Evaluating FOGO compost benefits (2023-2024) Bio-based solutions for root pathogen management (2022-2026) Soil biological mechanisms and amendments (2022-2025) Awards: Research Support Program Fellow (Level B) - Bushfire Research: Soil Biodiversity (2021) Teaching: Soil and Substrate, Advanced Science Project B, Plant Production. Labs/Teams: Active in HIE's Soil Biology & Genomics research theme, collaborating with global networks on soil microbial ecology and climate resilience.

• Biogeochemistry
• Ecology
• Environmental Science
• +3 more

Dr. Markus Lange is a Researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry (Department of Biogeochemical Processes) and serves as Principal Investigator (PI) for the project Dissolved Molecules within The Jena Experiment . He holds a PhD in Biology from Friedrich Schiller University Jena (2011) and a Diploma in Biology from the same institution (2005). His research focuses on molecular biogeochemistry, plant diversity effects on carbon storage, and plant-microbe interactions. Key Projects : Molecular Fingerprint of Ecosystems (funded by Zwillenberg-Tietz Foundation) Dissolved Molecular Signals (subproject within The Jena Experiment) Root Economics Space (Leipzig University and iDiv) Teaching : He teaches Soil Ecology in the Evolution, Ecology, and Systematics curriculum at the University of Jena. Research Interests : Lange’s work explores how plant diversity influences carbon sequestration, soil microbial communities, and ecosystem multifunctionality. His projects integrate molecular techniques (e.g., FTICR-mass spectrometry) to study dissolved organic matter dynamics and root-microbe interactions. Grants & Funding : His research is supported by grants from the Zwillenberg-Tietz Foundation and the Jena Experiment initiative. Collaborations include Leipzig University, iDiv, and international institutions.

Pete LangdonView profile

Professor

• Climate-Environment-Human Interactions
• Freshwater Ecosystem Resilience
• Paleoclimatology
• +3 more

Professor Pete Langdon is a leading academic in Quaternary Science at the University of Southampton, serving as Associate Dean and former Head of the School of Geography and Environmental Science (2017-2021). His expertise spans climate-environment interactions, freshwater ecosystem resilience, and Arctic biogeochemistry. He has held editorial roles for Quaternary Research and the INQUA HABCOM commission, and contributed to over 100 peer-reviewed publications. Education: BSc (Geography and Geology), University of Leeds, 1994 MSc (Climate Change), University of East Anglia, 1996 PhD (Reconstructing Holocene Climate Change), University of Southampton, 1999 Research Interests: Climate-human interactions Resilience of freshwater ecosystems Environmental tipping points South Pacific and Arctic paleoenvironments Recent Projects: Rethinking Palaeoclimatology for Society Recovery pathways for lake ecosystems Climate, crops, and crisis in prehistory Awards: SUSU Excellence in Teaching Award (2014) Teaching: Leads physical geography and environmental sciences modules, emphasizing fieldwork and interdisciplinary approaches. External Roles: Member of Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Vice President of INQUA HABCOM Editorial roles in Quaternary Research and Quaternary International

• Entomology
• Biological Control
• Chemical Ecology
• +6 more

Ezio Peri is a Full Professor in the Department of Entomology within the School of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Sciences at the University of Palermo (Unipa). His academic appointment falls under the classification AGRI-05/A for Agricultural, Food and Forestry Sciences. He maintains regular office hours at Building 5 - Entomology - SAAF Department in Palermo, with additional sessions at the Viticulture and Enology course location during the second semester, conducted via the Teams platform. Professor Peri's research focuses on chemical ecology, biological control, and plant-insect interactions, with particular emphasis on parasitoid wasps and their role in managing pest insects. His work spans agricultural entomology, invasive species management, and sustainable pest control strategies. His research integrates chemical signaling, microbial ecology, and multitrophic interactions to enhance biological control systems. Analysis of his recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a strong trend toward understanding how microbes in floral resources affect parasitoid behavior and efficiency. His work increasingly examines the complex interactions between plants, insects, and beneficial microbes, with applications for sustainable agriculture. His research spans both fundamental chemical ecology and applied pest management, particularly for invasive stink bugs and other agricultural pests. Professor Peri has made significant contributions to understanding parasitoid foraging behavior, host-parasitoid interactions, and the chemical ecology underlying biological control systems. His work has practical applications in integrated pest management across various agricultural systems.

• Entomology
• Ecology
• Plant-Insect Interactions
• +4 more

Rieta Gols is a Researcher at the Laboratory of Entomology , affiliated with Wageningen University & Research . Her work focuses on entomology , ecology , and multitrophic interactions , particularly in agricultural and climate-affected environments. Her research interests include the study of parasitoids, hyperparasitoids, and their ecological roles, as well as plant-insect interactions under climate change. She investigates how factors like thermal exposure , plant competition , and genetic divergence influence insect behavior, development, and plant defense mechanisms. Analysis of her articles reveals trends in Biology , Plant Science , and Ecology , with subfields spanning reproductive strategies , plant tolerance to herbivory , and climate adaptation in arthropod communities . As a co-promotor , she has supervised PhD projects on topics such as plant defense , herbivore-parasitoid interactions , and genetic variation in wild cabbage , indicating her mentorship role in advancing ecological and agricultural research. Her work is conducted primarily within the Laboratory of Entomology , with collaborations across institutions like the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) and Dryad.