Kendra J. Greenlee

Dr. Kendra J. Greenlee is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at North Dakota State University (NDSU). Her research focuses on insect physiology, particularly respiratory system adaptations to hypoxia and immune responses to infections. She uses the tobacco hornworm caterpillar (Manduca sexta) and alfalfa leafcutting bee (Megachile rotundata) as model systems, employing techniques like respirometry, synchrotron imaging, and molecular biology.

Her work explores how insects tolerate low oxygen environments and how body size changes during development affect respiratory systems. Recent studies investigate aging mechanisms in solitary bees under hypoxia, metabolic responses to temperature, and cold tolerance. Her lab also examines insulin signaling and gene expression during diapause in pollinators.

Dr. Greenlee collaborates on projects addressing pollinator health, including the effects of environmental stressors like thermal regimes and diet on bee survival and performance. Graduate student positions are available, focusing on respiratory physiology, environmental adaptation, and insect immunity.

Publications span topics from respiratory safety margins in grasshoppers to proteomic analysis of matrix metalloproteinases in asthma models. Key contributions include elucidating hypoxia tolerance mechanisms and linking metabolic pathways to aging in insects.