Laura Russo

Dr. Laura Russo is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She joined in 2020 after completing a Marie Curie Sklodowska Fellowship at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, and prior postdoctoral research at Cornell University, Penn State University, and the University of Queensland. Her academic journey includes a B.A. in Biology from Oberlin College and a Ph.D. in Ecology from Pennsylvania State University.

Dr. Russo’s research focuses on pollination ecology, network theory, and invasion biology. Key questions in her lab explore win-win scenarios for conservation and agriculture, plant-pollinator interaction networks, and managing species interactions in complex ecosystems. She investigates how environmental factors like fertilizers, herbicides, and climate change affect pollinator behavior and community dynamics.

Her work bridges theoretical and applied ecology, with studies on floral resource quality, pollinator preference, and the ecological impacts of invasive species. Notable projects include optimizing powerline vegetation management for pollinator diversity and assessing agricultural practices’ effects on pollinator health. She has published extensively in high-impact journals like PLoS ONE, Oecologia, and Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment.

Dr. Russo teaches ecological modeling and field courses, emphasizing hands-on research. Her lab collaborates internationally, with fieldwork in diverse ecosystems from Kenya to Ireland. Current opportunities are available for students and postdocs interested in pollination networks, invasion ecology, or agroecology.

Her research has been supported by grants from USDA NIFA, NSF DMS, and the Marie Curie program. She advises on pollinator-friendly agricultural policies and collaborates with conservation organizations to translate ecological findings into practical solutions.