Max Helmberger

Dr. Max Helmberger is an Academic Specialist in the Department of Entomology at Michigan State University (MSU), part of the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources. He teaches applied entomology and non-majors science, with a PhD from MSU (2022), an M.S. from Cornell University (2017), and a B.S. from University of Minnesota Duluth (2014). His research focuses on soil invertebrate ecology, including soil health, microplastic pollution, and biodiversity. He also designs educational board games like Loam (teaching soil ecosystems) and Pest Quest (exploring integrated pest management), alongside stop-motion animations for science communication.

Education:

• B.S. Biology, University of Minnesota Duluth, 2014
• M.S. Entomology, Cornell University, 2017
• Ph.D., Michigan State University, 2022

Research Interests: Helmberger’s work bridges fundamental and applied soil ecology, with recent emphasis on microplastic interactions and soil biodiversity. His games and animations translate complex ecological concepts into accessible formats. Collaborations include Cardboard Revolution for game development and researchers like Dr. Matt Grieshop (Cal Poly) for Pest Quest.

Publications Trends: Recent articles (2022) explore microplastic degradation by soil invertebrates and game-based education. Earlier work (2017–2018) investigated entomopathogenic nematodes in pest management and soil biota interactions.

Labs/Teams: Active in game design teams and interdisciplinary collaborations on soil health and educational outreach.