Robert Koch

Robert Koch is a Professor and Extension Entomologist at the University of Minnesota, focusing on applied ecology and integrated pest management (IPM) for soybean arthropods. His work bridges research and extension to enhance crop sustainability through scouting techniques, remote sensing, and control tactic integration (chemical, biological, and host plant resistance). He is affiliated with UMN Extension’s Soybean Pest Management site and MN Crop News.

Education:

• B.A. in Biology from St. John’s University, Collegeville, MN
• Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN

Research spans soybean pest dynamics, including insecticide resistance, host plant resistance, biological control, and remote sensing. Recent projects investigate soybean gall midge natural enemies (e.g., Synopeas ruficoxum), Macrosaccus morrisella biology, and translaminar insecticide toxicity. His work integrates multispectral imagery for stress detection and evaluates relay-cropped pennycress for aphid suppression.

Scientific awards are not explicitly mentioned. He advises current graduate students (MS and PhD) and has mentored numerous past students, including co-advised projects. Collaborations involve researchers like Fei Yang, Amelia Lindsey, and Ian MacRae. His extension efforts provide research-based pest management guidance to farmers through digital platforms and educational events.

A first-generation college graduate, Koch emphasizes mentorship and accessibility in academic navigation. His lab explores pest population genetics, cold tolerance, and predator community impacts, with staff including Postdoc Arthur Ribeiro and Researcher James Menger.