Robin Verble

Dr. Robin Verble is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Missouri University of Science & Technology, serving as Director of the Environmental Science Program. Her research focuses on wildland fire ecology, ant community dynamics, and occupational health of wildland firefighters. She earned a Ph.D. in Applied Bioscience from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (2012), an M.S. in Entomology from the University of Arkansas (2008), and a B.S. in Biophysics from the University of Southern Indiana (2006).

Her work bridges ecological and human dimensions, including studies on fire effects on ant assemblages, mental health challenges faced by wildfire dispatchers, and biodiversity conservation strategies. She has authored over 30 peer-reviewed articles and co-edited reports on firefighter environmental health. Her fieldwork spans North American ecosystems, with notable contributions to understanding invasive species impacts and longleaf pine conservation tradeoffs.

Dr. Verble actively engages in public scholarship through media outlets like Scientific American and TedX, and podcasts discussing wildfire management challenges. She advocates for inclusive field practices and ethical considerations in entomological research, particularly regarding delusional parasitosis cases.