Tanja McKay

Tanja McKay is Professor of Entomology and Department Chair of Biological Sciences within the College of Agriculture at Arkansas State University. Her work bridges agricultural and medical entomology, focusing on practical pest management solutions for food security and public health through innovative research and academic leadership.

Her educational background includes:

• B.S. in Biology, Acadia University (1995)
• M.S. in Entomology, University of Manitoba (1998)
• Ph.D. in Entomology, Kansas State University (2002)

Dr. McKay's research integrates integrated pest management for stored rice systems, vector biology for canine heartworm transmission, biodiversity studies of Arkansas dung beetles, and biological control of muscid flies. Her methodologies combine field ecology, computational modeling, and novel physical treatments to develop sustainable pest control strategies that address real-world agricultural and veterinary challenges.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on technological innovation in pest management, including long-lasting insecticide netting, computational fluid dynamics for fumigation, and infrared/microwave treatments for grain protection. These studies predominantly advance stored product entomology and medical entomology, reflecting dual commitments to food safety and zoonotic disease prevention.

No specific scientific awards were documented in the provided materials, though her sustained publication record indicates professional recognition within entomological communities.

Dr. McKay teaches undergraduate and graduate courses including General Entomology, Insect Taxonomy, and Medical/Veterinary Entomology. She leads the McKay Lab, which conducts collaborative research with agricultural stakeholders. While grant details are unspecified, her continuous publication output suggests consistent research funding supporting her lab's mission.

The McKay Lab (accessible via mckaylab.wixsite.com) serves as a hub for applied entomological research, focusing on stored product pests, vector mosquitoes, and dung beetle ecology through field studies and industry partnerships across Arkansas.