معرفی
Dr. Will Wetzel is an Associate Professor in the Department of Land Resources & Environmental Sciences within the College of Agriculture at Montana State University in Bozeman, MT. His research focuses on how heterogeneity—including biological diversity and climate variability—influences interactions among plants, insect herbivores, and predators in both natural and agricultural ecosystems.
Dr. Wetzel's educational background includes a Ph.D. from the University of California Davis (2015) and a B.A. from Williams College (2006). His research integrates population and community ecology, plant biochemistry, and insect physiology and behavior through field and greenhouse experiments, observational studies, and statistical and mathematical modeling.
The Wetzel Lab maintains an active research program addressing fundamental ecological questions with relevance to agricultural sustainability and global change biology. Research trends indicate a strong focus on climate extremes (particularly heat waves), plant defense mechanisms, herbivory variability across spatial and temporal scales, and the role of chemical diversity in plant-insect interactions. The lab's work spans multiple ecosystems and incorporates both theoretical and applied approaches.
Dr. Wetzel has received numerous scientific awards including:
- Faculty of the Month (2025)
- Fulbright Fellowship (2022)
- Outstanding Supervisor Award (2019)
- USDA NIFA Postdoctoral Fellowship (2016)
- Outstanding Student Research Award (2014)
Dr. Wetzel currently serves as Editor for both Ecology and Environmental Entomology journals. His advising approach emphasizes both theoretical understanding and practical applications, with students gaining experience in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication. Current research is supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (RCN: The Herbivory Variability Network) and USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (Extreme weather events and the sustainable management of pests on potato).
The Wetzel Lab runs The Herbivory Variability Network, a global collaboration that includes 200+ scientists across 35+ countries, providing students with unique opportunities for international research collaboration and data synthesis across diverse ecosystems.
