


From Garden Peonies to a Career Studying Ant-Plant Interactions
Kate Mathis, Ph.D., postdoctoral researcher at the University of Arizona and soon-to-be assistant professor at Clark University, got hooked on entomology at a young age, when she saw ants swarm peonies in her mother's garden every spring as they bloomed. Today, she carries that fascination into her research on complex species interactions.

How an “Insect Ecologist at Heart” Got Focused on Pest Management Research
Lauren Diepenbrock, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher at North Carolina State University and soon to be an assistant professor at the University of Florida, says she enjoys "figuring out how insects, particularly invasive species, make use of the available resources to be successful."

How One Entomologist Puts His Creative Side to Work
Edwin "Ted" R. Burgess, Ph.D., an entomologist at Northern Illinois University, says his favorite aspect of his entomological research is that it encourages creativity to solve difficult problems.

Why One Entomologist Had to Become a “Coordination Gladiator”
In her postdoctoral position with the USDA-ARS, entomologist Erika Machtinger directed a field study in which she had to manage "a field staff of six, countless rotating volunteers, laboratory support, and multiple institutions and landowners." All in a day's work for a busy entomologist! Learn more in the first of our new "Standout Early Career Professionals" Q&A series.