Biography
Education
PhD in Entomology (2020), University of Wisconsin-Madison
M.S. in Statistics (2020), University of Wisconsin-Madison
B.A. in Biology (2014), Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN
Research Interests
My research interests are focused on chemical ecology, forest entomology, and how interactions across scales shape outcomes of insect-tree interactions. My research focuses on how tree chemical defenses mediate interactions between bark beetles and their host trees.
Currently, I’m investigating how mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) interacts with its historical host, lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), and a semi-naive host, whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis). My research questions are focused on how differences in host tree defensive chemistry affect mountain pine beetle attack behavior. I get to study everything from how bacterial associates of bark beetles affect successful colonization of trees to how landscape structure of whitebark pine and lodgepole pine affect probabilities of mountain pine beetle outbreak.
Personal Interests
Nordic skiing, cycling, rock climbing, trail running
Affiliations
Entomological Society of America, Wisconsin Ecology
Links
https://twitter.com/PineHowe
