Education
Ph.D. – Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Kent State University, 2020 – 2026
Bachelors of Science – Zoology
Kent State University, 2016 – 2020
research experience
Graduate
2020 – 2026
Labs of Drs. Oscar J. Rocha and Mark W. Kershner,
Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University
Undergraduate
2020
Bahlai Lab of applied Quantitative Ecology
Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University
2019
Summer Undergraduate Research Experience,
Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University
2017 – 2020
de Szalay Lab of aquatic ecology / entomology,
Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University
2016 – 2017
Kershner Lab of community ecology,
Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University
teaching experience
2025-2026
Wetland Ecology and Management, Lab instructor / TA trainer
Fall 2025 BSCI 40368, 1 lab section (20 students)
Vertebrate Zoology Lab instructor / TA coordinator
Spring 2026 BSCI 40556, 1 lab section (~20 students)
2024-2025
Entomology, Lab instructor / TA trainer
Fall 2024 BSCI 30580, 1 lab section (15 students)
Invertebrate Zoology, Lab instructor
Spring 2025 BSCI 30560, 1 lab section (22 students)
2023-2024
Wetland Ecology and Management, Lab instructor
Fall 2023 BSCI 40368, 1 lab section (18 students)
Vertebrate Zoology, Lab instructor
Spring 2024 BSCI 40556, 1 lab section (10 students)
2022-2023
General Ecology, Lab instructor / Lab coordinator
Fall 2022 BSCI 30360, 1 lab section (20 students)
Invertebrate Zoology, Lab instructor
Spring 2023 BSCI 30560, 1 lab section (20 students)
2021-2022
General Ecology, Lab instructor
Fall 2021 BSCI 30360, 1 lab section (22 students)
Biological Foundations, Lecture Aide
Spring 2022 BSCI 10120, All sections (~100 students)
2020-2021
Biological Foundations, Lab instructor
Fall 2020 BSCI 10120, 2 lab sections (~50 students)
Spring 2021 BSCI 10120, 1 lab section (~60 students)
presentations
“Decay above the clouds: Elevational variation alters leaf litter decomposition and decomposer activity” (Talk). Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting. August.
“Homefield Advantage: elevation, invertebrate communities, & oak leaf decomposition” (Slide). Kent State University Biological Sciences Data Blitz. February.
“Bugs and booze: an analysis of urbanization and vegetation effects on flying invertebrate communities” (Poster). Kent State University Graduate Student Research Symposium. April 2023.
“Bugs and booze: an analysis of urbanization and vegetation effects on flying invertebrate communities” (Poster). Entomological Society of America Annual meeting. November 2023.
“Bugs and booze: an analysis of urbanization and vegetation effects on flying invertebrate communities” (Poster). Ecological Society of America Annual meeting. August 2023.
“Bugs and booze: an analysis of urbanization and vegetation effects on flying invertebrate communities” (Poster). Kent State University Graduate Student Research Symposium. April 2022.
“The pitfalls of pitfall trapping: a comparison of classical insect collection and novel camera trapping techniques in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park” (Virtual Poster). Kent State University Graduate Student Research Symposium. April 2021.
“Golf Green to Green stream: does a stream restoration in an ex-golf course impact terrestrial invertebrate communities?” (Virtual Poster). Kent State University Undergraduate Symposium on Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. May 2020.
“A Survey of Rolled-Leaf Beetle communities (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in the new leaves of Heliconiaceae and Marantaceae plants of Costa Rica (Virtual Poster). Kent State University Undergraduate Symposium on Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. May 2020.
“Career Conversations in Scientific Research” (Talk). Kent State University Honors College. October 2020.
“Golf Green to Green stream: does a stream restoration in an ex-golf course impact terrestrial invertebrate communities?” (Talk). Kent State University Summer Undergraduate Research Experience 3-minute Thesis Competition. November 2019.
awards / grants
2025
- ESDRI Graduate Student Research Award, Kent State University- Environmental Science and Design Resarch Institute
- Great Lakes Chapter Student Travel Award – Ecological Society of America
- Domestic Travel Award, Kent State University – Graduate Student Senate
2023
- Special Contingency Award, Kent State University – Graduate Student Senate
- Travel Award, Kent State University – Department of Biological Sciences
- Outstanding Teaching Assistantship Award – Kent State University – Department of Biological Sciences
2022
- Small Research Grant – Geauga Park District
- Graduate Student Research Award, Kent State University – Graduate Student Senate
- International Travel Award, Kent State University – Graduate Student Senate
- Art and Margaret Herrick Endowment for the Aquatic Ecology Research Facility
- Domestic Travel Award, Kent State University – Graduate Student Senate
2021
- Graduate Student Support Award, Kent State University – Graduate Student Senate
- Graduate Student Research Award, Kent State University– Graduate Student Senate
2020
Book Award, Kent State University – Graduate Student Senate.
mentorship
Undergraduate students – 16 undergraduate students
Present: Lily Weisgerber, Riley Rymarczyk, Kat Mathis, and Kendall Walker.
Graduated: Naomi Navarrete, Aryaunna Farley, Caitlin O’Quinn, Brianna Shimandle, Madelyn Innocenti, Emily Harville, Peyton Schadwell, Kayla Gray, Sarah Cochran, Owen Conroy, Kurt Brubach and Oliver Serafin.
Graduate Students – 5 graduate students
Harlee Rush 