Titles

• PhD Student, School of Life Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Biography

Deanna is an Environmental Life Sciences (ELS) Ph.D. student who started in 2017. They came to the lab from Illinois where they obtained their MS in zoology studying phylogenetic relationships in insects. Prior to that, they obtained their BS in biology from Union College, New York, where they studied grasshopper respiratory physiology. Deanna's dissertation research focuses on the interplay of nutritional physiology and biopesticides on grasshopper survival, performance, and intake targets. Deanna's research aims to develop management strategies, that are more effective when used for outbreak treatments. A secondary aspect of Deanna's dissertation research will be to assess the efficacy of nontraditional management strategies through meta-analyses and assess stakeholder knowledge and perceptions of these strategies, to understand how their work will impact stakeholders.

In June 2021, Deanna was recruited to the USDA, Forest Service in Hamden, Connecticut where they are working as a geneticist while finishing their PhD.

Education

• MS, Zoology, Southern Illinois University
• BS, Biology, Union College