Graduate Studies in Entomology

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has the oldest graduate school west of the Mississippi River. The Department of Entomology was one of the first departments established at the University of Nebraska and has a strong, diverse graduate program. Departmental faculty and staff are located on two campuses in Lincoln and at four research and extension centers in the state. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is located in the capital city of Lincoln in eastern Nebraska. Lincoln is nestled in the rolling farmland typical of this region and is often described as a large, small town. The University of Nebraska is a land grant institution with direct ties to the agricultural production sectors of the state.

PROGRAM AREAS

The Department of Entomology offers graduate programs leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. Opportunities for study are offered by the department within the following areas:

Biological Control
Biological control can provide safe, permanent solutions to insect pest problems through the use of natural enemies. Research is currently under way involving the biological control of insects pests of trees, livestock, alfalfa, corn, wheat, and sorghum.

Field Crops Entomology
Essential food and forage crops often are threatened by insect and mite pests. Minimizing the impact of these pests is a major research objective of the department, with emphasis on pests of alfalfa, corn, dry beans, sorghum, soybeans, sugar beets, and wheat.

Horticultural Entomology
Insects and mites associated with turf, fruits, vegetables, and ornamentals are studied in an effort to reduce the adverse effects of arthropod pests. Studies are under way to determine the importance of insect pests in the establishment of low maintenance lawns in Nebraska.

Insect Biochemistry and Physiology
This program addresses basic research into the biological significance of prostaglandins and related compounds in insects. These compounds function in signal transduction mechanisms, and they exert their influence within and between cells. Prostaglandins and related compounds act in Malpighian tubule physiology, digestive physiology, and thermal biology, however, their most prominent actions are in insect immunology. Basic research into the biosynthesis and biological actions of prostaglandins and related compounds provides insight into previously unknown biochemical pathways which may be novel targets for the logical development of new insecticidal products.

Insect Ecology
This is the study of how insects and other arthropods interact with their environment. Research in the department addresses population dynamics, microclimatic influences, food utilization, trophic level relationships, modeling, and behavior.

Insect Genetics
Molecular, cellular, and organismal mechanisms that allow insects to transfer genetic information from one generation to another are studied in the Department. Efforts focus on resistance mechanisms, biotype formation, and characterization of sibling species .

Insect Pest Management
Insect pest management aims to develop and implement environmentally sound, sustainable practices to reduce the impact of insect pests. This research area concentrates on pests of field crops, livestock, horticultural crops, urban environments, and forests.

Insect Systematics and Museum Studies
Biodiversity, taxonomy, and phylogenetic relationships of insects are of major importance to researchers today. UN-L has excellent entomology research collections that rank in the top 20 collections in North America. Research includes systematics studies on many diverse taxa but especially beetles. An interdisciplinary Master of Science in Museum Studies with an Entomology option is also available.

Insecticide/Environmental Toxicology
The impact of pesticides and other toxic agents on insects and the environment are crucial issues. Human exposure, mode of action, resistance development, and environmental water quality are major areas of research.

Plant-Insect Interactions
This research area includes both relationships of insect herbivores and their natural enemies as well as to the host plant responses to arthropod stress. Research is directed at physiological, chemical, behavioral, morphological, and microclimatic factors in these interactions.

Plant Resistance to Insects
This research focuses on plant-insect interactions as they are affected by genetic manipulation of the host plant to reduce losses due to insect pests. Major areas of research involve the study of plant resistance-breaking biotypes, and investigation of tri-trophic relationships.

Urban Entomology
The ecology and management of insect pests associated with urban environments are key areas in research and extension. Emphasis is placed on the management of structural and nuisance pests, hazards humans and the environment.

Veterinary Entomology
Livestock production is a major industry in Nebraska and insect pests are important factors that must be managed wisely. Work on the biology, ecology, behavior, biological control, and pest management of insects of importance to livestock production is emphasized.

GRADUATE COURSES OFFERED

GRADUATE SCHOOL APPLICATION MATERIALS

DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSES

DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY FACULTY

Dr. Frederick P. Baxendale, Professor. Ph.D., Texas A&M University. Extension and Research; Turfgrass, Horticultural Entomology, Plant Resistance to Insects.

Dr. Dennis R. Berkebile, Adjunct Assistant Professor. Ph.D., University of Nebraska. Research and Teaching; Insect Ecology, Veterinary Entomology, Integrated Pest Management.

Dr. John D. Burd, Adjunct Professor. Ph.D., Oklahoma State University. Research; Plant-Insect Interactions.

Dr. Michael D. Culy, Adjunct Associate Professor. Ph.D., Purdue University. Research; Global Regulatory Molecule.

Dr. Stephen D. Danielson, Associate Professor. Ph.D., University of Nebraska. Research and Teaching; Field Insect Ecology, Aquatic Entomology, Plant Resistance to Insects.

Dr. Marion D. Ellis, Associate Professor. Ph.D., University of Nebraska. Extension and Teaching; Apiculture.

Dr. John E. Foster, Professor. Ph.D., Purdue University. Extension and Research; Plant Resistance to Insects, Sustainable Agriculture, Cereal Crops Entomology, Insect Genetics.

Dr. Mark O. Harrell, Professor. Ph.D., University of Wisconsin. Research; Forest Entomology.

Dr. Neal H. Haskell, Adjunct Associate Professor. Ph.D., Purdue University. Research; Forensic Entomology.

Dr. Gary L. Hein, Professor. Ph.D., Iowa State University. Extension and Research; Field Crops Entomology, Integrated Pest Management, Applied Ecology, Panhandle Research and Extension Center, Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

Dr. E.A. "Short" Heinrichs, Adjunct Professor. Ph.D., Kansas State University. Research; Plant Resistance to Insects, Integrated Pest Management, Cereal Insects, International Agriculture.

Dr. Tiffany Heng-Moss, Associate Professor, Ph.D., University of Nebraska. Teaching, Research, and Extension; Insect Plant Interactions.

Dr. Leon G. Higley, Professor. Ph.D., Iowa State University. Teaching and Research; Insect Ecology, Insect Pest Management, Plant Stress/Insect Interactions.

Dr. W. Wyatt Hoback, Courtesy Associate Professor. Ph.D., University of Nebraska. Extension and Teaching; Insect Ecological Physiology.

Dr. Thomas E. Hunt, Associate Professor. Ph.D., University of Nebraska. Research and Extension: Integrated Pest Management, Economic Entomology, Haskell Agricultural Laboratory, Concord, Nebraska.

Dr. Scott H. Hutchins, Adjunct Professor. Ph.D., Iowa State University. Research; Integrated Pest Management, Economic Entomology.

Dr. David J. Isenhour, Adjunct Professor, Ph.D., University of Kentucky. Research: Plant Insect Interactions.

Dr. Mary Liz Jameson, Research Associate Professor. Ph.D., University of Kansas. Insect Systematics (Specialty Coleoptera) Evolution, Phylogeny.

Dr. Shripat T. Kamble, Professor. Ph.D., North Dakota State University. Extension and Research; Urban Entomology, Human Exposure, Fate of Insecticides, Insecticide Resistance, Pesticide Impact Assessment.

Dr. Svata Louda, Courtesy Professor. Ph.D., University of California-Riverside/San Diego State University. Research; Insect/Plant Interactions.

Dr. Z B Mayo, Professor and Associate Interim Dean and Director. Ph.D., Oklahoma State University. Agricultural Research Division; Insect Genetics.

Dr. Lance J. Meinke, Professor. Ph.D., North Carolina State University. Teaching and Research; Applied Insect Ecology and Behavior, Field Crops Entomology, Integrated Pest Management.

Dr. Daniel J. Moellenbeck, Adjunct Assistant Professor. Ph.D., Louisiana State University. Research; Plant Resistance to Insects, Resistance Management.

Dr. Jaime Molina-Ochoa, Adjunct Professor. Ph.D., Universidad de Colima. Research; Biological Control.

Dr. John C. Owens, Professor and NU Vice President and Harlan Vice Chancellor. Ph.D., Iowa State University. Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Dr. Frank B. Peairs, Adjunct Professor. Ph.D., Cornell University. Research; Integrated Pest Management.

Dr. Robert K.D. Peterson, Adjunct Associate Professor. Ph.D., University of Nebraska. Research; Insect Pest Management, Plant Stress/Insect Interactions.

Dr. Thomas O. Powers, Professor. Ph.D., University of California-Riverside. Research; Molecular Evolution and Diagnostics.

Dr. Brett C. Ratcliffe, Professor and Curator Entomology Museum. Ph.D., University of Nebraska. Systematics of Scarabaeidae (Coleoptera), Collections Curation, Neotropical Field Studies.

Dr. Gautam Sarath, Adjunct Professor. Ph.D., University of California - Davis. Research; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Dr. Blair D. Siegfried, Professor. Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University. Teaching and Research; Insect Toxicology, Pesticide Resistance, Chemical Ecology, Resistance Management.

Dr. Steven R. Skoda, Adjunct Associate Professor. Ph.D., University of Nebraska. Research and Teaching; Veterinary Entomology, Integrated Pest Management, Insect Ecology, Insect Genetics.

Dr. David W. Stanley, Professor Emeritus. Ph.D., University of California-Berkeley. Teaching and Research; Insect Biochemistry, Physiology.

Dr. David B. Taylor, Adjunct Associate Professor. Ph.D., University of Notre Dame. Research; Insect Genetics, Medical and Veterinary Entomology, Genetic Control of Insects.

Dr. John F. Witkowski, Professor and Director. Ph.D., Iowa State University. Northeast Research and Extension Center, Norfolk, Nebraska.

Dr. Robert J. Wright, Professor. Ph.D., North Carolina State University. Extension and Research; Field Crops Entomology; Integrated Pest Management; Biological Control, Sustainable Agriculture.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Applicants should submit academic transcripts, a resume, a letter of application describing career interests, and three letters of recommendation to:

Nondiscrimination Policy

It is the policy of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln not to discriminate on the basis of gender, age, disability, race, color, religion, marital status, veteran's status, national or ethnic origin, or sexual orientation.