Dr. Judy Wu-Smart

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Dr. Judy Wu-Smart

Assoc Professor Entomology University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Contact

Address
ENTO 105A
Lincoln NE 68583-0816
Phone
402-472-8696 On-campus 2-8696
Email
jwu-smart@unl.edu
Website

Judy Wu-Smart received her BS in Zoology at Humboldt State University, Arcata, California. She received her MS in Entomology at Washington State University under the advisement of Drs. Walter Sheppard and Carol Anelli. Her MS research examined the effects of pesticide residue accumulation in brood comb on honey bee health. She continued onto a PhD program with Dr. Marla Spivak at the University of Minnesota where she examined the effects of systemic neonicotinoid insecticides on honey bee and bumble bee queens and colony development. She also taught several workshops including beekeeping and pesticide certification courses. She’s currently an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). In her role at UNL, Judy is developing a pollinator health program to help understand the underlying stressors in bee health and their interactions with environmental toxicants. Her goal is to integrate her research and extension efforts with policy to inform the regulatory-decision making process by identifying risk mitigation opportunities and best management practices that will better protect beneficial pollinators in agricultural and urban landscapes.

Appointment: 65% Extension, 35% Research

Research Areas: Agriculture and Public Health, Insect Ecology, Insecticide/Environmental Toxicology, Pollinator Health Professional Society

Memberships: Entomology Society of America (ESA)

Education

  • B.A. in Zoology, Humboldt State University (California), 2005
  • M.S. in Entomology, Washington State University, 2010
  • Ph.D. in Entomology, University of Minnesota, 2015

Professional Responsibilities and Activities

The UNL Bee Lab pursues research questions and extension programs focused on better understanding various stressors impacting pollinator health in both managed and wild bee communities. Our lab also focuses on integrating research findings to mitigate stressors and inform sustainable pollinator-friendly policies as well as develop practical applications for integrated pest management in managed bee colonies. Current research projects examine the non-target effects of pesticide exposure on bees in agroecosystems, the impact of landscape enhancements on bee communities, interaction effects of multiple stressors on bee behavior and colony development, pest control strategies (including management of Varroa mites in honey bee colonies), and resistance management. Through our extension programming, we work closely with beekeepers, growers, various industries and small businesses, gardeners, and nature enthusiasts to develop best management practices and educate about the importance of pollinators and ecosystem diversity.

Grants

  • NDA National Honey Bee Survey Grant ($12,000): service contract, Apr 2016
  • NE Department of Roads Research Grant ($130,000): Co-PI, Apr 2016
  • USDA-NIFA Postdoctoral Grant ($141,200): PI, declined 2015
  • California Beekeepers Association Research Grants (total: $28,800): PI 2009-2013
  • Washington State Beekeepers Association Research Grants ($4,000): PI 2008-2009
  • University Travel Grants (total: $1,500)
  • in review:
    • Project Apis m. Health Hives Research Grant ($87,000): Co-PI submitted Feb 2016
    • CA Almond Board Research Grant ($70,000): Co-PI submitted Feb 2016
    • UNL Multistate Hatch Funding ($100,000): PI submitted Jan 2016
    • NE Corn Board Research Grant ($200,000): PI submitted Jan 2016

Awards and Honors

  • Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship, Univ. of MN (1 yr tuition: $41,700): 2014    
  • American Association of Professional Apiculturists Student Scholarship ($1,000): 2012                              
  • Environmental Protection Agency Science To Achieve Results (STAR) Graduate Fellowship (3 yrs tuition: $126,000): 2011-2014           
  • American Bee Research Conference (1st place student paper): 2010
  • WSU Award for Outstanding Women in Graduate Studies: 2009                                    
  • Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees Scholarship ($2,000): 2009
  • Entomology Society of America: Pacific Branch Meeting (1st place student paper): 2009
  • WSU Dept. of Entomology Louis W. Getzin Memorial Scholarship ($500):2009

Publications (2008-present)

  • Chen X, Liu B, Li X, et al. (including Judy Wu-Smart). 2021. J. Extracell. Vesicles. 2021;10:e12069. Identification of anti-inflammatory vesicle-like nanoparticles in honey. https://doi.org/10.1002/jev2.12069
  • Olgun T, Everhart SE, Anderson T, Wu-Smart JY. 2020. Comparative analysis of viruses in four bee species collected from agricultural, urban, and natural landscapes. PLoS ONE 15(6): e0234431. doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0234431
  • Metz B,  Wu-Smart JY, Simone-Finstrom M. 2021. Proceedings of the 2020 American Bee Research Conference. Insects 2021, 11, 362. https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/11/6/362.
  • Simone-Finstrom M, Nino E, Flenniken M, Arrowsmith H, and Wu-Smart JY. 2020. Proceedings of the 2019 American Bee Research Conference. Insects 2020, 11, 88. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/insects11020088
  • Iwanowicz DD, Wu-Smart JY et al. 2020. An up-dated genetic marker for detection of Lake Sinai Virus and metagenetic applications. Peer J 8:e9424. doi: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9424 
  • Schacht, W. and Wu-Smart JY. 2019. Establishment of Wildflower Islands to Enhance Roadside Health & Aesthetics. NDOT Research Report SPR-1(17) M058. 
  • O'Neal ST, Anderson TD, Wu-Smart JY. 2018. Interactions between pesticides and pathogen susceptibility in honey bees. Current opinion in Insect Science, 26:57-62. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214574517302079.
  • LaLone CA, Villeneuve DL, Wu-Smart JY, et al. 2017. Weight of evidence evaluation of a network of adverse outcome pathways linking activation of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in honey bees to colony death. Science of the Total Environment. Vol. 583-585: pp 751-775. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.01.113
  • Wu-Smart JY and Spivak M. Effects of neonicotinoid imidacloprid exposure on bumble bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) queen survival and nest initiation. Environ Entomol, 47:1, pp 55–62, https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvx175
  • Wu-Smart JY and Spivak M. 2016. Sub-lethal effects of dietary neonicotinoid insecticide exposure on honey bee fecundity an and colony development. Sci. Rep. 6, 32108; doi: 10.1038/srep32108.
  • Wu-Smart JY, Krischik V, Spivak M. (in prep). Evaluation of neonicotinoid toxicity testing in honey bees (Apis mellifera) and bumble bees (Bombus impatiens).
  • Wu JY, Smart MD, Anelli, CM, Sheppard WS. 2012. Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) reared in brood combs containing high levels of pesticide residues exhibit    increased susceptibility to Nosema ceranae (Microsporidia) infection. J Invertebr Pathol. 109:326-329.
  • Wu JY, Anelli CM, Sheppard WS. 2011. Sub-lethal effects of pesticide residues in brood comb on worker honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) development and longevity. PLoS  ONE 6(2): e14720. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0014720.

Book Chapters

Reviews

Service

Relevant Workshops

  • Introductory Beekeeping, UNL Mead, NE: 2016
  • Introductory Beekeeping field day, UNL Lincoln, NE: 2016
  • Introductory Beekeeping, UNL North Platte, NE: 2016
  • Pesticide Applicator’s Certification MNLA sponsored, Saint Paul, NE: 2012         
  • Successful queen rearing, UMN Saint Paul, MN: 2011, 2012, 2013
  • Beekeeping in Northern Climates, UMN Saint Paul, MN: 2012, 2013
  • Beginning beekeeping, UMN Saint Paul, MN: 2011, 2012
  • Beekeeping & Diagnostics short course, WSU Pullman, WA: 2009