Grad Student Spotlight
Jamie Freeman
Research Interest: I am applying as a M.S. student under Dr. Jeff Scott. I am interested broadly in the diversity of insects and the genetics that underpin the evolution of this diversity. As a strong potential driver of evolution, insecticide pressure is an interesting system for answering theoretical evolutionary questions with a practical bent that is very attractive to me. I hope to work further exploring the molecular basis of insecticide resistance in Thrips tabaci, but also have interest in the well-explored system of the house fly.
Hayley Schroeder
Research Interests: B.S. Ecology, B.S.E.S. Entomology, University of Georgia (2018). For nearly five years my research has
focused largely on the monarch butterfly-milkweed system where I have investigated the role of
milkweed in monarch disease transmission, migratory propensity, and diapause induction. My
honors thesis project examined the role of environmental cues in mediating monarch metabolic
rate, which could have implications for migratory success. In my graduate work, I propose to
examine butterfly-plant interactions more broadly by quantifying the impacts of agricultural land use
and habitat restoration on prairie butterflies and their ecological communities. By examining shifts in
butterfly-plant interactions across natural, disturbed and restored sites I hope to improve scientific
understanding of the ecological role butterflies play and inform management strategies for
conservation and restoration
focused largely on the monarch butterfly-milkweed system where I have investigated the role of
milkweed in monarch disease transmission, migratory propensity, and diapause induction. My
honors thesis project examined the role of environmental cues in mediating monarch metabolic
rate, which could have implications for migratory success. In my graduate work, I propose to
examine butterfly-plant interactions more broadly by quantifying the impacts of agricultural land use
and habitat restoration on prairie butterflies and their ecological communities. By examining shifts in
butterfly-plant interactions across natural, disturbed and restored sites I hope to improve scientific
understanding of the ecological role butterflies play and inform management strategies for
conservation and restoration