Edited from https://sammykatta.com/diversity
Principal Investigator: Niranjana Krishnan
Niranjana Krishnan (she/her) started as an assistant professor in the Entomology department in January 2023. She is an insect toxicologist and her research encompasses risk assessment, pesticide regulation, species conservation, and pest management. She is also serving as Maryland's Pesticide Safety Education Program Coordinator. Prior to joining the University of Maryland, Niranjana was a research assistant professor at Missouri University of Science and Technology. She obtained her PhD in toxicology from Iowa State University in 2021. Niranjana enjoys writing, hiking, and traveling.
Email: nkrish@umd.edu; Telephone: 301-405-3928; Address: 3140 Plant Sciences Building
Faculty Assistant: Michael Zhao
Michael Zhao (he/him) started as a faculty assistant in January of 2024. He has an interest in wildlife and environmental conservation as well as cryptobiosis. He graduated from the University of Maryland in December 2022 with a major in Biology, specializing in Ecology and Evolution while minoring in Astronomy. His hobbies include binge-watching science fiction or horror movies, writing short stories, sketching animals, and reading dystopian, apocalyptic, high fantasy, and gothic novels.
Faculty Assistant: Sabrina Purtee
Sabrina Purtee (she/they) graduated from the University of Maryland in May of 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in Biology, specializing in Ecology and Evolution, and a minor in Entomology. She is interested in plant-insect-microbe interactions, coevolutionary arms races, speciation in ecological niches, and conservation. In their free time, they love hiking in the woods, foraging for culinary fungi, gardening, birding, watching anime, and playing video games.
Graduate Student: Jillian Stewart
Jillian Stewart (he/she/they) started as a faculty assistant in June of 2023. They are interested in insect conservation, ecology, and biological control. She particularly enjoys wetland insects and parasitoid wasps. In Niranjana's lab, they are excited to be working with live insects to study the effects of specific pesticides on their life histories. Jillian earned their bachelor's degree in Biology from McDaniel College in 2021 and a Graduate Certificate in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) from UMD in 2022. Outside of the lab, he enjoys working in their yard, taking hikes, fixing old bicycles, and creative writing. She has two cats, four chickens, two goldfish, a frog, and too many houseplants!
Graduate Student: Michael Adu-Brew
Michael Adu-Brew (he/him) is a graduate student at the University of Maryland, College Park, pursuing a Master of Science in Entomology. His research includes studying the impact of pesticide exposure on insects. Michael enjoys working in the field, reading, and listening to music.
Research Technician: Margaret Kato
Margaret Kato (she/her) is a second-year student at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is pursuing a double degree in Biology and Computer Science. She is also an active member of One Tent Health UMD, a volunteer organization that provides free HIV/AIDS testing to communities in Washington, D.C. Outside of school, she enjoys reading fantasy and science fiction, playing piano, and spending time with her cats.
Research Technician: Jordyn Hautz
Jordyn Hautz (he/they) is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of Maryland, where they study Plant Biology and Entomology. His main interests are in plant-insect interactions, specifically coevolution and specialised pollinators, as well as species conservation. Before committing to a Bachelor of Science, Jordyn graduated high school from Barbara Ingram School For the Arts where he studied bass trombone. They also enjoy reading, listening to music, and creating art.
Research Technician: Luke Humke
Luke Humke (she/him) is a senior at University of Maryland, pursuing a major in Ecology and Evolution with a minor in Entomology. She is interested in studying the life histories and evolution of Lepidoptera species, parasitoid/host associations, and parasitoid wasp identification. In her free time she enjoys collecting and pinning moths, illustrating insects, playing video games, and rearing caterpillars!
Research Technician: Daffa Villandiar
Daffa Villandiar (he/him) is a fourth-year student at University of Maryland, majoring in General Biology. He is pursuing a career in orthodontics but has a strong passion for entomology and conservation. In his free time, he enjoys rearing insects and arachnids, and is currently raising blue death feigning beetles, a giant Asian mantis, and a vinegaroon. He also enjoys playing guitar and listening to various music genres such as jazz, punk, shoegaze, and many more.