Meet Our Team
We are a growing team of entomology researchers exploring integrated tactics to suppress pests associated with horticultural systems, and alternative and niche crops in Colorado.
Principal Investigator
Ada Szczepaniec
Associate Professor of Horticultural Entomology
[she/her/hers]
Email: a.szczepaniec@colostate.edu
Ada (both A’s pronounced the same way) Szczepaniec [Stra-PA-nyetz] is originally from a small town in northern Poland, and she came to the U.S. in 1998 after finishing high school in Poland. Ada earned her B.S. in Cell Molecular Biology and Genetics and Ph.D. in Entomology from University of Maryland, College Park. Her Ph.D. work focused on the mechanisms underlying secondary pest outbreaks in urban landscapes exposed to neonicotinoid insecticides. She has since studied IPM in field crops, indirect effects of insecticides on plant-arthropod interactions, and induction of direct and indirect plant defenses in response to herbivory. Ada’s current work is focused on sustainable approaches to management of pests associated with industrial hemp in conventional and organic hemp production, incorporating biological control in IPM of hemp and specialty crops, insecticide resistance, and management of new emerging pests.
Visit Ada’s Google Scholar Page for publications and creative activities.
Current Lab Members
Neha Panwar
Ph.D. Student
Entomology
[she/her/hers]
Email: neha.panwar@colostate.edu
Neha joined the Szczepeniec lab in Spring 2023. Her masters work focused on the phenotyping of introgressed mustard lines for resistance against mustard aphid. For her doctorate, Neha will be working on sustainable management options for a new leaf miner pest of quinoa. Besides this, Neha loves to spend quality time with family and friends.
Lara Amiri-Kazaz
Ph.D. Student
Sustainable Integrated Pest Management
[she/her/hers]
Email:
lara.amiri-kazaz@colostate.edu
Lara joined the Szczepaniec lab in Fall 2023. Her masters work focused on the valorization of pistachio shells in greenhouse media mixtures. For her doctorate, Lara will be working on developing sustainable pest management tactics for aphids and alfalfa mosaic virus in chili peppers. In her free time, Lara enjoys watching soccer and formula 1 as well as cooking and travelling.
Archie-Em Walker
Undergraduate Student
Agricultural Biology
[they/them/theirs; he/him/his]
Email:
em.a.walker@colostate.edu
Archie joined the Szczepaniec lab in summer 2024 and recently graduated with a bachelor’s in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, minoring in entomology and statistics. They currently assist in laboratory research and manage the mite and pest colonies. In their free time, Archie enjoys listening to the radio, playing board games, and snuggling with their cat, Cowboy.
Bree Martin
Undergraduate Student
Zoology
[she/her/hers]
Email: bree.martin@colostate.edu
Bree joined the Szczepaniec lab in the summer of 2024 and is an undergraduate student studying zoology. She currently assists in laboratory research, field work, and greenhouse projects. In her free time, Bree enjoys crocheting and drawing, along with spending time with loved ones! Bree has awesome graphic design skills and is currently designing the Szczepaniec lab logo!
Kadie Britt
IPM Program Manager
CSU Center for Sustainable Pest Management
[she/her/hers]
Email: kadie.britt@colostate.edu
Kadie joined the Szczepaniec lab in Fall 2024. Kadie most recently completed a postdoc with the University of California focused on pest management research in hemp and cannabis as well as coordination of an areawide integrated pest management program to manage navel orangeworm in almonds and pistachios in Fresno County, California. She earned her master’s in entomology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (2016) and PhD in entomology from Virginia Tech (2021). In her free time, Kadie enjoys hiking, attending Colorado sporting events, yoga, and spending time with her husband and dog.
Former Lab Members
Paige Olson
M.S. Student
Insect Pest Management
[she/her/hers]
Email: paige.olson98@gmail.com
Paige joined the Szczepaniec lab in the Spring 2023 semester. She studied wildlife and natural resource management as an undergraduate. In her spare time, Paige enjoys photographing insects, reading, hiking with her dog (Jinx), and aerial dancing. After earning her Masters degree, Paige plans on pursuing a career in resource security, conservation, and sustainable insect pest management.
Gabe Alnajjar
Gabe joined the Szczepaniec lab in April 2022 and helped out with lab management, research, and content development for the CSU extension program. Gabe is originally from Baltimore, Maryland and enjoys cooking, playing guitar, and being outdoors in his free time.
Taylor Janecek
M.S. Student
Entomology
[they/them/theirs; he/him/his]
Email: taylor.janecek@colostate.edu
Taylor joined the Szczepaniec lab during the summer of 2021 and has assisted with greenhouse and field research of hemp russet mites, and quinoa pest research in southern Colorado. In fall 2021 Taylor started his M.S. project focused on developing IPM strategies for alfalfa mosaic virus transmitted by aphids to chili peppers. He enjoys playing video games and dungeons & dragons in his free time.
Annabelle Williamson
Undergraduate Student
Agricultural Biology
[she/her/hers]
Annabelle joined the Szczepaniec lab in Spring 2023 and assisted in laboratory research. In her free time, Annabelle enjoys climbing, hiking, and reading.
Justice Rogers
Undergraduate Student
Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
[he/him/his]
Justice joined the Szczepaniec lab in Spring 2023 and assisted with laboratory research. He is majoring in fish, wildlife, and conservation biology, and minoring in entomology. Justice is interested in invasive entomology and the ecology behind managing these pests. He is originally from Baton Rouge, LA, and enjoys hiking, climbing, and being out on the water in his free time.
Luke Deyle
Undergraduate Student
Soil and Crop Sciences
[he/him/his]
Luke joined our lab in his senior year as a soil and crop sciences major with a minor in agricultural biology plant health. He has over 10 years of horticultural experience and assisted with laboratory research related to aphid transmission of alfalfa mosaic virus and management of hemp pests. Luke graduated in fall 2022 and is currently pursuing a Masters degree in pest management with the Nachappa lab. In his free time, Luke enjoys cooking, gardening, and being in nature with his dogs.
Rebecca Lampl
Undergraduate Student
Horticulture
[she/her/hers]
Rebecca is a 3rd year undergraduate student majoring in horticulture and minoring in organic agriculture. Rebecca is interested in pollination ecology and pollinator conservation by incorporating regenerative agricultural practices in our food system. Rebecca is originally from San Diego, California, and hopes to help find ways to grow plants more sustainably to help mitigate climate change.
Carlo Vaughn
Carlo is a junior majoring in controlled environment horticulture and minoring in entomology. He joined the lab in summer 2022 and assists with field and laboratory research. In his free time, Carlo enjoys spending time with his cat Josie and houseplants.
Kat Gingrass
Undergraduate Student
Ecosystem Science and Sustainability
[she/her/hers]
Kat is a 4th year undergraduate student majoring in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability and minoring in Microbiology. She joined the Szczepaniec lab in 2021 and helps with research projects. In her free time, Kat loves being outside and learning new things about the world. Kat also has a pet bunny and is from Castle Rock, Colorado.
James Hutzley
Undergraduate Student
Agricultural Biology
[he/him/his]
James joined the Szczepaniec lab in 2021 and assisted with laboratory and field research. He is currently a senior at CSU, and in his free time James enjoys playing guitar and riding dirt bikes.
Darren Cockrell
[he/him/his]
Darren worked in the Szczepaniec lab from 2021-2022 as a research associate, assisting with lab management and research. Currently, he is still a CSU employee in the School of Global Environmental Sustainability where he works as a research proposal coordinator.
Abby Lathrop-Melting
Lab Manager
[she/her/hers]
Abby joined the Szczepaniec lab as a research assistant after graduating from CSU in 2021. She assisted with research, lab management, and developing content for the CSU extension program. Abby is currently pursuing a graduate degree at the University of Maryland.
Join Our Team
We are currently accepting new students interested in entomology and horticultural specialty crops. We solve important and practical problems for growers and emphasize the importance of an integrated pest management approach to our research.
Please email Dr. Ada Szczepaniec with your interest.