Who are we?

Dr. Elizabeth Rowen

Ph.D. 2020 Penn State University, Department of Entomology

M.S. 2015 Purdue University, Department of Entomology

B.A. 2011 Wellesley College, Biology

I am an insect ecologist and Assistant Professor in the Entomology Department at University of California Riverside where I study the connections between soil and animal management (pastures, cover crops, and fertilization), plants, and insects in agricultural systems.

My interests include:

Using meta-analysis to understand pest and predator response to soil management
Investigating how manure affects insect pest damage and predator communities
Understanding how pests and predators respond to cover crops and how cover crops can buffer their exposure to insecticides
Exploring the dung beetle communities to better support animal and pasture health.

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Graduate Researchers

Lauren Cheshire

Degree: M.S. in Entomology

B.S. 2022 West Virginia University, Wildlife and Fisheries

I am investigating the effects of climate change-induced precipitation on dung beetles. I want understand how dung beetles respond to increase precipitation and flooding by creating mesocosms in which we manipulate the amount of water inundating dung pats, as well as the time in which colonization of the pats occur. These pats will be open to natural colonization and then capped off at differing times and water concentrations to observe survivability under the different conditions. I will look at how water influences the ability of dung beetles to either colonize or decompose the feces.

Sneha Haridas

Degree: PhD in Plant and Soil Science (Entomology)

MSc Environmental Studies and Resource Management. TERI SAS, New Delhi.
BSc Chemistry, Environmental Science and Zoology. St Joseph's University, Bangalore.

My research area lies broadly in the field of Insect Diversity and Conservation, with a special focus on the non-charismatic, but ecologically significant dung beetles. I have worked on the biosystematics and distribution of the Old World Scarabaeinae (true dung beetles) in the Eastern Himalayas and I am excited to explore the New World fauna as well, surrounding the Appalachians!
As a doctoral student at the Insect Agroecology Lab of the Plant and Soil Sciences Department at WVU, I would be studying the dung beetles in the Agroecosystems of West Virginia State, to understand their diversity, ecology and how specific agro-management practices could be affecting their distribution and causing threats to their populations.

I also enjoy travelling to explore and learn diverse cultures and cuisines, apart from trekking, table tennis, quizzing, swimming and water sports.

Mellisa Musekwa

Degree: PhD in Plant and Soil Science (Entomology)

MSc. 2020 University of Zimbabwe, Agronomy

BSc. 2018 University of Zimbabwe, Crop Science

Project:

I am working on a project that investigates the effects of liquid, composted and dry stacked manure on pests and weeds in corn, wheat and soybean planted in organic and organic-transitioning plots. My research interests include plant-insect interactions, agroecology, insect community ecology and sustainable agriculture and I am excited to learn more about this in my project.

I also enjoy spending time with family and friends, gardening, cooking and travelling.

Undergraduate Researchers

I am currently looking for students interested in taking on projects at UCR including surveying and identifying dung beetles and tracking ground predator movement. Please reach out to talk about opportunities.

Lab culture

“Diverse research teams not only bring complementary strengths, fostering creative problem-solving by embracing various perspectives, but also drive scientific innovation by integrating a wide range of research topics (e.g., ecosystems, taxa, and conservation priorities). These human-centered dynamics are congruent with the mechanisms in ecosystems, with a diversity of solutions promoting resilience, stability, and efficiency, all of which ultimately provide a counterbalancing effect on global change. Much like biodiverse ecosystems, a diverse spectrum of knowledge, and expertise within the scientific community can enrich a dynamic landscape of innovation.” Brunn et al. 2024

As ecologists and entomologists, the Rowen lab documents the ways in which individuals and species interact to improve pest regulation, soil health, and plant resilience to stressors. We celebrate the diversity of insect life because it is beautiful, fascinating, and essential for human activities. This diversity makes ecosystems function and is fundamental to life on Earth.

In the Rowen Lab, we believe that diverse and inclusive human environment is essential to our success. We are committed to fostering a culture where all individuals feel valued, respected, and empowered. We celebrate our different cultural backgrounds and diverse life experiences. We try to fit our strengths and weaknesses together like puzzle pieces, complementing each other’s creativity, technical skills, writing fluency, time management, lab management, and experience navigating the academic environment. We strive to ensure that our workplace is one where everyone has equal access to opportunities, resources, and support, and where decisions are made fairly and with empathy. We recognize that diversity enhances promotes innovation, broadens the scope and impact of our science, and strengthens the relevance of our work to serve communities around the world.

We hope to promote:

Access, both physically and financially, because access is fundamental to participation and success in academia and beyond
Safety because feeling safe is a prerequisite for full engagement in academia.
Representation, because diverse role models can increase as sense of belonging
Feedback, because feeling able to speak up is critical to challenging biases in academia and creating a more inclusive community.