Welcome to the Insect Ecology Lab in the Department of Biology at the University of Dayton! We are interested in questions at the interface of community and ecosystem ecology, particularly those that deal with the relationship between humans and insects. Dr. Chelse Prather has studied these types of questions in a variety of ecosystems from rainforests in Puerto Rico to rare grasslands in Texas. Please browse the site to get to know our lab better and reach out with any questions!
The Insect Ecology lab is committed to creating an environment that is supportive of all aspiring scientists, values the perspectives of traditional and nontraditional backgrounds, and hears the perspectives of underrepresented groups in STEM. We believe the diversity brought by students from different racial identities, gender identities, sexualities, visible and invisible disabilities, ages, socioeconomic status, ethnicities, nationalities, religions, and cultures makes our science stronger, just as a diverse array of organisms in an ecosystem strengthens its resilience. We strive to create an atmosphere that promotes the safety, well-being, and success of those that work in the lab. We seek to do science to understand basic biological processes that also will have meaningful connections to society.
Chelse Prather & Students 