Gund Postdoctoral Fellow, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources

Sarah Cusser is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources at UVM.  She received her PhD in Evolution, Ecology and Behavior from University of Texas, Austin where, advised by Dr. Shalene Jha, she studied the role and management of wild pollinators in cotton and peach production in Texas. Prior to her work in Texas, Sarah earned her master’s degree working with Karen Goodell at Ohio State University, investigating the restoration of plant pollinator mutualisms on a reclaimed strip mine.

Sarah's research focuses on evaluating how agricultural, industrial, and urban habitat disturbance affect plant-pollinator communities and interactions. In her current position, Sarah is co-advised by Taylor Ricketts, Eric Lonsdorf at the University of Minnesota, and Shalene Jha at the University of Texas, Austin. She is modeling the ecology and economics of cotton pollination in South Texas. Her work hopes to inform land management decisions that best promote the conservation and restoration of important insect communities.

Advisor: Taylor Ricketts

Publications

Areas of Expertise and/or Research

Pollination ecology, landscape ecology, agriculture, habitat restoration

Education

  • PhD, Ecology, Evolution & Behavior, University of Texas
  • MS, Evolutionary, Ecological & Organismal Biology, Ohio State University
  • BA, Biology, Pomona College

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