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About Mary
Mary Barbercheck is Emerita Professor of Entomology at Pennsylvania State University in the Department of Entomology, College of Agricultural Sciences. She contributes to Agricultural and Veterinary Science through expertise in soil entomology and ecology, sustainable and organic agriculture, insect pathology, and entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi. Barbercheck earned a B.A. in Environmental Biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1980, an M.S. in Plant Protection and Pest Management from the University of California, Davis in 1982, and a Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of California, Davis in 1990. Her professional career began with positions including Laboratory Assistant at UC Davis, Agricultural Researcher in South Africa, and Graduate Research Assistant. In 1990, she joined North Carolina State University as Assistant Professor of Entomology, advancing to Associate Professor in 1996 and Full Professor in 2002. That year, she moved to Penn State University as Full Professor with research and extension appointments.
Barbercheck's research examines the effects of agricultural practices on soil biodiversity and function, including nutrient cycling, carbon storage, biological pest control, and soil health in organic systems. She investigates the persistence and ecology of entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi in agroecosystems, cover crop impacts, tillage effects, and biological control agents. Extension activities cover soil food webs, IPM in organic production, and women and gender in agriculture. Awards include the Pennsylvania Certified Organic Outstanding Research Award (2006), Penn State Outreach Vice President’s Awards (2005 for PA Women’s Agricultural Network, 2008 for Crop Management Extension Group), and NCSU Equity for Women Award (2001). She held roles such as Secretary and Member-at-Large in Society for Invertebrate Pathology divisions, board member of Pennsylvania Association of Sustainable Agriculture (2003-2012), and USDA panel member. Key publications feature "Endophytic Metarhizium robertsii promotes maize growth, suppresses insect growth, and alters plant defense gene expression" (Biological Control, 2020), "Soil microarthropods and soil health: Intersection of decomposition and pest suppression" (Insects, 2019, with D.A. Neher), "Carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) differentially respond to soil management practices in feed and forage systems in transition to organic management" (Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, 2019), "Maize response to endophytic Metarhizium robertsii is altered by water stress" (PLoS One, 2023), and "Conservation of entomopathogenic nematodes in agroecosystems" (2024).
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