Adam Dale
Assistant Professor & Extension Specialist I am broadly interested in plant-insect interactions and using ecology to inform arthropod pest management strategies on landscape plants.
Contact me at: 352-273-3976 agdale@ufl.edu
Office: 3214 Steinmetz Hall, UF Gainesville, FL
Research Support
Nicole Benda – Post-doctoral Associate/Lab Manager
I am interested in insect-plant interactions, particularly chemical ecology, host-plant use, insect behavior, and pest management. In my free time, I love cooking, astronomy and science fiction, and to explore the world with my family.
Jackson Jablonski – Research Technician
UF plant sciences graduate, interested in all things entomology and the science of sustainable urban landscapes. Outside of the lab you’ll find me at a rock wall or exploring some of Gainesville’s many natural areas. I have a passion for horticulture and incorporating native plants as ornamental alternatives for ecological sustainability.
Graduate students
Matt Borde
n – Doctorate of Plant Medicine graduate student / Entomology & Nematology M.S. student
I have experience in ornamental IPM, especially in landscapes and greenhouses of public gardens. I have also enjoyed some time in commercial beekeeping, and most recently worked for a Virginia Tech research station in their tree fruit pathology lab. I am excited to continue studying ornamental and turf entomology, particularly learning about woody plant protection. As an avid plantsman, I enjoy hiking, gardening, and photography of plants and insects.
Balwinder Kaur – Ph.D. student (Entomology & Nematology)
I am interested in investigating biodiversity and plant- insect interactions to answer ecological questions and better manage insect pests. My current research aims to investigate the effects of increasing plant diversity on insects, natural enemies, and other ecological processes in turfgrass/ lawn ecosystems at different regional climates. Besides research, I enjoy dancing, reading, traveling, and spending time with friends.
Rebecca Perry – M.S. student (Entomology & Nematology)
I have a passion for conservation, which has interested me in the relationships between insects and plants and how their interactions affect ecosystems. In my spare time, I rear insects, particularly butterflies and moths. I also enjoy hiking, kayaking, and reading.
Brianna Whitman – M.S. student (Horticulture/Entomology)
I am from Idaho, where I did my undergraduate in both Entomology and Horticulture. In the past, I maintained ornamentals in a greenhouse for sale, propagation, and research. Most recently, I worked in the UF Biosecurity Research and Extension Lab where I reared insects and wrote extension publications. I am currently conducting research on insects and plants in turfgrass systems.
Undergraduate students
Ava Joy Cockey – Undergraduate Research Assistant
I am a first-year Family, Youth, and Community Sciences major on a pre-health track. I grew up in Gainesville, FL and have always been eager to explore the natural world around me. I am excited to learn more about entomology and nematology and its role in the tropical ecology of Florida.
Grace Cope – Undergraduate Research Intern
I’m interested in studying native pollinators and the interactions they have with their respective environments. This curiosity is driven by a passion to find an intersection between sciences and the arts in all that I do!
Tanner Felbinger – Undergraduate Research Assistant
I am from Raleigh, NC and came to UF in search of bugs and warmer weather. I am majoring in Entomology and am interested in learning about how we can use insects to promote more sustainable practices. You can find me teaching group fitness classes at the gyms on campus!
Lab Alumni
Pablo Allen – Post-doctoral Associate, 2017-18
Larissa LaForest – Undergraduate Research Intern, 2017-18
Ethan Doherty – M.S. degree, 2016-18
