UTIA entomologist receives Insects 2024 Young Investigator Award

Kelsey Coffman, assistant professor in the University of Tennessee Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, has received the Insects 2024 Young Investigator Award. This award recognizes Coffman’s significant contributions to entomology and research on insect-virus interactions.

Coffman’s research focuses on the roles of beneficial viruses in parasitoid wasps. Coffman uses advanced techniques in molecular biology, genetics and bioinformatics to explore their impact on insect interactions. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Georgia in 2020 and worked from 2021-2023 as a postdoctoral scientist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. Coffman joined the UTIA Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology in 2024.

“I’m honored to receive this award and grateful for the recognition of my research on insect-virus interactions,” Coffman said. “Understanding how heritable viruses shape parasitoid wasp biology not only deepens our knowledge of insect-microbe symbiosis, but also opens new avenues for exploring innovative biological control strategies.”

Published by MDPI , Insects is an international, peer-reviewed open-access journal that features high-quality research on a variety of entomological topics.

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