Dr. Vanessa Muilenburg
Associate Professor of Biology InstructionDr. Vanessa Muilenburg joined the Department of Biology, where she teaches several courses, in fall 2013. Dr. Muilenburg also serves as introductory biology lab coordinator and leads large group discussions for introductory labs. She loves working with freshmen and helping students reach their goals.
AREAS OF Expertise
Dr. Muilenburg specializes in the area of ecology with particular focus on plant-insect
interactions, forest entomology, plant defense theory and host plant resistance. In
other words, she thinks bugs and trees are pretty awesome! Her interests are many
and includes such topics as climate change, how environmental conditions can contribute
to societal collapse and pedagogical approaches to improve student learning. She considers
herself a bit of a 鈥渏ack of all trades.鈥
EDUCATION
- Ph.D., entomology, 2010, The Ohio State University
- M.S., entomology, 2006, University of Arkansas
- B.S., entomology, 2003, Iowa State University
PUBLISHED WORK
- 鈥淥viposition Preferences of Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) for Different Ash Species Support the Mother Knows Best Hypothesis,鈥 Annals of the Entomological Society of America 107, 2014
- 鈥淣ear Absence of Agrilus bilineatus from an Oak Decline Event in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas,鈥 Florida Entomologist 97, 2014
- 鈥淐haracterization of the generalized wound response of stems of paper birch (Betula papyrifera) and European white birch (Betula pendula),鈥 Trees 27, 2013
- 鈥淩esponses of insects to climate change: effects and interactions of temperature, CO2, and soil quality,鈥 Proceedings of the International Conference on Adaptation to Climate Change and Food Security, Kuwait City, Kuwait, November 2013
- 鈥淎 review of bronze birch borer (Agrilus anxius, Coleoptera: Buprestidae) life history, ecology, and management,鈥 Environmental Entomology, 41(6), 2012
- 鈥淚nter- and intra-specific variation in stem phloem phenolics of paper birch (Betula papyrifera) and European white birch (Betula pendula),鈥 Journal of Chemical Ecology, 37, 2011
- 鈥淚nterspecific variation in resistance of Asian, European, and North American birches
(Betula spp.) to bronze birch borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae),鈥 Environmental Entomology, 40, 2011
- 鈥淒ata sheet on quarantine pests: Agrilus anxius,鈥 Bulletin OEPP/EPPO Bulletin, 41, 2011
- 鈥淎nt predation on red oak borer (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) confirmed by field observation and molecular gut-content analysis,鈥 Agricultural and Forest Entomology, 10(3), 2008
- 鈥淔acultative intraguild predation of red oak borer larvae (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae),鈥 Environmental Entomology, 35, 2006
Outside the College
Dr. Muilenburg is married to her husband, Derrick, and has two wonderful sons, Graham and Colin. She is a busy mom who spends a lot of the time at the pool, beach or hiking with her kids in the summer. She loves exploring the outdoors, gardening and refinishing furniture while listening to TED Talks. Her favorite part of the day is when she reads books to her sons before bed.
616.395.7174
muilenburg@hope.eduA. Paul Schaap Science Center 3059 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423-3605