Dr. Flor Acevedo

Biography

Flor Edith Acevedo is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Entomology at Penn State University, specializing in insect-plant interactions, integrated pest management, and chemical ecology. She completed her Ph.D. in Entomology at Pennsylvania State University in 2016, with a minor in Statistics, and holds a B.S. in Agronomy from the University of Caldas in Colombia. Her research focuses on elucidating the mechanisms that shape interactions between insects and plants, especially the role of associated symbionts in enhancing host plant resistance to insect pests. Dr. Acevedo's lab integrates both basic and applied research, providing innovative tools for insect pest management strategies. She has extensive expertise in chemical ecology, insect biology, and ecology, and her work often involves the identification of chemical cues that insects use for host recognition, as well as studying herbivore-induced plant defenses. She is actively involved in various research projects that explore the dynamics of insect-associated gut bacteria and their impact on plant defense mechanisms, contributing to a better understanding of ecological interactions in agroecosystems.

Research Interests

Experience