Mary M. Gardiner is a Distinguished Professor in the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University in the Department of Entomology and Co-Director of the OSU transdisciplinary Environmental Science Graduate Program. The Gardiner Lab’s community-engaged research program examines the ecology and management of urban greenspaces for insect conservation including vacant lots, residential greenspaces, parks, and rain gardens. The Gardiner Lab has published over 75 peer-reviewed publications and been awarded $8.1 M in grant support, with current funding from the NSF, USDA, and the MITRE Foundation. Mary is also a State Specialist in Extension and is active in the Ohio Master Gardener Volunteer Program. She has advised 23 graduate students and postdocs and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in insect ecology, presentation skills, and grant writing. Mary serves on the Entomological Society of America Governing Board and is a Past President of the ESA North Central Branch. In 2015, she released a book focused on natural enemies and their role in biological control in home gardens titled: Good Garden Bugs: Everything You Need to Know about Beneficial Predatory Insects.
Awards
2024 Distinguished Professor of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences
2024 Senior Faculty Research Award, Ohio State College of Food, Agriculture, & Environmental Sciences
2023 Nan-Yao Su Award for Innovation and Creativity in Entomology, Entomological Society of America
2023 Distinguished Alumnus Award, Michigan State University Department of Entomology
2019 Junior Faculty Research Award, Ohio State College of Food, Agriculture, & Environmental Sciences
APPOINTMENTS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Co-Director, Environmental Science Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. (2021-present)
Professor, Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. (2019-present)
Associate Professor, Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. (2014-2019)
Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH. (2009-2014)
Visiting Research Scientist, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. (2008)|
Research Support Scientist, Department of Plant Soil and Entomological Sciences, University of Idaho, Parma Research and Extension Center, Parma, ID. (2002-2004)
Adjunct Appointments: Pontifica Universidad Catholica de Chile, Cleveland State University, Wright State University
ADVISING
Postdoctoral Researchers
Kayla I. Perry 2017-2020 (Current: Assistant Professor, OSU Entomology)
Leo Taylor 2018-2019 (Current: Program Manager, Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, OSU)
Frances S. Sivakoff 2015-2018 (Current: Assistant Professor, OSU Marion Campus)
Graduate Students
Major Advisor, Currently Enrolled
Erika Wright (M.S. ESGP)
Lucy Guarnieri (Ph.D. Entomology)
Michelle Pham (Ph.D. ESGP)
Major Advisor, Completed Ph.D Entomology
Lydia Fyie (Ph.D Entomology) (co-advised with Dr. Megan Meuti)
Caralee Shepard (Ph.D. Entomology)
Scott Prajzner (Ph.D.): Graduated 12/2016
Chris Riley (Ph.D.): Graduated 12/2019
Yvan A. Delgado de la Flor (Ph.D.): Graduated 5/2020
Katherine Turo (Ph.D.): Graduated 5/2021
Denisha Parker (Ph.D.): Graduated 5/2021
Sarah Scott (Ph.D.): Graduated 12/2022
Major Advisor, Completed M.S. Entomology
Chelsea Smith (M.S.): Graduated 8/2012
Caitlin Burkman (M.S.): Graduated 7/2013
Ben Phillips (M.S.): Graduated 7/2013
Andrea Kautz (M.S.): Graduated 7/2015
MaLisa Spring (M.S.): Graduated 6/2017
Molly Dietrich Mabin (M.S.): Graduated 6/2017
Emily Trejo Sypolt (M.S.): Graduated 12/2019
Alex Tyrpak (M.S.): Graduated 5/2020
Ellen Danford (M.S. ESGP): Graduated 12/2023
Books
Gardiner, M.M. 2015. Good Garden Bugs: Everything you need to know about beneficial predatory insects. Quarry Books. Beverly, Massachusetts. 176 pages. Copies sold: 6,500 (Updated December 2022)
