Michael R. Strand
Professor/H.M. Pulliam Chair
Areas of expertise
About
This lab studies primarily the interactions between different types of parasites and their insect hosts. Most of our projects involve parasitoid wasps that develop as immatures in or on the bodies of other insects but that are free-living as adults. Polydnaviruses, polyembryonic parasitoids, PARASITOLOGY-IMMUNOLOGY-DEVELOPMENT-BEHAVIOR. Our home department at the University of Georgia is Entomology. However, the lab is also affiliated with several interdisciplinary campus programs including the Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases (CTEGD) and Interdisciplinary Program in Evolutionary Biology.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy, Entomology
Texas A&M University, TX, United States (1985)
Bachelor of Science, Entomology
Texas A&M University, TX, United States (1980)
Awards and Honors
- Scholar GPS lifetime Highly Ranked Scholar in Entomology and Nematology, Agriculture and Natural Resources, and all Fields (2026)
- Certificate of Distinction (Career Achievement Award) (2024)
- Agricultural Research Innovation Award of Excellence (2024)
- Texas A&M University, College of Agriculture and Life Science Outstanding Alumni Award (2024)
- Fellow (2024)
- HM Pulliam Chair (2019)
- Goldbach Lecturer, Wageningen University (2018)
- Elected Member of the US National Academy of Sciences (2017)
- Regents Professor (2013)
- President, Physiology, Biochemistry, and Toxicology (PBT) Section (2012)
- Fellow of the ESA (2012)
- American Society of Microbiology Lecturer (2012)
- Distinguished Research Professor (2011)
- ESA Recognition Award in Insect Physiology, Biochemistry and Toxicology (2009)
- Brooks Award for Research (2008)
- AAAS Fellow (2008)
- Distinguished Research Professor (2006)
- Outstanding Faculty Award (2005)
Courses
- ENTO 6000L: General Entomology (Fall 2025)
- ENTO 6000: General Entomology (Fall 2025)
- GENE 9000: Doctoral Research (Fall 2025)
- GENE 9300: Doctoral Dissertation (Fall 2025)
- ENTO 4000: General Entomology (Fall 2025)
- ENTO 4000L: General Entomology (Fall 2025)
- GENE 8070: Laboratory Group Meeting (Fall 2025)
- ENTO 9000: Doctoral Research (Fall 2025)
- GENE 9300: Doctoral Dissertation (Spring 2026)
- GENE 8070: Laboratory Group Meeting (Spring 2026)
- GENE 9000: Doctoral Research (Spring 2026)
- ENTO 9300: Doctoral Dissertation (Spring 2026)
- ENTO 9000: Doctoral Research (Spring 2026)
- ENTO 9000: Doctoral Research (Summer 2026)
- ENTO 4000: General Entomology (Fall 2026)
- ENTO 6000: General Entomology (Fall 2026)
- ENTO 4000L: General Entomology (Fall 2026)
- ENTO 6000L: General Entomology (Fall 2026)
- ENTO 9000: Doctoral Research (Fall 2026)
- ENTO 9300: Doctoral Dissertation (Fall 2026)
Scholarly Works
- A chromosome-scale genome assembly and functional studies implicate the viral RNA polymerase in transcription of most Microplitis demolitor bracovirus late genes, JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY, (2026).
- Large DNA Viruses That Parasitoid Wasps Transmit to Hosts, ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY, (2026).
- Four nudivirus core genes present in the genome of Venturia canescens are required for virus-like particle formation and prevention of encapsulation of parasitoid wasp eggs, JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY, (2025).
- Recent insights in the development and functions of insect hemocytes, CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE, (2025).
- Insulin-like peptides activate egg formation in the Asian malaria mosquito Anopheles stephensi, PARASITES & VECTORS, (2025).
Contact
Mailing Address
136 Cedar St., Building C
Room 530F
Athens, GA 30602
Shipping Address
136 Cedar St., Building C
Room 530F
Athens, GA 30602
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