Peter JT White
Associate Professor
Lyman Briggs College &
The Department of Entomology
My research follows three major themes: (1) developing and testing innovative approaches to improve biology and evolution learning in higher education, (2) exploring the impact of urbanization on moth populations, and (3) using the study of moth ecology as a means of engaging students and the broader public community in the practice of science.
Educational Background:
– PhD from McGill University, Montreal, Quebec.
– BS and MS from University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario.
– Alumni of Manitoulin Secondary School, M’Chigeeng, Ontario.
Select Recent Publications:
Keas B, White PJT, Brown DB, Stroupe D, Best SG, and Letarte, M. (2024). Conducting Authentic Moth Research with Students to Encourage Scientific Inquiry. Science Scope, 47(4), 56-62.
Filice DA, Riedy J, Heidemann MH, Smith JS, and White PJT. (2023) Evaluating introductory biology student perceptions surrounding the use of integrative cases related to human health for evolution education. Evolution: Education and Outreach 16 (1): 6.
Wonderlin N, Lorenz AR, and White PJT. (2022). Habitats of urban moths: Engaging elementary school students in the scientific process. American Biology Teacher 84: 284-289.
White PJT, Masani S, Shuster S., and Wonderlin, N. (2021) Ditch Gendered Terminology for Cell Division. Nature 588: 556. (Nature correspondence)
Select Recent Conferences and Presentations:
White, PJT (2024) Invited Public Outreach Session “Our eyesight and our origin” Expert-Is-In Session at the Hall of Human Origin at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Washington, D.C., USA.
Keas B, White PJT, and Stroupe D. (2024). “Authenticity for teachers, students, and scientists: Co-developing science in classrooms.” In symposium titled “Citizen science in schools”. Annual Meeting of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching. Denver, CO.
White, PJT (2023) “Why Do We Get Cancer? Using the Example of Breast Cancer to Help Students Learn Introductory Biology Concepts and Processes”, Western Conference of Science Education, London, ON, Canada.
White P. J. T., Stroupe, D., Reichsman, F., Keas, B., Dorsey, C., Haavind, S., Bondaryk, L., and Brown, C. (2023) “MothEd: Authentic Science for Elementary and Middle School Students” National Sciences Foundation DRK12 Principal Investigator Meetings, Washington D.C.
Smith J, Filice D, Heidemann M, Riedy J, and White PJT. (2022) “EvoMedEd: Piloting Evolutionary Medicine Cases in Lower- and Upper-Year Undergraduate Courses.” International Society for Evolution, Medicine & Public Health. Lisbon, Portugal.
Christopher Brown
PhD Student
Brian’s PhD focuses on how entomologists share their passions with the public. Having been a science teacher previously, he is specifically interested in how entomologists collaborate with educators, the types of activities they choose to utilize, and how to maximize the engagement of these activities to better inspire the next generation of entomologists.
Educational Background:
– MA and BS from Colorado Mesa University
– Secondary (Biology) Teaching Certificate from Colorado Mesa University
Publications:
Brown C, White PJT (2024) Entomologists in the K-12 Classroom: A Scoping Review. Insects 15 (742).
Eva Conley
MothEd Communications and Social Media Coordinator
Eva is studying for her Bachelor’s degree in Physiology with minors in Bioethics and Science & Society, and is set to graduate in May 2025. After graduation, she plans on pursuing a PhD in physiology with a focus in STEM education. With a passion for science and learning, Eva aspires to be an educator in higher ed.
Publications:
Romanelli JA, Baker AL, Conley ES, Manna P, & Luckie DB (2023). Genotypic identification of G542X-CFTR allele in purified human DNA by AS-PCR using the Yaku method. Current Topics in Biochemical Research 24, 1–12.
You S, Bergmann M, Lessel J, Hart M, Belyue A, Conley ES, Baker A, Nguyen S, Newmeyer L, Romanelli J, Luckie D. (2024). Identification of the W1282X-CFTR SNP mutation in CF patient cells via AS-PCR. British Journal of Healthcare and Medical Research, 12(4), 220–231.
Conferences:
Conley ES (2024) “Genotypic identification of G542X-CFTR allele in purified human DNA by AS-PCR using the Yaku method”. University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum , Michigan State University. East Lansing, Michigan.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Michael LeTarte
Michael is studying Physiology & plans to graduate in winter of 2024. After graduation, he aspires to attend medical school.
Lab Alumni
Graduate Students:
Nicole Wonderlin, PhD (2023), currently works as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas at Austin.
Colin Bailey, MS (2021), is an Entomologist at the Arizona Department of Agriculture.
PostDoctoral Research Associates:
Brian Keas (2022-24), is the Director of Undergraduate Research at the MSU Office of Undergraduate Research.
Joseph Riedy (2022), is a fixed term assistant professor at MSU.
David Filice (2021-22), is an assistant professor at Mount Allison University in Canada.
Rebecca Ellis (2019-21), is a curriculum developer for the Concord Consortium in Massachusetts.
Alexa Warwick (2016-18), is a Wildlife Participatory Engagement and Collaboration Specialist at MSU.
Past Undergraduate Research Assistants:
Grace Best, Maria Berry, Sophia Sacco, Dylan Smith, Fadumo Ali, Kalee Rumfelt, Melanie Bumler, Andromeda Veach, Tegan Hansgen, Madeline Bresson, Jennifer Semaan, Alissa Mossbarger, Lydia Ross, Claire Sweeney, Joel Stewart, Katie Glover, Lauren Ispoi, Joseph Leider, Keenan Calnan, Amanda Rise, Abby Sulesky, Evan Barfusse, Maris Polanco, and Izzy Schember.