Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology

University of Delaware, 250 Townsend Hall

Grace Savoy-Burke 531 S College Ave, Newark DE 19716

gsburke@udel.edu 716-860-9948 @beecologist https://savoyburke.weebly.com/

EDUCATION Ph. D. Entomology and Wildlife Ecology expected Spring 2021

University of Delaware, Newark DE
Dissertation: Tri-trophic interactions between flower visiting insects,
flowering plants and soil microbes
Advisors: Deborah Delaney and Ivan Hiltpold

M.S. Entmology and Wildlife Ecology 2017

University of Delaware, Newark DE (awarded 2017)
Thesis: Woodland bee diversity in the Mid-Atlantic
Advisor: Deborah Delaney

B.S. Biology 2011

State University of New York at Geneseo, Geneseo NY
Research Projects: 1) Conesus Lake Macrophyte and Metaphyton
Monitoring 2) Identification of a bacterial symbiont of
clonal sea star larvae
Advisor: Isidro Bosch

RESEARCH Graduate Teaching Assistant 2014-present

EXPERIENCE University of Delaware, Newark DE
Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology

•Studying the interactions between soil microbial communities,

flowering plants and flower visiting insects. Conducted
greenhouse and field trials evaluating plant health and growth
metrics; pollen and nectar collection and nutritional analysis;
molecular identification of microbial communities; plant volatile
chemical analysis, insect visitation to flowers; and colony growth
and health metrics of bumble bees.
Committee members: Deborah Delaney, Ivan Hiltpold, Harsh Bais, Jeffrey
Buler

• Coordinating a network of citizen scientists to survey native bees

in woodlands throughout the Mid Atlantic region to reveal
patterns in bee abundance, species richness and community
 composition in relation to habitat and landscape characteristics.
Mentored four undergraduate assistants.
Committee members: Deborah Delaney, Sam Droege (USGS), Greg
Shriver

Research Associate 2011-2014

University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester NY
Departments of Ophthalmology and Biomedical Genetics
• Investigated the downstream effects of activated notch signaling
on hearing and sensory cell development in the mouse cochlea
using Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) and molecular and
histological techniques.
Supervisor: Amy E. Kiernan

Undergraduate Researcher 2010-2011

State University of New York College at Geneseo, Geneseo NY
Department of Biology
• Identification of a bacterial symbiont of clonal sea star larvae using
selective plating, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA cloning
and sequence analysis.
• Monitoring growth of algae and milfoil, an invasive aquatic plant,
in Conesus Lake by transect biomass sampling and GIS mapping
of milfoil beds.
Advisor: Isidro Bosch

TEACHING Instructor of Record

EXPERIENCE University of Delaware
Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology

Insects and Society Laboratory (ENWC215) 2018

• An introductory entomology laboratory course for majors and
non-majors covering insect ecology, taxonomy, morphology and
anatomy and human-insect interactions. Prepared lectures,
modified exercises and lesson plan, led laboratory exercises and
mentored 12 undergraduate students.

Guest Lecturer
University of Delaware
Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology
9. Pollination, Insects and Society (ENWC205) 2018
8. Native Bee Diversity and Identification, Apiculture Lab (ENWC214)
7. Native Bee Diversity and Ecology, Apiculture (ENWC214)
6. Pollination, Insects and Society (ENWC205) 2017
 5. Native Bee Diversity and Identification, Apiculture Lab (ENWC214)
4. The Biology of Nectar and Other Rewards,
Pollination Ecology (ENWC467)
3. The Insect Body Plan, Insects and Society (ENWC205) 2016
2. Native Bee Diversity and Identification Lab, Apiculture (ENWC214)
1. Medical Entomology, Insects and Society (ENWC205)

Teaching Assistant
University of Delaware
Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology

• Assisted the Instructor of Record with laboratory and class

exercises, development of assignments and exams, and grading
for the following courses:
1) Insects and Society 2) Insects and Society Laboratory 3) Insect
Anatomy and Physiology 4) Apiculture 5) Pollination Ecology 6) Insect
Taxonomy 7) Insect Field Taxonomy 8) Insect Larval Taxonomy 9)
Aquatic Entomology 10) Comparative Terrestrial and Marine Ecology

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant

State University of New York College at Geneseo
Department of Biology

• Assisted the Instructor of Record with laboratory activities,

development of quizzes and exams, and grading for the following
courses:
1) Invertebrate Biology 2) Aquatic Communities

PUBLICATIONS Kennedy AC, JR Golec, G Savoy-Burke, AB Mitchell. Increasing honey

bees’ (Hymenoptera: Apidae) access to varied, high-quality forage.
(2018) American Entomologist, 64 (3): 165–175
Savoy-Burke G., F.A. Gilels, W. Pan, D. Pratt, J. Que, L. Gan, P.M. White,
A.E. Kiernan. (2014) Activated Notch Causes Deafness by Promoting a
Supporting Cell Phenotype in Developing Auditory Hair Cells. PloS
One 9(9):1-10

AWARDS 10. NSF National Research Traineeship Program Participant Fellow, 2018
($43,792)
9. Garden Club of America and Pollinator Partnership Pollinator
Fellowship, 2015 ($4000)
8. W.J. Benton Graduate and Ph.D. Student Award, U. Delaware College
of Agriculture & Natural Resources, 2017 ($500)
 7. University of Delaware Professional Development Award, 2016 ($957)
6. Best Master’s Poster, U. Delaware College of Agriculture & Natural
Resources Research Symposium Poster Contest, 2016 ($250)
5. University of Delaware Outstanding Teacher’s Assistant Award, 2015
($100)
4. University of Delaware Professional Development Award, 2015 ($645)
3. UD Department of Entomology Travel Award, 2015 ($1000)
2. Geneseo Foundation Research Grant, (2010) $600
1. Tri Beta Honor Society, SUNY Geneseo Chapter, inducted 2010

PROFESSIONAL 8) Entomological Society of America National Meeting, 2016

PRESENTATIONS Native Bees of Mid-Atlantic Woodlands
7) University of Delaware College of Agriculture & Natural Resources
Research Symposium, Wild Bees of Mid-Atlantic Woodlands
6) Spotlight on National Park Resources in the National Capital Region,
Surveys of Native and Introduced Bees of the Woodlands of the Mid-
Atlantic
5) Entomological Society of America Eastern Branch Meeting, Mid-
Atlantic Woodland Bee Diversity
4) Entomological Society of America National Meeting, 2015
Mid-Atlantic Woodland Bee Diversity: A Citizen Science Survey
3) North American Pollinator Protection Campaign Annual Meeting
(Breakfast Briefings), Native Bees of Mid-Atlantic Woodlands,
2) Society for Ecological Restoration Mid-Atlantic Chapter Meeting,
Native Bee Diversity Across a Regional Network of Mid-Atlantic
Woodlands (poster)
1) Entomological Society of America Eastern Branch Conference, Native
Bee Diversity Across a Regional Network of Mid-Atlantic Woodlands
(poster)

PUBLIC 4) Delaware Beewatchers Meeting, Nests of Native Bees 2018

PRESENTATIONS 3) Science in the Field Program, Native Pollinators, 2016
White Clay Creek State Park
2) Garden Speakers Class, Gardening for Native Pollinators, 2015
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
1) Arden Club Gardener’s Gild, Native Pollinators in Your Garden
SERVICE “Ag Day,” University of Delaware 2018
(outreach) “Skype a Scientist,” 3rd grade class
“STEM Makerfest,” Dover Public Library 2017
“Ag Day,” University of Delaware
“Roald Dahl Day,” Dover Public Library
Delaware Nature Society Middle Run BioBlitz 2016
Insect Festival, Annmarie Sculpture Garden
Delaware Children’s Museum
Ag Day, University of Delaware
Bugs, Bugs, Bugs, Corbit-Calloway Memorial Library
BugFest, Academy of Natural Sciences Drexel University 2015
It’s a Bug’s World, ESA Eastern Branch Conference
EcoQuest Summer Camp, St. Andrew’s School 2014
Camp Montessori, Wilmington Montessori School
Working with Animals Camp, White Clay Creek State Park

SERVICE Departmental Graduate Student Representative 2018-2019

(leadership) Entomology and Wildlife Ecology Department
University of Delaware
• Attended faculty meetings, communicated between faculty and
students by voicing concerns and interests of graduate students in
the department, served on a search committee for new faculty
hires in Medical Entomology and Wildlife Disease Ecology.

Board Member 2018-present

Art in Science
University of Delaware
• Planning and organization of an event showcasing art produced
from current research at the University of Delaware, including
soliciting submissions and advertising for the opening night event.

Organizer
Graduate Student Garden
University of Delaware
• Worked with one other graduate student to coordinated between
greenhouse staff and graduate students to oversee a community
garden on campus. Managed and allocated communal supply
funds, organized training for new gardeners through UD
Extension and directed garden planning and maintenance.

MEMBERSHIPS Entomological Society of America (since 2014)