CURRICULUM VITAE
APPOINTMENTS
Assistant Professor (2008 – present)
Department of Biology
Long Island University
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Entomology (2007)
Penn State University, College of Agricultural Sciences
Dissertation topic: Epigeal Coleopteran Diversity and Dynamics in Agroecosystems Adopting Transgenic Crops
(Advisor: Dr. Shelby J. Fleischer)
B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science (2000)
Penn State University, College of Agricultural Sciences
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Instructor
Insect Natural History (ENT 497/597) – Fall 2007
Department of Entomology, Penn State University
Lectured on community-level statistical analyses and helped students apply these concepts to their group projects and presentations
Pennsylvania Governor School – Summer 2005
Organized and taught session on insect diversity in crops and field margins
Teaching Assistant
Introduction to Entomology (ENT 313) – Spring 2006
Department of Entomology, Penn State University
Primary instructor for two laboratory sections (approx. 20 students each)
Populations and Communities (BIOL 220) – Spring 2005
Department of Biology, Penn State University
Primary instructor for two laboratory sections (approx. 20 students each)
Basic Concepts and Biodiversity (BIOL 110) – Fall 2004
Department of Biology, Penn State University
Primary instructor for two laboratory sections (approx. 20 students each)
RESEARCH AND WORK EXPERIENCE
Postdoctoral Research
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Penn State University (2007 – 2008)
- Diversity and ecosystem function in agricultural landscapes
Graduate Research Associate
Department of Entomology, Penn State University (2003 – 2007)
- Non-target effects of transgenic crops (Ph.D. topic)
- Regional pest monitoring of migratory Lepidoptera
- Biocontrol of European corn borer using Trichogramma
- Sweet corn and pepper efficacy trials
- Spatio-temporal variation in corn earworm pyrethroid resistance
- Regional suppression of maize pests as a function of transgenic adoption rate
Department of Crop and Weed Ecology, Wageningen University, Netherlands and Research Institute of Crop Production, Prague, Czech Republic
Sustainable Crop Protection (SUSPROT) exchange program (March – July 2006)
- Coupled long-term dynamics of aphids and coccinellids in winter wheat
Laboratory and Field Technician
Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, North Carolina State University (May 2002 –
December 2002)
- Viability of reduced risk pest control options in apple orchards
- Insect colony maintenance and bioassay work
Department of Entomology, Penn State University (2000 – 2001)
- Non-target effects of genetically-engineered vegetable crops
Fruit Research and Extension Center, Penn State University (1996 – 1997)
- Integrated pest management research in orchard fruit systems
Taxonomic Coordinator and Museum Assistant
Frost Entomological Museum, Penn State University (1998 – 2000)
- Biodiversity surveys for Gettysburg and Shenandoah National Parks
- Curation of museum specimens and maintenance of displays
PUBLICATIONS
Refereed Publications
Leslie, T. W., D. J. Biddinger, C.A. Mullin, and S.J. Fleischer. Carabidae population dynamics and temporal
partitioning: response to coupled neonicotinoid-transgenic technology. Environmental Entomology (accepted with
revisions, July 2008).
Chapman, A. V., T. P. Kuhar, P. B. Schultz, T. W. Leslie, S. J. Fleischer, G. P. Dively, J. Whalen. 2008. Integrating
chemical and biological control of European corn borer in bell pepper. Journal of Economic Entomology (in
press).
Leslie, T. W., W. van der Werf, F. J. J. A. Bianchi, A. Honek. 2008. Evidence for coupled population dynamics of
three aphid species and a shared predator. Agricultural and Forest Entomology (in press).
Leslie, T. W., G. A. Hoheisel, D. J. Biddinger, J. R. Rohr, S. J. Fleischer. 2007. Transgenes sustain epigeal insect
biodiversity in diversified vegetable farm systems. Environmental Entomology. 36: 234-244.
Mullin, C. A., M. C. Saunders II, T. W. Leslie, D. J. Biddinger, S. J. Fleischer. 2006. Toxic and behavioral effects to
Carabidae of seed treatments used on Cry 3Bb1- and Cry1 Ab/c protected corn. Environmental Entomology. 34:
1626-1636.
Non-Refereed Publications
Hutchison, W. D., E. C. Burkness, R. D. Moon, T. W. Leslie, S. J. Fleischer, M. Abrahamson. 2007. Evidence for
regional suppression of European corn borer in transgenic Bt maize in the Midwetern U.S.: Analysis of long-term
time series data from three states. Proc. XVI Intern. Plant Protection Congress, BCPC, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
Vol.2: 512-513.
Papers in preparation
Leslie, T. W., D. J. Biddinger, J. R. Rohr, and S. J. Fleischer. Coleopteran community dynamics in mosaics of
transgenic maize.
Leslie, T. W., A. Hulting, D. J. Biddinger, J. Rohr, D. Mortensen, R. Davidson, and S. J. Fleischer. Carabidae diversity
along an ag-forest ecotone.
S. J. Fleischer, T. W. Leslie, A. Herbert, and T. Kuhar. Spatial and temporal pattern of Heliothis zea pyrethroid
resistance in the mid-Atlantic.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Hutchison, W.D., R. Moon, T.W. Leslie, S.J. Fleischer, M. Abrahamson, K. Hamilton, M. Gray, K. Steffey, R. Hellmich,
V. Kaster, R. Wright, T. Hunt, and P. Mitchell. 2008. Twelve years after the adoption of Bt maize in the U.S.:
Impacts of landscape level suppression of European corn borer in several midwestern states. To be presented at
the XXIII International Congress of Entomology, Durban, South Africa.
Leslie, T. W., D. J. Biddinger, J. R. Rohr, R. Davidson, A. Hulting, D. Mortensen, and S. J. Fleischer. 2007. Living on
the edge: Carabidae diversity and dynamics along and ag-forest ecotone. National Meeting of the Entomological
Society of America, San Diego, CA.
Leslie, T. W., D. J. Biddinger, J. R. Rohr, G. Hoheisel, C. A. Mullin, and S. J. Fleischer. 2007. Epigeal coleopteran
biodiversity and dynamics: transgenic and landscape influences. Invited talk, Northeastern Field Crops
Symposium, Eastern Branch, Entomological Society of America. Harrisburg, PA.
Fleischer, S. J., T. W. Leslie, and W. Hutchison. 2007. Corn earworm susceptibility to pyrethroids: contrasting
geographic regions. Invited talk, Northeastern Field Crops Symposium, Eastern Branch, Entomological Society
of America. Harrisburg, PA.
Leslie, T. W., W. van der Werf, F. J. J. A. Bianchi, and A. Honek. 2006. Temporal dynamics of three aphid species and
a shared predator. National Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Indianapolis, IN.
Leslie, T. W., D. J. Biddinger, J. R. Rohr, G. Hoheisel, and S. J. Fleischer. 2006. Does transgenic vegetable
production impact epigeal coleopteran biodiversity? National Meeting of the Ecological Society of America,
Memphis, TN.
Leslie, T. W., G. Hoheisel, D. J. Biddinger, J. R. Rohr, and S. J. Fleischer. 2005. Diversified vegetable farms adopting
transgenics: Implications for epigeal biodiversity. National Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Fort
Lauderdale, FL.
Leslie, T. W., A. J. Hulting, and J. Kozak. 2005. Agriculture and forest mosaic effects on epigeal coleopteran
assemblages. Northeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference, University Park, PA.
Leslie, T. W., G. Hoheisel, D. J. Biddinger, J. R. Rohr, and S. J. Fleischer. 2004. Carabidae dynamics in sweet and
field corn: Influences of trangenics and insecticides. National Meeting of the Entomological Society of America,
Salt Lake City, UT.
Mullin, C., M. C. Saunders II, T. W. Leslie, D. Biddinger, and S. J. Fleischer. 2004. Non-target behavioral and toxic
effects of Cry3Bb1-protected corn on Carabidae. National Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. Salt
Lake City, UT.
Leslie, T. W., G. Hoheisel, D. J. Biddinger, J. R. Rohr, and S. J. Fleischer. 2003. Population dynamics and diversity of
Carabidae in transgenic and isoline vegetables. National Meeting of the Entomological Society of America,
Cincinnati, OH.
Hoheisel, G. A., T. W. Leslie, D. Biddinger, C. Mullin and S. J. Fleischer. 2003. Approaches to ecotoxicology of
transgenic maize in northeastern agroecosystems. Information systems for biotechnology and USDA CSREES
workshop: Future Directions and Research Priorities for the Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants
Program. Washington, D.C.
Hoheisel, G., S. J. Fleischer, D. J. Biddinger and T. W. Leslie. 2002. Beetle and ant diversity within a multicrop
vegetable farm using IPM with transgenic or isoline crops. National Meeting of the Entomological Society of
America. Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
GUEST LECTURES / SEMINARS
Leslie, T. W. October 2008. Insect Diversity and Dynamics in Agroecosystems Adopting Transgenic Crops. Invited
talk, Department of Biology seminar series. Long Island University.
Leslie, T. W. and M. E. Barbercheck. July 2007. Biological indicators of soil quality. Cover Crop Field Day, Penn State
University Research Farm, Rock Springs, PA.
Leslie, T. W. July 2007. Research opportunities in agroecology. Visiting undergraduate students from Seoul University,
Penn State University.
Leslie, T. W. May 2007. Insect Diversity and Dynamics in Agroecosystems Adopting Transgenic Crops. Invited talk,
Department of Entomology seminar series. Penn State University.
Leslie, T. W. July 2006. Year-to-year fluctuations in aphid peak densities: What causes it? Invited talk, Department of
Entomology seminar series. Penn State University.
Leslie, T. W. June 2006. Synchrony and pattern in aphid dynamics: influence of a shared predator. Invited talk,
Department of Crop and Weed Ecology seminar series. Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands.
Leslie, T. W. March 2006. Biological control in vegetables. Extension education program, Erie, PA.
Leslie, T. W., M. E. Barbercheck, D. J. Biddinger. February 2006. Know thy allies: Beneficial bug identification.
Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) conference, State College, PA.
Leslie, T. W. November 2005. Risk assessment of genetically modified crops: non-target effects. Issues in Agricultural
Biotechnology (ENT 596F), Department of Entomology, Penn State University.
Leslie, T. W. August 2005 Field margin ecology: collecting insects along an ag-forest ecotone. Insect Natural History
(ENT 597), Department of Entomology, Penn State University.
Leslie, T. W. July 2005. Insect diversity in agricultural systems. Women in Science and Engineering, Penn State
University.
Leslie, T. W. August 2004 Field collection and identification of arthropods in different agricultural systems. Insect
Natural History (ENT 597), Department of Entomology, Penn State University.
GRANTS AND AWARDS
Fleischer, S. J., D. Johnson, T. W. Leslie. 2007. Advancing Sweet Corn Insecticide and Biorational Options.
Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association. ($3,850)
Leslie T. W., J. McNeil, E. Schwartzberg, A. Bachmann. 2007. 1st place team award, Linnean Games. Eastern
Branch Meeting, Entomological Society of America, Harrisburg, PA. ($200)
Lloyd E. Adams Memorial Grant-in-Aid for student in Economic Entomology. 2006. ($500)
Uni-Mart and Paul Hand Graduate Student Travel Award. 2005. ($250)
Adams County Poultry Association Scholarship. 1997 & 1998. ($1000)
Wilbur H. Ward Memorial Scholarship. 1996. ($2000)
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT / SERVICE
Ad hoc referee for: Environmental Entomology (3), Agricultural and Forest Entomology (1), Entomological Experimentalis
et Applicata (1)
Introduction to GIS workshop. Fall 2006.
GIS Council, Penn State University Committee member, The Great Insect Fair. 2004-2006.
Department of Entomology, Penn State University
Secretary/Treasurer. 2004-2005.
Penn State Entomology Graduate Student Association
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
Ecological Society of America (ESA)
Entomological Society of America (ESA)
International Organization of Biological Control (IOBC)
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Sustainable Crop Protection (SUSPROT) exchange program. (Mar-Jun 2006)
Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
Institute for Crop Protection, Prague, Czech Republic
Collaborators: Dr. Wopke van der Werf (Netherlands), Dr. Alois Honek (Czech Republic), Dr. Felix Bianchi (Australia)
IOBC workshop on Functional Biodiversity. May 2006. Zurich, Switzerland.
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
Field and laboratory: experimental design of large-scale field studies, biodiversity surveys, and laboratory toxicological
bioassays
Statistical techniques: multivariate analyses, time series, ordination, rarefaction, permutational analyses
Statistical software: SAS, CANOCO, NLTSM, EstimateS, R, Minitab, PERMANOVA, DISTLM
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