Description
Conduct research on the biology, ecology, taxonomy, and behavior of insects and related arthropods, and their interactions with crops, ecosystems, and human or animal health. Develop and evaluate monitoring, prevention, and control strategies, including integrated pest management and pollinator conservation. May map insect distributions, assess impacts of alternative practices, and advise on regulations, surveillance, and habitat management.
- • Communicate research findings to scientists, stakeholders, or the public, and teach entomology courses or workshops.
- • Advise farmers, foresters, or land managers on integrated pest management, pollinator protection, and habitat management.
- • Investigate insect population responses to specific management practices, climate, or habitat change.
- • Develop and validate monitoring protocols, traps, lures, or molecular assays for insect detection and surveillance.
- • Conduct field and laboratory experiments on insect life cycles, behavior, physiology, and interactions with plants, microbes, or predators.
- • Identify, classify, and curate insect species and allied arthropods using morphological and genetic methods.
- • Map insect distributions and habitats; assess invasion risk and pathways.
- • Develop environmentally responsible methods, products, or strategies to control agricultural, urban, or forestry pests.
- • Evaluate efficacy and non-target impacts of pesticides, biopesticides, and biological control agents.
- • Investigate causes of bee and pollinator diseases and factors affecting pollination services and colony health.
- • Diagnose and manage insect-related contamination or vector-borne disease risks in agricultural or public health settings.
- • Survey sites for insects to support environmental impact assessments, conservation planning, or reclamation projects.
- • Analyze insect-associated microbiomes, toxins, or chemical cues to inform management or taxonomy.
- • Provide technical input on regulations or standards for invasive species control, pesticide use, or pollinator safeguards.
- • Optimize crop or landscape practices (planting schedules, cultivar selection, habitat strips) to reduce pest pressure and enhance beneficials.
- • Consult with engineers, architects, or facilities managers on building design or site management to prevent or mitigate structural or public-health pests.
- • Design habitat manipulation strategies, such as pheromone mating disruption, trap crops, or push–pull systems.
- • Develop rapid response and quarantine protocols to prevent importation or spread of injurious species.
- • Research applications of insects for waste bioconversion, animal feed, or biomaterials, and assess environmental impacts.
- • Study urban entomology issues, including pests and pollinators in green roofs, parks, and built environments.
- • Advance methods for rearing insects, maintaining colonies, and conducting standardized bioassays.
- • Model insect phenology, dispersal, and outbreak risk under varying environmental scenarios.
- • Plan and oversee programs for pest surveillance, resistance management, and data reporting.
- • Train growers, inspectors, or technicians in sampling, identification, safe handling, and IPM practices.
- • Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to integrate entomological considerations into land-use, water, or restoration projects.
- • Document findings and produce reports, maps, or decision-support tools for clients, agencies, or the public.
Related specializations
Interview options
Interview options
Interviewee gender
Interviewee accent
Interview time
Source
Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
Learn more
Sources & Standards:
This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
