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Bonnie Johnson
July 27, 2026
Media ArticleHeather Grab, assistant professor of entomology in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, has been awarded the Lorenzo L. Langstroth Early Career Professorship in Entomology. The honor recognizes her achievements in research, teaching, student mentorship and public engagement.
Named after Lorenzo L. Langstroth, known as the “Father of American Beekeeping,” the professorship supports promising early-career faculty members. Preference is given to researchers whose work focuses on honey bees and pollinator science.
Grab’s research centers on understanding the factors that influence the abundance and distribution of beneficial insects, particularly wild pollinators. Her work aims to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability by applying ecological knowledge to real-world farming challenges.
Her laboratory studies integrated pest and pollinator management and uses long-term monitoring data, environmental information and artificial intelligence to predict populations of both pests and beneficial insects. These efforts help farmers make more informed management decisions while supporting healthy ecosystems.
Inspired by Langstroth’s legacy of scientific curiosity, Grab combines ecological research with advanced technologies to better understand pollinator biology. Her work seeks to develop practical tools that help anticipate changes in pollinator communities and strengthen agricultural resilience.
The professorship will provide additional opportunities for students and postdoctoral researchers in her group to explore innovative research areas and address critical challenges facing agriculture. Through collaboration with growers and conservation partners, Grab hopes to continue translating scientific discoveries into solutions that benefit both farming communities and society.
Photo Credit: Penn State.Creative Commons
