Marianne Alleyne (van Laarhoven)

I am a Research Scientist in the Department of Entomology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, but I am originally from The Netherlands and I studied at U.C. Berkeley (B.A. Integrative Biology – Go Bears!) and U.C. Riverside (M.S. Entomology – Go Highlanders!) before earning a Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Illinois – and then I kinda just never left.

Marianne Alleyne (Picture by @RussCreech)

I study the physiological factors that determine host range of pathogens and parasites that attack insects.  My main focus has been on the metabolic system and the immune response of lepidopteran hosts after parasitization by hymenopteran parasitoids.  Insects parasitoids are truly my passion, something I have yet to admit to my parents.

Cotesia congregata ovipositing into Manduca sexta (Picture by Alexander Wild, AlexanderWild.com, @myrmecos)

I have also an interest in how non-entomologists can be inspired by nature in general, and insects in particular, to create new technological innovations -> Bioinspiration.  This topic will be the primary focus of this blog.

I am the School of Integrative Biology’s online learning coordinator.  I teach Bioinspiration online and face-to-face, I co-teach online courses on Sustainability & Global Change and Emerging Infectious Diseases.  These courses are part of the Online Master of Science in Teaching of Biological Science program (A program I am very proud of).

In addition, I teach the graduate course Insect Physiology, which has always been my favorite course.

I am also a Scientist Mom of two wonderful sons.

You can follow me on Twitter @Cotesia1.