Robert Koch

Bob Koch, Caucasian man blue shirt
Professor
he/him/his
koch0125@umn.edu
Office: 530B Hodson Hall

Mailing Address: 1980 Folwell Avenue 219 Hodson Hall
St Paul, MN 55108
United States

Education

B.A. Biology, St. John’s University, Collegeville, MN
Ph.D. Entomology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN

Areas of Interest

Integrated pest management, crops pests, remote sensing, insecticde resistance, host plant resistance, biological control, sampling

Research

My research program focuses on applied ecology and integrated pest management of arthropods associated with crops, primarily soybean. The goal, in conjunction with my extension program, is to improve the environmental and economic sustainability of crop production through integrated pest management. The research program is broadly based, emphasizing scouting (sampling and remote sensing) and evaluation and integration of control tactics (chemical and biological controls and host plant resistance).

Current research areas include…

Soybean aphid:

  • Remote sensing
  • Insecticide resistance
  • Insecticide efficacy
  • Host plant resistance
     

Stink bugs:

  • Biological control
  • Sampling
     

Soybean gall midge:

  • Biological control
  • Overwintering biology
     

Pennycress entomology: Identify pests and quantify their impacts to this new crop

Extension

Research-based guidance for management of soybean pests is shared with farmers and agricultural professionals through multiple routes, including:

 

Select Publications

Please see:  Google Scholar Profile & List of Publications

 

Students Advised

Current: 

  • Pheylan Anderson, MS 
  • Sarah Lisak, PhD (co-advised by Amelia Lindsey)
  • Ellen Adjeiwaa, MS 

Past:

  • Gloria Melotto, MS (co-advised by Amelia Lindsey) (2023)
  • Rosa (Tina) Lozano, PhD (co-advised by Amelia Lindsey) (2023)
  • James Menger, MS (2022)
  • Rafael Carlesso Aita, MS (2020)
  • Zach Marston, Ph.D (co-advised by Ian MacRae) (2019)
  • Hailey Shanovich, MS (2019)
  • Obiratanea da Silva Queiroz, MS (2019)
  • Daniela Pezzini, MS (2018)
  • Anthony Hanson, Ph.D (2017)
  • Tavvs Alves, Ph.D (co-advised by Ian MacRae) (2016)
  • Anh Tran, MS (2016)
  • Erica Nystrom, MS (co-advised by Robert Venette) (2016)

Staff

  • Arthur Ribeiro, Postdoc
  • James Menger, Researcher

 

First Gen Proud

"As a first-generation college graduate, I enjoy helping others navigate things at the University."