Current Research Areas:

My research program at MSU primarily is focused on agricultural and biological risk assessment. More specifically, the program is centered on comparative risk assessment. Additional areas of research emphasis include plant-stress ecophysiology and integrated pest management. All three areas form a diverse, yet interrelated research program.

Risk Assessment Research. My research program can best be described as encompassing various aspects of comparative risk assessment. The purpose of comparative risk assessment is to qualitatively and quantitatively compare different environmental risks for the purpose of improved decision-making. Within this umbrella, we are developing innovative approaches to risk assessment.

The specific research projects can be grouped under biotechnology risk, invasive species risk, and pesticide risk. Biotechnology risk research focuses mainly on agricultural plants and includes glyphosate-tolerant crops, Bt crops, and plant-based biopharmaceuticals. Within these biotechnology areas, we are developing and evaluating approaches to optimize human health and ecological risk assessments. Invasive species research includes human health risks associated with vector-borne diseases (e.g., West Nile Virus) and human and ecological risks associated with introduced weed species. The pesticide risk research is mainly tied to comparative assessments of biotechnology or invasive species issues. For example, human health risks from West Nile Virus are compared to risks from the use of insecticides to control mosquito vectors of the virus.

An additional risk topic includes research on the relationships between pest damage and food toxicology and nutrition. Specifically, we are using insect herbivores to injure plants or stored grain, measure subsequently induced phytotoxins, antinutrients and mycotoxins, and then relate those products to human dietary risk.

Plant-Stress Ecophysiology Research.  The primary project in this category involves wheat physiological responses to the wheat stem sawfly. Other activities include developing models of plant physiological response to different arthropod injury guilds and characterizing invasive weed physiological responses to injury by biological control insects. The latter project has important consequences for determining the impact of biological control on weeds and therefore for assessing the risks and benefits of biocontrol programs.

Integrated Pest Management Research.  This research primarily focuses on IPM theory, specifically economic decision levels.

BRIEF CV - ROBERT K. D. PETERSON

EDUCATION

Doctor of Philosophy. 1995. University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Entomology. Minor in Agronomy.

Master of Science. 1991. University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Entomology.

Bachelor of Science. 1987. Iowa State University. Entomology and Pest Management.

PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE

Associate Professor (2002 – present). Agricultural and Biological Risk Assessment.  Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences.  Montana State University. 

Research Biologist (1995 – 2001). Dow AgroSciences, Omaha, NE and Indianapolis, IN. Field Development Scientist (1995-1997), Risk Assessment Leader (1997-1999), Regulatory Manager (1999-2001).

Adjunct Associate Professor (1996 – 2007). Department of Entomology. University of Nebraska.  Assistant Professor, 1996; Associate Professor, 2000.

Graduate Research Assistant (1992 – 1995). Department of Entomology. Insect Ecology and Plant Ecophysiology Research Project. University of Nebraska.  Project Leader:  Dr. Leon G. Higley.

Graduate Research Assistant (1989 – 1991). Department of Entomology. Forage Insects Research Project. University of Nebraska. Project Leader:  Dr. Stephen D. Danielson.

Extension and Research Assistant (1988 – 1989). Department of Botany and Plant Pathology  Oregon State University Extension Service. Project Leader:  Dr. Jay W. Pscheidt.

Laboratory and Field Research Technician (1985 – 1988). Department of Entomology. Integrated Pest Management Project. Iowa State University. Project Leader:  Dr. Larry P. Pedigo.

Featured Web Sites:
Nature Macrophotography
Insects, Disease, and History
West Nile Virus, Mosquito Management, and Risk
AgBiosafety