WSU's Crowder Now Part Of The Entomological Society of America

A Washington State University professor is receiving one of the highest honors in the field of entomology.

David Crowder, a professor in WSU’s Department of Entomology, has been elected a fellow of the Entomological Society of America. Crowder said mentoring students and helping them discover their strengths has been one of the most rewarding parts of his career.

“I had a few interactions with professors that totally altered my life,” Crowder said. “The honor of being elected as a fellow is humbling, but I think it shows the importance of the work that the people in my lab and I have done.”

His lab published 24 scientific papers last year, many co-authored by undergraduate and graduate students. Crowder’s research also has practical benefits for agriculture. His team analyzes weather data to predict when crop pests are most likely to appear, helping growers time pest-control measures more effectively while reducing waste.

“I’m mostly attracted to solving puzzles,” Crowder said. “I don’t think I’ve worked on the same topic for more than five years in a row. The process of finding solutions to the unknown is fascinating to me.”

The research focuses largely on tree fruit and potatoes, and is expanding to include California almond growers.

“I think more about how to effectively share my experiences and guide others at this point,” Crowder said. “I’m still relatively in the middle of my career, and I’m always looking for new topics to cover, but helping people less experienced than me is what I cherish most.

“When I was 25, this is exactly where I thought I’d be at this point in my career,” he continued. “That’s pretty cool.”

“Election as a fellow of the Entomological Society of America is among the highest honors in the profession and reflects both scientific excellence and lasting impact” said Raj Khosla, Cashup Davis Family Endowed Dean of WSU’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences. “Dr. Crowder exemplifies the very best of our faculty through his innovative research, commitment to solving real-world challenges for agriculture, and dedication to mentoring the next generation of scientists.”