UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Christina Grozinger, Publius Vergilius Maro Professor of Entomology and director of the Center for Pollinator Research, has been named the new director of the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences at Penn State. Grozinger, who is globally recognized for her research on pollinator health and social insect behavior, will take over the leadership role on March 15. Grozinger is succeeding Patrick Drew, who has served as interim director since June 2024.
“Christina is an outstanding scientist and leader whose pioneering work on pollinator genetics and health, as well as insect biodiversity more broadly, has reshaped our understanding of insect societies and their conservation,” said Andrew Read, senior vice president for research. “Her vision will undoubtedly elevate our research capabilities across the life sciences. We also thank Patrick Drew for his service in the interim role, bringing great leadership and furthering innovation within the Huck Institutes.”
Read added that Grozinger’s research portfolio has helped boost Penn State’s reputation for excellence over time as she has been awarded more than $20 million in external funding from international, national, state and foundation competitive funding programs, from cooperative agreements, industry partners and gifts. Additionally, she has published over 160 research articles with over 19,500 citations in the scientific literature, as well as one book and six book chapters.
As director, Grozinger will manage the strategic direction of the institute, fostering an environment of scientific discovery and collaboration across diverse disciplines. Her appointment underscores her significant contributions to the field and her commitment to enhancing life sciences research.
“Penn State uniquely fosters and promotes collaborative, transdisciplinary research, and this is due in large part to the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences,” Grozinger said. “I am thrilled to forward the Huck’s mission and help our innovative research community develop new collaborative initiatives to address fundamental scientific questions and broad societal challenges.
Grozinger also directs the Insect Biodiversity Center and the Technology for Living Systems Center at Penn State. She is a fellow of the Entomological Society of America and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and she received the 2021 National Academy of Sciences Prize in Food and Agriculture Sciences and the 2022 Penn State President’s Award for Excellence in Academic Integration. Grozinger received her bachelor's degree in chemistry and biology at McGill University, and her master's and doctoral degrees from Harvard University. Grozinger completed her postdoctoral studies as a fellow with the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Grozinger’s research program spans multiple disciplines, from genomics to ecology, and addresses a wide array of topics, from investigating the role of intragenomic conflict in shaping social insect societies to developing online decision support tools for beekeepers to better understand the biotic and abiotic stressors that their bees encounter in the surrounding landscape.
Grozinger founded the Huck-supported, cross-University Center for Pollinator Research and Insect Biodiversity Center. She is a member of the Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Center for Chemical Ecology, and Center for Brain Behavior and Cognition. Grozinger has mentored students in two of the Huck's Intercollege Graduate Degree Programs: in ecology and in molecular, cellular and integrative biology. She serves as the principal investigator on one of Penn State's two U.S. National Science Foundation-funded graduate training grants, INSECT NET, which brings together faculty from three colleges to leverage computer science, technology and artificial intelligence for insect management and biodiversity conservation. Grozinger has also served as the chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee in the Penn State Faculty Senate.
The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences at Penn State is a leading interdisciplinary research institution that fosters collaboration among scientists across various disciplines. The institute supports cutting-edge research in life sciences, offering access to advanced technological infrastructure and fostering an environment that encourages innovation and discovery. It comprises multiple core facilities, over 30 research centers, and administers several Intercollege Graduate Degree Programs, engaging more than 600 faculty researchers from over 50 departments across nine colleges at Penn State. The Huck Institutes aim to catalyze significant advancements in understanding life processes and improving human, animal and plant life through scientific research.