Cognato receives CANR Research Fellow Career Award
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EmailAnthony Cognato, Ph.D., of the Department of Entomology, will be honored with the ANR Research Fellow Career Award on May 8
Anthony Cognato, Ph.D., of the Department of Entomology, will be honored with the ANR Research Fellow Career Award on May 8.
The CANR Excellence in Research Award program recognizes the outstanding contributions of CANR researchers to the research mission of Michigan State University (MSU). In particular, the awards focus on the impact that their achievements have had on academic and/or external stakeholder communities. The Research Fellow (Career) Award recognizes individuals with 15 or more years of research experience.
Anthony Cognato, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Entomology and director of the A.J. Cook Arthropod Research Collection, is an internationally recognized expert in the systematics and evolution of bark and ambrosia beetles. His research, global in scope, has significantly advanced our understanding of these beetles, which are responsible for the greatest loss to planted and natural forests annually. This work has provided essential resources for inspectors and entomologists worldwide.
Cognato's broader contributions to insect systematics and collection stewardship are equally significant. He has been a principal investigator or collaborator on four National Science Foundation collection improvement and digitization grants, which have publicized data from millions of insect specimens and supported the scholarly study of collections with big data.
Cognato has played a pivotal role in advancing the A.J. Cook Arthropod Research Collection through his leadership and strategic vision. He has undertaken numerous efforts to improve the security and accessibility of these important collections, bringing in dedicated competitive grants and overseeing a diverse group of students and volunteers. The collection has gained national visibility through its active participation in major initiatives aimed at compiling, digitizing and disseminating arthropod biodiversity data — solidifying its status as a vital resource for research and education.
Among his most important and lasting contributions has been training talented students in Scolytine and other arthropod systematics. Cognato has mentored over twenty graduate students, many of whom are now prominent community members, as well as several postdocs and undergraduate students. As an instructor, he has overseen several critical courses in arthropod systematics and diversity, showcasing his essential role in the program at MSU.
