MSU Entomology Names First Tatter Fellow
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EmailMSU’s Department of Entomology has named Shelley Linder Spotts the first recipient of the Tatter Family Entomology Graduate Fellowship for her applied research on improving biological control in greenhouses.
The Michigan State University Department of Entomology has named Shelley Linder Spotts the first recipient of the Tatter Family Entomology Graduate Fellowship, a competitive award that supports outstanding graduate students pursuing advanced training in entomology at MSU.
Linder Spotts will be advised by Marianna Szűcs, associate professor of entomology, and will focus her research on improving the reliability of beneficial insects used in greenhouse biological control. Her work addresses a major challenge for growers by using evolutionary approaches to strengthen traits such as establishment and performance, helping biological control become a more practical and effective pest management tool.
Linder Spotts will be joining MSU entomology after three years of professional experience with Koppert Biological Systems, a commercial producer of biological control agents serving greenhouse growers. “I am most excited to blend the evolutionary focus of my Masters’ work with the perspective I have gained working in industry,” Linder Spotts said.
Szűcs said she is especially excited to mentor Linder Spotts because of her ability to connect basic science with real-world applications. “Shelley is already thinking at the interface of theory and application, which has long been the focus of my lab’s research and is exactly where we need more innovation in biological control,” Szűcs said. She added that Linder Spotts’ industry experience will help the lab think creatively about applied solutions.
The Tatter Family Entomology Graduate Fellowship provides a fully funded graduate research assistantship, including a $35,000 annual salary for the 2026–27 academic year, health benefits, tuition and $5,000 in research and travel support. The fellowship is awarded for one year and may be renewed for a second year based on progress.
The fellowship is supported by the Tatter Family Endowment for Excellence in Entomology, established in honor of Jordan Tatter, a 1960 MSU entomology graduate. The endowment reflects the Tatter family’s long-standing commitment to entomology, agriculture, natural resources and to supporting the next generation of scientists.
Through the Tatter fellowship, MSU continues to invest in graduate researchers whose work strengthens sustainable agriculture and advances practical, science-based solutions for growers.
