Meet Hannah Quellhorst, Ph.D., postdoctoral researcher at Kansas State University, stored-product pest expert, world traveler, and subject of the next installment of our “Standout Early Career Professionals” series.

By Zach Cohen, Ph.D.

Editor’s Note: This is the next article in the “Standout ECPs” series contributed by the Entomological Society of America’s Early Career Professionals (ECP) Committee, highlighting outstanding ECPs that are doing great work in the profession. (An ECP is defined as anyone within the first five years of obtaining their terminal degree in their field.) Read past articles in the Standout ECPs series.

Hannah Quellhorst, Ph.D., is a National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) postdoctoral researcher at Kansas State University. Hannah received her B.S. (2015) and M.S. (2018) degrees from Purdue University studying postharvest pest management with a special focus on international agriculture and the grand challenge of solving world hunger. Afterward, she moved to Kansas State University to pursue her Ph.D. in entomology (2023), where she was awarded a NIFA pre-doctoral fellowship to support improving management of maize, postharvest, with special focus on invasive storage insect pests such as the larger grain borer. Quellhorst is an alumna of the ESA Science Policy Fellows program (2022), and she earned the ESA Student Activity award in 2023 and the ESA North Central Branch Excellence in Early Career Research award in 2026. She is currently the North Central Branch representative to the ESA Early Career Professionals Committee.

Cohen: How did you get into entomology?

Quellhorst: I always loved animals and insects since I was a young child. The summer before 8th grade, I got involved in the 4-H entomology project and the leader, who was a retired entomologist, told me: “You know you could do this for a living, right?” and I believed him and made my decision right then to become an entomologist.

What do you do in your current job?

I am finishing a NIFA postdoctoral fellowship focused on haplotyping the invasive khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium), to better understand its invasion pathway as well as improve identification of this cryptic pest.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

For me the most rewarding part of my job is to be able to offer advice and encouragement to younger researchers in my sphere of influence. If I can help someone or encourage someone on their journey, I feel like I have succeeded myself.

What is the most challenging part of your job?

I think the most challenging part of my job comes down to the uncertain nature of the postdoctoral research condition, which is to always be working on short-term contracts (1-2 years). This uncertainty can be stressful. However, it teaches you to write grants!

Hannah Quellhorst, Ph.D., postdoctoral researcher at Kansas State University, recently traveled to El Salvador to lead a training on stored products insect pest identification and management. Here, she speaks with participants among stacks of bags of corn.

Hannah Quellhorst, Ph.D. (center, in purple shirt), postdoctoral researcher at Kansas State University, recently traveled to El Salvador to lead a training on stored products insect pest identification and management.

What do you see yourself doing in the future?

I always see myself doing research and traveling the world, which is something I am blessed enough to do now. I think that no matter the permanent job I end up in, the goal is to never lose sight of what you love to do and why you started. So, if I end in a faculty position, it would be for the purpose of continuing my exploration of the natural world. My passion is to use this exploration for what I call humanitarian science—solving world hunger through my specific interest in postharvest pest management.

Who inspires you to do what you do?

There are many people who influenced and inspired me to become an entomologist. I think my mom inspires me to do what I do, more than most, because I know that she loved similar things such as horticulture and she never had the chance to pursue it. So, I think, her seeing how far I have come makes her happy.

What would you do if you weren’t working in entomology?

If I wasn’t working in entomology, I think I would be a travel guide. I love to travel the world and excel with planning and organizing events. If that didn’t work out, I would be a farmer, as I love raising and caring for insects and animals.

Do you have time for any hobbies?

I have had a decade-long hobby of keeping reptiles. I keep and breed crested geckos.

When she’s not working postdoctoral researcher in entomology at Kansas State University, Hannah Quellhorst, Ph.D., pursues her hobby of keeping and breeding crested geckos.

What is your advice for other early-career professionals?

Keep in mind why you started the journey. With this in mind you can continue to renew the passion. Be open-minded and willing to consider roles that you may not have considered previously. For me, the key is that even if I am not in a permanent position, I can still do all the things that I would want to do if I was in a permanent position. I am writing the grants for research projects that I want to do. I am traveling and collaborating with colleagues. I am not letting the short-term nature of my position limit my goals. And I am thankful for an advisor who encourages me to pursue my dreams.

What is your favorite arthropod and why?

My favorite arthropod is the Madagascan moon moth, Argema mittrei. I simply adore large colorful moths.

Are there any exciting directions that you think entomology is headed?

I have recently been involved with projects on nanotechnology and pest management. While nanotechnology has been around for a little while, I think it is a new frontier, now receiving more attention along with artificial intelligence. I think nanotechnology has great potential in pest management, especially for pesticide delivery.

Thanks Hannah! Get to know Hannah and her work via LinkedIn, Instagram, or Google Scholar.

Zachary Cohen, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral researcher Florida Atlantic University’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Previously, he worked in a postdoctoral role at the at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service in College Station, Texas. He currently serves as the Southwestern Branch representative to the ESA Early Career Professionals Committee. Email: [email protected].

All photos courtesy of Hannah Quellhorst, Ph.D.