Amanda J. Lentz-Ronning
11012 Rufford Road, Chester VA, 23831
Telephone: (804) 796-1473
email: ajlentz@vt.edu
EDUCATION
August 2007
December 2001
May 1996
PhD, Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech
MS, Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University
BS, Double major, Biology & Art History, Virginia Tech
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE____________________________________________________________
2007 – Present
Lecturer of Biology, Longwood University
Entomology (4 C)
The Unity of Life (4 C), The Diversity of Life (4 C), Fundamentals of Life Science (4 C),
and Biological Concepts and Applications (4 C)
Undergraduate Research Mentor, Jessica Bray and Kristen Walker (Fall 2010 - May
2011).
-Students presented in the Cooke-Cole College 2010 6th Annual Student Showcase
-Students presented at the Virginia Academy of Sciences, May 2011
Mentored Teaching Assistants: Quynh Lee, Carrie Dunham, and Heidi Macey (Spring
2011). Kristen Davis (Spring 2009) and Kaitlynn Nickel (Spring 2008).
Supervisor for Independent Study, Alexis Barker (Summer 2009) and Jackie Vacca (Fall
2008).
2002 – 2007
Laboratory Instructor, Virginia Tech
Honors Biology Laboratory (2006); Designed & implemented molecular laboratory
Majors Biology Laboratory (2002 – 2005)
Plant Taxonomy (Spring 2005 – 2007); Created photographic atlas & web page
2003 – 2005
Advisor and Supervisor, Virginia Tech
Mentor (David Sharp), undergraduate independent research project.
Fall 2004 - Spring 2005. Publication of original research (Florida
Entomologist).
Supervisor (Fall 2003 - 2006), volunteer undergraduates and work study students.
Mentor Assistant (La Tron Brown), Virginia Tech 5/03 - 8/03
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2003 - 2004
Research Assistant, University of Georgia (Lynn Adler & Rebecca Irwin)
2002
Laboratory Manager, Virginia Commonwealth University (Karen Kester)
1997 – 2002
Adjunct Laboratory Instructor, Virginia Commonwealth University
PUBLICATIONS__________________________________________________________________________
Lentz-Ronning, Amanda J. and Karen M. Kester, in review. The effects of sequential learning experiences on
the fitness and foraging behavior of Cotesia congregata.
Sharp, David, Amanda J. Lentz-Ronning, Johanna Barron, and Lynn S. Adler, 2009, Florida Entomologist,
92(2): 374-376. The effect of larval diet and sex on nectar nictotine feeding preferences in Manduca
sexta (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae).
Lentz, Amanda J. and Karen M. Kester, 2008. Postermegence experience affects sex ratio allocation in a
gregarious insect parasitoid. Journal of Insect Behavior, 21: 34 - 45.
Adler, Lynn S., Michael Wink, Melanie Distl, and Amanda J. Lentz. 2006. Leaf herbivory and nutrients
increase nectar alkaloids. Ecology Letters, 9: 960-967.
Lentz-Ronning, Amanda J. and Lynn S. Adler, in preparation. The role of aphids in parasitoid-host interactions.
Lentz-Ronning, Amanda J., in preparation. The effect of aphids on parasitoid preference and performance.
GRANTS_________________________________________________________________________________
2005
NSF Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant: The effect of secondary herbivores on
tritrophic interactions. $10,782
2004
American Museum of Natural History: The effects of auxiliary herbivores on tritrophic
interactions. $1,500
2004
Graduate Research Development Program: Do aphids affect nicotine concentration in
tobacco plants? $375
2003
Graduate Research Development Program: Do female hawkmoths prefer amino acid
enhanced nectar? $500
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PRESENTATIONS_________________________________________________________________________
Oral Presentations
The role of aphids in parasitoid-host interactions
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2006 Virginia Tech Research Day, Blacksburg, VA (invited).
2006 National Meeting: Ecological Society of America, Memphis, TN.
Postemergence experience affects sex ratio allocation of Cotesia congregata (Say)
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2003 National Meeting: Ecological Society of America, Savannah, GA.
2003 National Meeting: Entomological Society of America, Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
Poster Presentations
Nectar amino acids attract antagonists
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2006 Virginia Tech, College of Science Round Table Meeting (invited).
2005 Virginia Tech, Virginia Tech Research Day, Blacksburg VA.
2005 National Meeting: Ecological Society of America, Montreal, Canada.
Effects of sequential learning experiences on the foraging behavior of the parasitic wasp, Cotesia congregata
Say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)
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National Meeting: American Institute of Biological Sciences, 51st Annual Meeting, Washington
D.C., 2001.
National Meeting: Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Annual Meeting, Atlanta
GA, 2000.
Regional Meeting: Eastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America, 70th Annual
Meeting, Virginia Beach Virginia, 1999.
University Meeting: Daniel T. Watts Day Research Symposium, VCU, 1999.
Mentored Student Presentations
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Annual Meeting: Virginia Academy of Sciences, Richmond VA, 2011
Effects of Phenolic Acids on Ovipositional Selection in the Cabbage White Butterfly, Pieris
rapae. J. L. Bray, M. E. Lehman, A. J. Lentz-Ronning, Dept. of Biological and Environmental
Sciences, LWU.
Effects of Host Plant Allelochemical and Nutrient Status on the Cabbage White Butterfly, Pieris
rapae. K. S. Walker, M. E. Lehman, A. J. Lentz-Ronning, Dept. of Biological and Environmental
Sciences, LWU.
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AWARDS_________________________________________________________________________________
2011
Outstanding First Year Student Advocate, Longwood University
2007
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Instructor, Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech
2005
First Place Poster, Virginia Tech Research Day, Do nectar amino acids attract antagonists?
2007
Nominee for Graduate Student Teaching Excellence Award, College of Science, Virginia Tech
2000
Second Place Poster, SICB National Meeting, Effects of sequential learning experiences on the
foraging behavior of the parasitic wasp, Cotesia congregata Say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae).
SERVICE_________________________________________________________________________________
2011
Longwood Recruitment Committee
2010-11
Assessment, Recruitment, and Awards and Scholarships Committees, Longwood University.
2008
Speaker, Hanover Public School System. 7th Grade Science Class, What Does a Scientist Do?
Insect Show and Tell.
2004
Reviewer for Ecology
2003
Reviewer for American Naturalist
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