Bruce McPheron
Bruce A. McPheron
Professor of Entomology
Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Education
Director of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station
217 Ag Admin Building
Phone: 814-865-3136
Fax: 814-863-7905
E-mail: bam10@psu.edu
Bruce McPheron, professor of entomology in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, is the college’s associate dean for research and graduate education and director of the PA Agricultural Experiment Station. McPheron currently serves as chair of ESCOP, the national association of agricultural experiment station directors, and he is chair elect of the National Agricultural Biotechnology Council.
McPheron’s research in insect molecular ecology has focused on population genetics, the genetics of insecticide resistance and the genetic history of insect incursions into new geographic areas. His extensive research on the genetics and geographical origin of Mediterranean fruit fly infestations has taken him around the world to conduct field work and collect specimens. He also has studied pesticide resistance and population dynamics of Pennsylvania agricultural pests such as tufted apple bud moth and apple maggot.
His research has been supported by 18 funding agencies, including the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Pennsylvania, Florida, and California departments of agriculture. He has authored or co-authored more than 85 refereed and non-refereed journal articles and book chapters and has edited two books.
McPheron credits his experience in 4-H as a youth for starting him on his career path. “I started collecting insects at the age of 11 after seeing 4-H displays at the county fair,” he says. “4-H taught me technical knowledge, interpersonal skills, leadership, and public speaking, and it provided financial support in the form of a college scholarship.”
McPheron has taught undergraduate and graduate entomology courses and has mentored 15 graduate students and six postdoctoral scholars. He has served on numerous departmental, college, and University committees. In addition, he is a member of several professional societies and serves as a reviewer for more than 20 scientific journals and eight granting agencies.
McPheron joined Penn State in 1988 as an assistant professor of entomology. He became associate professor in 1994 and attained the rank of full professor in 2000. From 2000-2002, he served as an administrative fellow in the Office of Research and Graduate Education, where he has addressed issues of intellectual property management; federal, state, and university accountability; and industry relations.
Before coming to Penn State, McPheron was a postdoctoral researcher at Louisiana State University, a teaching assistant at the University of Illinois, and a county extension agent for 4-H and youth development in Clermont County, Ohio.
