Erica Kistner-Thomas

Erica Kistner-Thomas, PhD, currently serves as the National Program Leader at the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture since May 2020. Previously, Erica held the position of Research Associate (Ecologist) at USDA-ARS from May 2016 to May 2020, where responsibilities included developing climate-informed decision-making tools for agricultural managers. Erica also worked as a Research Associate (Entomologist) at the University of California, Riverside, focusing on biological control of the invasive Asian citrus psyllid, which contributed to integrated pest management policies in California and Texas. Erica's early academic experience includes a Graduate Research Fellowship in Ecology at the University of Notre Dame, where successful research on mycoinsecticides led to multiple publications. Erica holds a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Notre Dame, a Master's degree in Zoology from Washington State University, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Portland.