Michelle is a Research Molecular Biologist in the USDA ARS Emerging Pests and Pathogens Research Unit on the campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. Her program uses a combination of molecular, genetic, and proteomics approaches to understand how insects transmit plant pathogens and how pathogens manipulate host plants to ensure replication and transmission. A second area of research is the development of new pest management tools to enhance cultural control and to provide new management strategies for insect vector-borne diseases in plants.