I am a field assistant in Ben Longdon’s group at the University of Exeter.
Research Career
| 2026 – Present | Centre of Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter | Research Assistant with Ben Longdon |
| 2025 – 2026 | New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science (Plant and Food Research) | Research Associate |
| 2024 – 2025 | Dept of Biological Sciences. University of Canterbury, Aotearoa, New Zealand | MSc with Jason Tylianakis |
| 2019 – 2023 | University of Canterbury, Aotearoa, New Zealand | BSc |
Research
My research is focused on ecology and conservation with a particular focus into entomological systems. For my MSc, I focused on understanding how arthropods living within natural forest fragments are moving in our agricultural landscapes to suppress pest species and how they are influenced by climate at a local (New Zealand (NZ)) and global scale. After my MSc, my work at the Bioeconomy Science Institute of NZ focused on bioprotection and integrated pest management. Where I worked on a range of projects investigating potential insect invasion pathways into NZ and understanding how insect species already present in the country can vector potential viruses to host plant species
With my entomology background I am really excited to be part of the UK Moth Virome Project where I can apply entomology skills to help understand viruses in UK Lepidoptera.
Ben Longdon 