Ember Clodfelter

I am queer and I am an entomologist.//

 

I am an Illinois born and raised queer scientist. I grew up using the Audubon field guides to identify the world around me, particularly insects. This led naturally to pursuing a bachelor’s degree in entomology from UW-Madison. After graduation, my entomological career started with jobs in municipal mosquito control, with a focus on invasive species and disease monitoring. Following that, I returned to school for graduate studies working on the phylogenomics of parasitic lice and their endosymbionts at UIUC. I am particularly interested in Wolbachia and related manipulative bacteria. I have been out in some capacity as non-binary since my senior year of high school (2016). Different jobs and positions have felt more or less comfortable in that regard. Entomology as a career is one of the most accepting I have had the pleasure of being a part of. I grew up not seeing people like me or knowing they existed, thus I strive to be as visible as I can to help show others that queer scientists exist, thrive, and drive research.