Joshua Armstrong

B.S., Pennsylvania State University

Bio:

I am an Assistant Professor of Biology. I teach Fundamentals of Biology II, Botany, Ecology, and Advanced Ecological Concepts. I like to incorporate as many hands-on lab and field experiences in my classes as I can, and I love working with and mentoring students.

I earned my Bachelor of Science in Biology from Penn State University Erie, the Behrend College in 2015, and I am currently finishing writing my dissertation for my Ph.D. at Virginia Commonwealth University. Prior to joining the faculty at Methodist, I was working on my Ph.D. at Virginia Commonwealth University. Between finishing my B.S. and starting by Ph.D., I work in a corporate microbiology food testing lab for two years and then I worked as a lab manager for an evolutionary ecology lab at the University of Pittsburgh for two years.

My areas of expertise include community ecology, aquatic ecology, plant ecology, and invasive species. My research focuses on how aquatic plants, both native and invasive, impact the aquatic communities that they are introduced to and how the resident plant and animal communities respond. Understanding the impact that’s invasive species can have on native communities is especially important in our rapidly changing world. The aim of my research is to further bridge the gap between community and invasion ecology. To do so, I use aquatic plants, Hydrilla verticillata specifically, to explore the impacts of their introductions on aquatic macroinvertebrates. Using these organisms that develop quickly, I am able perform both natural surveys and natural experiments, through natural microcosms, to investigate these questions.

In my free time, I enjoy hiking, playing video games, playing guitars, and most of all, spending time with my wife, two daughters, and dog.