The Smith BIRDS Lab will soon be moving to a new website being made by the talented Melissa Lattke. We are excited for our new website to roll out soon!
​
My research asks how we can best manage agricultural systems to simultaneously promote environmental wellbeing, conserve biodiversity, control agricultural pests, produce safe and sufficient food, and support farmer livelihoods and wellbeing. To do so, I use ecological theory to identify what contexts have the best overall outcomes. Much of my research examines how landscape context interacts with how diversified a farm is to influence how beneficial or harmful biodiversity is to agricultural production. My research uses a combination of large-scale field studies and meta-analysis techniques to answer these questions. Altogether, my research takes a multidisciplinary “team science” approach to understand when and where different farming practices are likely to result in the best outcomes for biodiversity, crop yields, farmer wellbeing, and food safety.
A new line in my research program is investigating inequity in publishing. This research seeks to understand the extent of and solutions to mitigate peer review bias. This work arose from observing bias in peer review as an author, coauthor, and reviewer and was accomplished through building and leading a team of amazing early career researchers.
​
I am currently an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University in the Department of Horticulture and the Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Program.
​
​
​
Email: smitho17(at)msu.edu​
​