Grace Hirzel, PhD
Former Westerman Lab Graduate Student 
email: gehirzel@uark.edu
Grace Hirzel’s website
Address: University of Arkansas, Department of Biological Sciences
Science and Engineering, Room 601
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Education
PhD Biological Sciences (2023), University of Arkansas
Thesis: Effects of seasonal environment on abundance, behavior, visual signaling, and perception in prairie butterflies
B.S. Zoology (2013), Michigan State University
Lyman Briggs College, Honors College
East Lansing, MI
Independent Study- Measuring predator avoidance behavior in soybean aphid. Advisors: Doug Landis & Megan Woltz
Research Experience
Research Technologist, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, West Central Research and Extension Center, North Platte, NE, Dec. 2016 – Aug. 2017
Ecology and integrated pest management of agricultural pests in field crops.
Principle Investigator: Dr. Julie Peterson
Research Specialist II, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, Aug. 2015 – Jun. 2016
Role of pheromones in development and reproduction of model organism C. elegans.
Principle Investigator: Dr. Ilya Ruvinsky
Research Technician, North Carolina State University, Fort Bragg, NC, May – Aug. 2015
Habitat restoration for endangered Saint Francis’ Satyr (Neonympha mitchellii francisci) and its surrogate species (Satyrodes appalachia).
Principle Investigator: Dr. Nick Haddad
Research Technician, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, May – Aug. 2013
Phylogeography of arctic Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) populations.
Principle Investigator: Dr. Kim Scribner
Teaching
English Teacher. Nanya Middle School, Changsha, Hunan, PRC, Aug.2013 – Jun. 2014
Oral English, Grades 7 & 10
Selected Presentations
G.E. Hirzel, N.K. Brady, R.D. Reed, E.L. Westerman (2023). “Covariation in wing color, behavior, and sensory gene expression in a seasonally plastic butterfly.” Biology of Butterflies, Prague, CZ [talk]
G.E. Hirzel, E.L. Westerman (2021). “Surveying seasonal changes in behavior and wing coloration in a polyphonic butterfly.” Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting [talk]
G.E. Hirzel, E.L. Westerman (2019) “Active and abundant: surveying butterfly communities in Northwest Arkansas prairies.” Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting [poster]
G.E. Hirzel, E.L. Westerman (2018) “Ask a layman: surveying butterfly behavior with citizen scientists”. International Society for Behavioral Ecology. [poster]
G.E. Hirzel. (2013). “Measuring Predator Avoidance Behavior in Soybean Aphid”. Presented at the University Undergraduate Research & Arts Forum (UURAF). Michigan State University. [talk]
Publications
Hirzel, G.E., Anderson, A.E., Westerman, E.L. (2023) One size does not fit all: Family specific differences in seasonal patterns of abundance and behavior in butterfly communities. preprint, BioRxiv. DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.22.541638
Merrill, A.N.*, Hirzel, G.E.*, Murphy, M.J., Imrie, R., Westerman, E.L. (2021) Engaging community in pollinator research: the effect of wing pattern and weather on butterfly behavior. Integrative and Comparative Biology. DOI: 10.1093/icb/icab153 *=co-first authors
Montezano, D.G., Mollet, K.A., Hirzel, G.E., Peterson, J.A. (2017) Evaluation of Foliar Insecticides for the Control of Western Bean Cutworm in Field Corn, 2015. Arthropod Management Tests 42 (1): tsx088. Doi:10.1093/amt/tsx088
Montezano, D.G., Mollet, K.A., Hirzel, G.E., Peterson, J.A. (2017) Evaluation of Foliar Insecticides for the Control of Western Bean Cutworm in Field Corn, 2016. Arthropod Management Tests 42 (1): tsx089. Doi:10.1093/amt/tsx089