Dr. Mary Gardiner received her PhD from Michigan State University in 2008 and established the Ag-Urban Landscape Ecology Laboratory (ALE Lab) in 2009. The ALE Lab is interested in understanding how the design and management of an urban greenspace or agroecosystem influences food web structure and function. In particular, Mary and her students are interested in understanding mechanisms that explain the biodiversity-ecosystem function patterns found within these habitats. The goal of this research is to advance the sustainability of food production and urban ecosystem management. Dr. Gardiner is actively engaged in outreach related to enhancing home landscapes, greenspaces and small-scale farms as habitats for beneficial arthropods and works with the public to survey lady beetle populations across the state annually. She also teaches two graduate courses: Insect Ecology and Evolutionary Processes and Presentation Skills for Scientists.