Student Spotlight: Sophie Reindl

Sophie's Story

Most entomologists have wonderful stories of loving insects since childhood, but that is not my story. I think I more so chose a habitat and the insects found me. I grew up in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, which if you’ve ever visited, you’ll know, means you’re almost never more than spitting distance from a creek, stream, or river. My dad was a big kayaker when I was young, and he made sure my hydrophobic mother and I spent plenty of days on the river with him. We canoed, kayaked, and swam our way along the Clinch, French Broad, and the Hiawassee.

It wasn’t until I went to college that I learned about the abundance of insects I’d been sharing my days with. I had the opportunity to work with Mollie McIntosh, PhD, in her Aquatic Entomology lab at Xavier University and I was hooked from the start. I couldn’t believe that you could get paid for running a net through the water and flipping over rocks. Even long days at the microscope identifying samples were a joy. Every new sample brought an insect I hadn’t seen before, and I loved learning about each one. After graduation I started looking for labs in the south, closer to my family. I am eternally grateful to have found Darold Batzer and his lab here at UGA. I have had the opportunity to study community dynamics in Carolina bay wetlands and take a close look at the effect of temperature on black fly development and fecundity. I have enjoyed my research immensely, but I have found that my real passion lies in teaching. I hope to find a position after graduation where I can focus on undergraduate instruction.

When I’m not working, I try to spend as much time as I can in the water, mostly swimming but I want to do some kayaking with my dad. I am a self-taught seed bead weaver and enjoy making jewelry. Like so many others, I recently learned to make bread. I have two cats, August, and Stetson. Most exciting of all, my husband Clay and I are expecting a baby this September. We can’t wait to show our baby their insect themed nursery and I am looking forward to bringing my baby to the streams and rivers I grew up loving.