Professor Bethia King

Photo of Professor Bethia King

Professor Bethia King

Educational Background

Ph.D., 1987, Purdue University
B.A., 1982, West Virginia University 

Academic Honors: Magna cum laude; Phi Betta Kappa; NSF Graduate Student Fellowship

Research Interests: behavioral ecology, entomology

Contact: Dr. Bethia H. King
bking@niu.edu
phone: (815) 753-8460
Montgomery Hall 446
Department of Biological Sciences
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL  60115   USA

Course / Lab Information

  • BIOS109 Human Biology
  • BIOS205 Organismal Diversity 
  • BIOS 209 Fundamentals of Organismal Biology
  • BIOS433  Behavioral Ecology 
  • BIOS453 Entomology
  • BIOS661B  Graduate Seminar
  • BIOS370 and BIOS495H - Undergraduate Research, Biology Honors
  • "How to get into Graduate School in Organismal Biology"

Publications

View my Publications - Including abstracts and links to full text articles.

Other Areas of Interest

Evolution versus Creation Science/Intelligent Design:
Summary; Exercises
Human Gender Issues in Science
Kids' Science Books, Videos, Software, Kits
Jewel wasp (Nasonia vitripennis) in teaching


Research Interests

My research is with parasitoid wasps that lay their eggs in the pupal stage of pest flies. The wasps are 2-3 mm long and do not sting.

  • mating systems and behavior
  • maternal manipulation of offspring sex
  • thanatosis = "playing dead" 
  • activity levels
  • learning
  • biological control

To see our lab’s research topics, view abstracts

Post graduate pursuits of students who did research in my laboratory:


Former PhD students:

  • Director of Office of Undergraduate Research at University of North Carolina at Greensboro; after being Director of the Center for Undergraduate Research at Xavier University in Lousiana; after being a professor at Coastal Carolina University
  • College instructor , Aurora University, College of DuPage

Former Master’s degree students:

  • Biology faculty at Community College in Michigan
  • Biological technician, US Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Research associate at a bioscience corporation in Illinois
  • Veterinarian for Abbott Animal Health; after being a Veterinarian at a small animal practice in Illinois; after Veterinary School, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Managing attorney in private practice; after obtaining a law degree from University of Baltimore; after being an Outreach Specialist at Maryland Science Center
  • Associate Director of Program at Freshwater Future, Catto Fellow for Environmental Leadership at The Aspen Institute; after being Network Coordinator and Advisor at Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions; after being Senior Director, Great Lakes Conservation at John G. Shedd Aquarium; after being volunteer coordinator at  Shedd Aquarium; after being Exhibit Programs Coordinator at Chicago Academy of Sciences
  • High school teachers in Illinois
  • Population biologist at Lincoln Park zoo in Illinois; formerly at the Avian Propagation Center at San Diego Zoo
  • Primate Center at University of Wisconsin

Former undergraduates:

  • zoo internship In Illinois
  • internship at Chimps Inc, a wildlife sanctuary
  • researcher with Monsanto
  • PhD student at University of Kansas
  • PhD student at NY City College; MS, Purdue University
  • Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine in Illinois; after obtaining D.O. at the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University in Downer’s Grove, IL
  • community college instructor; after MS  from NIU
  • MS  student Michigan State University; after internship at a Michigan zoo, Brookfield zoo
  • Master’s degree from State University of New York at Stonybrook; after Environmental Science and Conservation research at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • High School Teacher , Elementary Teacher in Illinois
  • Brookfield zoo internship; formerly horticulturist at the Peggy Notebaret Nature Museum
  • mouse colony manager at Northwestern University
  • MS at Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, GA
  • Science laboratory test company in Illinois
  • Biology Instructor at Highland Community College; after obtaining MS at WIU
  • Americorps
  • Veterinary Technician in Illinois
  • Veterinary Program at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • owner of an optometry practice, Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, after obtaining a doctorate in optometry
  • Doctor in Division of Infectious Disease at Washington University/ Barnes Jewish Hospital, after obtaining an MS and a MD-PhD at the University of Illinois 

Many have also used their biology training in their role as parents of budding scientists.