Class of 2025: Elizabeth Sicking connects insects, ecosystems, and outreach
A graduate of the Master of Life Sciences in Entomology program, Sicking pairs hands-on insect research with a passion for aquatic ecosystems.
Name: Elizabeth Sicking
Hometown: Leesburg, Virginia
College: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Degree: Master of Science in Life Sciences (MSLFS) in Entomology
What are your plans after graduation?
This summer I’ll be working with a group sampling coastal wetlands for water quality, macroinvertebrates, and fish as part of the Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Monitoring Program. Long-term, I plan to pursue a Ph.D. focused on aquatic-terrestrial food web interactions facilitated by emergent aquatic insects. I’m still deciding where I’ll go next for my program.
What have you enjoyed most about your department?
Hands down, the people and the friendships I’ve made. Being in an environment where people are doing incredible research they’re passionate about is incredibly motivating. Beyond that, I’ve met a lot of great students, faculty, and staff I wouldn’t have crossed paths with otherwise.
What hands-on research experiences have shaped your time here?
Most of my research has been hands-on -- either in the field collecting insects or in the lab identifying them. I also had the chance to help with other students’ projects, which was a great way to learn new skills. For example, I helped tag bees for a friend studying honey bee foraging behavior, and I helped prep mussels for stream release with a lab mate in the Mussel Conservation Lab. Our department supports such a diversity of research that if you’re curious and willing to help, there’s always something new to learn.
How did you get involved outside of your research?
I served as a senator in the Graduate and Professional Student Senate for our department and as vice president of the Alwood Society, where I helped host an invited speaker for our departmental seminar series. I also participated in a lot of outreach activities — organizing my lab’s Hokie BugFest booth, judging regional science fairs, bringing insects to school events, volunteering at the Virginia Tech Science Festival, and participating in a flipped science fair where fifth graders judged graduate student work. Participating in outreach not only helped me improve my scientific communication, but it was also very fulfilling to see people of all ages get excited about insects or the world of research.
What is your favorite Virginia Tech memory?
I have so many great memories — fieldwork, lab conferences, department events — but my favorite might be the orientation road trip I took with my cohort during summer 2023 to Richmond, Virginia.
How did scholarships or financial aid support your education?
Last spring I received an award that covered all my student fees for Fall 2024, which was a huge help. I also received several travel grants from Virginia Tech that allowed me to attend both national and international conferences during my time as a master’s student.
