Person

Kimberly D Gwinn

Professor | Entomology and Plant Pathology

Specialization: Natural Product Biopesticides

Overview

My research is best described as applied chemical ecology. I focus on small bioactive molecules produced by plants and microorganisms that induce changes in other organisms. I seek to understand the origin, function, and significance of natural chemicals that mediate interactions within and between organisms. I have determined modes of action of toxic compounds produced by fungi designed to give the fungus a competitive edge in the obtaining nutrients from plants. I have analyzed alkaloids from plant-endophyte interactions that negatively impact animal production and behavior. I have determined the chemical basis of and developed means of utilizing natural compounds for pest and disease control that are biologically based and sustainable. I am skilled in the analysis and discovery of bioactive natural products and have participated in programs for the mathematical modeling of responses to these compounds. Currently we are applying the tools of bioinformatics to compare biosynthesis of terpenoid compounds in related plant species.

I have served as a mentor for ten M.S. students and two Ph.D. students. I have served as a research mentor for over 50 undergraduate students in my career. Many of these students are currently professionals in STEM fields, some in the health care fields. I was appointed as the first Coordinator for Undergraduate Research in the Herbert College of Agriculture. I serve on the university-wide Undergraduate Research Advisory Council. I also coordinate the Honors program for the Herbert College of Agriculture. I was recently awarded a USDA grant to develop courses for a new, peer-reviewed model for honors programming that helps students develop higher-order thinking and team skills, academic networks, and opportunities to engage in research activities.

Research Focus

Effective pesticides are needed to meet food, feed, and fiber needs of an expanding world population. My research focuses on bioactive natural products that are acaricidal, antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal, or nematicidal.

Outreach Focus

I'm committed to science education outreach. For over a decade, I've led the regional science fair, working closely with teachers on projects for middle- and high-school students. I'm also actively involved in IRB and Scientific Review committees.

Research Questions
  • How do plants protect themselves from disease-causing organisms?
  • What role do secondary metabolites play in disease defense?
  • How can we use plant defense compounds for pest and disease control in sustainable agriculture?
Courses
Below are courses taught during the current or past three academic years. Consult Timetable for the most current listing of courses and instructor(s).
AGNR 117 - Herbert College of Agriculture Honors Freshman Seminar
1 credit hour(s)

The freshman seminar will address global challenges in the Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Human Sciences (FANHS) like the “One Health” model. Federal agencies that have historically acted unilaterally are now recognizing that health of animals, people and the environment are inextricably linked. The "One Health" approach is the collaborative effort of the human health, veterinary health and environmental health communities to interact on a local, national and global scales in order to attain and maintain optimal health not only for people, but for domestic, farm, and food animals, wildlife, plants, and environment. This course will focus on research programs in the Institute of Agriculture that approach solving challenges through communication, cooperation, and collaboration across disciplines and institutions, thus maintaining or reducing health risks to animals, humans, the environment and society.

AGNR 217 - Research Ethics, Compliance, and Methods
2 credit hour(s)

Scientific integrity and workplace safety require compliance from all personnel. The challenge of teaching research ethics to novice researchers will be addressed by interaction with compliance personnel, online training (Responsible Conduct of Research - RCR) and case studies. Students will also be required to complete the two research compliance training modules aligned most closely with their major or research interests. This information will be provided to the students either as online modules or in workshops. All students in the course will participate in the ethics and compliance trainings. This course will be offered as a foundational course for the Food, Agricultural, Natural Resource, and Human Sciences Minor and will provide students in that minor with opportunities to identify faculty programs which support their career goals. In addition, this course will provide training for students in funded undergraduate research programs. After the initial ethics and compliance training, students in these program will receive project-specific training as identified by the Principal Investigator(s).

EPP 234 - Medicines and Drugs from Plants and Microbes
3 credit hour(s)

Plants and microbes are an abundant source of medicinal compounds and, until the end of the 19th century all drugs were natural products or minerals. Today, natural products often serve as chemical templates for drug design. The mission of this course is to promote understanding of medicines and drugs that are derived from natural sources. Students in this online course will develop critical thinking skills and an appreciation for the roles that plant- and microbe-derived compounds play in modern medicine use and abuse. Satisfies Volunteer Core Requirement: (NS)

EPP 516 - Biopesticides
3 credit hour(s)

Plant protection; natural products; international issues in crop protection. The history of biopesticides, their modes of actions, challenges and trends in biopesticide development, and biopesticides in integrated pest management systems will be discussed.

EPP 531 - Special Problems in Entomology, Nematology and Plant Pathology
1 - 3 credit hours

Comprehensive individual study of current problems.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 9 hours.

Other Instructors: Trigiano, Robert N | Shoemaker, Dewayne | Gerhold Jr, Richard William | Nowicki, Marcin | Staton, Meg | Kelly, Heather Marie

SOWK 693 - Directed Study in Social Work Research
1 - 6 credit hours

Advanced individual study, under faculty guidance, of social work practice issues.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 9 hours.
Recommended Background: First-year required PhD courses or consent of instructor.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level - graduate.

Other Instructors: Strand, Elizabeth

Picture of Kimberly D Gwinn
416 Plant Biotechnology Building
2505 E J Chapman Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996-4560
Education and Training
  • Doctorate, Plant Sciences, General, North Carolina St Univ Raleigh, 1987
  • MS, Plant Pathology/Phytopathology, West Virginia State University, 1982
  • BS, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Fairmont State University, 1979

Kimberly D Gwinn

Professor | Entomology and Plant Pathology
Picture of Kimberly D Gwinn image
416 Plant Biotechnology Building
2505 E J Chapman Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996-4560
Education and Training
  • Doctorate, Plant Sciences, General, North Carolina St Univ Raleigh, 1987
  • MS, Plant Pathology/Phytopathology, West Virginia State University, 1982
  • BS, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Fairmont State University, 1979
Overview

My research is best described as applied chemical ecology. I focus on small bioactive molecules produced by plants and microorganisms that induce changes in other organisms. I seek to understand the origin, function, and significance of natural chemicals that mediate interactions within and between organisms. I have determined modes of action of toxic compounds produced by fungi designed to give the fungus a competitive edge in the obtaining nutrients from plants. I have analyzed alkaloids from plant-endophyte interactions that negatively impact animal production and behavior. I have determined the chemical basis of and developed means of utilizing natural compounds for pest and disease control that are biologically based and sustainable. I am skilled in the analysis and discovery of bioactive natural products and have participated in programs for the mathematical modeling of responses to these compounds. Currently we are applying the tools of bioinformatics to compare biosynthesis of terpenoid compounds in related plant species.

I have served as a mentor for ten M.S. students and two Ph.D. students. I have served as a research mentor for over 50 undergraduate students in my career. Many of these students are currently professionals in STEM fields, some in the health care fields. I was appointed as the first Coordinator for Undergraduate Research in the Herbert College of Agriculture. I serve on the university-wide Undergraduate Research Advisory Council. I also coordinate the Honors program for the Herbert College of Agriculture. I was recently awarded a USDA grant to develop courses for a new, peer-reviewed model for honors programming that helps students develop higher-order thinking and team skills, academic networks, and opportunities to engage in research activities.

Research Focus

Effective pesticides are needed to meet food, feed, and fiber needs of an expanding world population. My research focuses on bioactive natural products that are acaricidal, antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal, or nematicidal.

Outreach Focus

I'm committed to science education outreach. For over a decade, I've led the regional science fair, working closely with teachers on projects for middle- and high-school students. I'm also actively involved in IRB and Scientific Review committees.

Research Questions
  • How do plants protect themselves from disease-causing organisms?
  • What role do secondary metabolites play in disease defense?
  • How can we use plant defense compounds for pest and disease control in sustainable agriculture?
Courses
Below are courses taught during the current or past three academic years. Consult Timetable for the most current listing of courses and instructor(s).
AGNR 117 - Herbert College of Agriculture Honors Freshman Seminar
1 credit hour(s)

The freshman seminar will address global challenges in the Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Human Sciences (FANHS) like the “One Health” model. Federal agencies that have historically acted unilaterally are now recognizing that health of animals, people and the environment are inextricably linked. The "One Health" approach is the collaborative effort of the human health, veterinary health and environmental health communities to interact on a local, national and global scales in order to attain and maintain optimal health not only for people, but for domestic, farm, and food animals, wildlife, plants, and environment. This course will focus on research programs in the Institute of Agriculture that approach solving challenges through communication, cooperation, and collaboration across disciplines and institutions, thus maintaining or reducing health risks to animals, humans, the environment and society.

AGNR 217 - Research Ethics, Compliance, and Methods
2 credit hour(s)

Scientific integrity and workplace safety require compliance from all personnel. The challenge of teaching research ethics to novice researchers will be addressed by interaction with compliance personnel, online training (Responsible Conduct of Research - RCR) and case studies. Students will also be required to complete the two research compliance training modules aligned most closely with their major or research interests. This information will be provided to the students either as online modules or in workshops. All students in the course will participate in the ethics and compliance trainings. This course will be offered as a foundational course for the Food, Agricultural, Natural Resource, and Human Sciences Minor and will provide students in that minor with opportunities to identify faculty programs which support their career goals. In addition, this course will provide training for students in funded undergraduate research programs. After the initial ethics and compliance training, students in these program will receive project-specific training as identified by the Principal Investigator(s).

EPP 234 - Medicines and Drugs from Plants and Microbes
3 credit hour(s)

Plants and microbes are an abundant source of medicinal compounds and, until the end of the 19th century all drugs were natural products or minerals. Today, natural products often serve as chemical templates for drug design. The mission of this course is to promote understanding of medicines and drugs that are derived from natural sources. Students in this online course will develop critical thinking skills and an appreciation for the roles that plant- and microbe-derived compounds play in modern medicine use and abuse. Satisfies Volunteer Core Requirement: (NS)

EPP 516 - Biopesticides
3 credit hour(s)

Plant protection; natural products; international issues in crop protection. The history of biopesticides, their modes of actions, challenges and trends in biopesticide development, and biopesticides in integrated pest management systems will be discussed.

EPP 531 - Special Problems in Entomology, Nematology and Plant Pathology
1 - 3 credit hours

Comprehensive individual study of current problems.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 9 hours.

Other Instructors: Trigiano, Robert N | Shoemaker, Dewayne | Gerhold Jr, Richard William | Nowicki, Marcin | Staton, Meg | Kelly, Heather Marie

SOWK 693 - Directed Study in Social Work Research
1 - 6 credit hours

Advanced individual study, under faculty guidance, of social work practice issues.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 9 hours.
Recommended Background: First-year required PhD courses or consent of instructor.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level - graduate.

Other Instructors: Strand, Elizabeth