James Brown joined the UW–Madison faculty in July 2026 as an assistant professor in the Department of Entomology. He is also an extension fruit crop entomology specialist with the Division of Extension’s Agricultural Institute.

What is your hometown? Where did you grow up?
I was born and raised in West Palm Beach, FL.

What is your educational/professional background, including your previous position?
For my undergraduate degree, I majored in cell biology and molecular genetics at the University of Maryland. After graduating, I moved back to Florida and joined Dr. Rob Meagher’s entomology lab, which focused on finding ways to use insects to fight insects. A few years later, I attended the University of Florida and completed a master’s and a PhD in entomology, where I studied insect physiology and applied agricultural pest management, respectively. Before joining the UW–Madison Department of Entomology, I was a UC Berkeley postdoctoral researcher working in California’s Central Valley.

What is your field of research, and how did you get into it?
As you can likely tell from my education and research experience, I am an entomologist who specifically researches ways to integrate chemical and biological strategies to help Wisconsin fruit growers manage insect pests and grow delicious fruit. I like to tell people that I ended up an entomologist by complete accident, but that is not the whole story. I have always loved science and the research process, so while I may not have necessarily predicted this field of research for myself, I was always headed towards a career in science from a very young age.

What are the main goals of your current research/outreach programs for CALS and Extension?
I was hired to conduct research and perform Extension services for Wisconsin fruit crop growers, and that is exactly my aim. The formula is simple: align my research program to meet the challenges growers face, conduct high-impact research that uncovers solutions and contributes to science at large, and bring those solutions to growers in a way that improves how they grow fruit.

What was your first visit to campus like?
Coming to the University of Wisconsin–Madison in April 2026 was tremendous. It was also my first time in the Midwest, and spring here is beautiful. The best part about my visit was actually meeting with the growers and stakeholders. People in agriculture are usually clear about the importance of the work they do, but there was a kindness here that I did not expect.

Do you feel your work relates to the Wisconsin Idea? If so, how?
Absolutely. At the center of my appointment is the mandate to translate academic research directly to fruit crop stakeholders. As far as I understand, the Wisconsin Idea is to influence people’s lives beyond the classroom. My program brings research off campus and straight to farms across the state to help local family farms and agricultural industries stay environmentally and economically resilient.

What’s the most important lesson you wish to convey to students?
For the students who join my lab, I think the most important lesson I can impart to them is to show up in every part of your life willing to learn and share the knowledge you have freely.

What’s something interesting or surprising about your area of expertise that will make us sound smarter at parties?
Entomology is filled to the brim with wonderful surprises that will make you sound smarter at parties. One of my favorites has to do with the overall abundance and variety of insects on Earth and all the ways they manage to thrive in all sorts of environments. Insects cover almost every part of the planet: they are up in the sky traveling on the jet stream, below the soil helping to decompose and recycle plant and animal material, in deserts, and at the tops of mountains. Literally everywhere… However, they do not live in the ocean.

What are your hobbies and other interests?
I have all sorts of hobbies and interests, but fishing is near the top of that list. Since moving to Wisconsin, I am looking forward to trying out ice fishing for the first time.