Research
Courses 		 



CONTACT INFORMATION

Email: cmathews@shepherd.edu
Phone: 304/876-5677
Office: Snyder Hall #35
Address: Institute for Environmental Studies,
             301 King Street, Shepherdstown, WV 25443

EDUCATION
  • Ph.D. degree, Entomology, University of Maryland, 2004
  • M.S. degree, Entomology, University of Maryland, 1999
  • B.A. degree, English, University of Rochester, 1992
  • Certificate, Ecology, Jren Folkehgskule, NORWAY, 1991

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RESEARCH INTERESTS
I am interested in fostering sustainable living through ecologically sound agriculture, renewable energy technologies, and green building design. My research focuses on methods of enhancing agroecosystem stability -- through crop diversification, biological control of insect pests, and use of composted manures -- to reduce energy and inputs required. Recent work also focuses on biodiesel, solar, and wind energy applications that are suitable for West Virginia's Eastern panhandle region.

GRANTS & HONORS
  • Awarded $21,000 from WV EPSCOR Instrumentation Grant Program, 2005
  • Awarded $45,000 (Co-PI with Dr. Edward Snyder) from WV EPSCOR Innovations Grant Program, 2005
  • Awarded $225,000 (Co-PI with Dr. Mark Brown) from National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program, CSREES, USDA, 2003
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Brown, M.W. and Mathews, C.R. 2007. Conservation Biological Control of Rosy Apple Aphid, Dysaphis plantaginea (Passerini), in Easter North America. Environmental Entomology 36(5): 1131-1139.

Mathews, C.R., Brown, M.B., and Bottrell, D.G. 2007. Leaf Extrafloral Nectaries Enhance Biological Control of a Key Economic Pest, Grapholita molesta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), in Peach (Rosales: Rosaceae). Environmental Entomology 36(2): 383-389.

Spellman, B., Brown, M.W., and Mathews, C.R. 2006. Effect of Floral and Extrafloral Resources on Predation of Aphis spiraecola by Harmonia axyridis on Apple. Biocontrol 51:715-724.

Mathews, C.R., Bottrell, D.G., and Brown, M.W. 2004. Habitat manipulation of the apple orchard floor to increase ground-dwelling predators and predation of Cydia pomonella (Say) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Biological Control 30: 265-273.

Mathews, C.R., Bottrell, D.G., and Brown, M.B. 2002. A comparison of conventional and alternative understory management practices for apple production: multi-trophic effects. Applied Soil Ecology 21: 221-231.


SELECTED PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS
C.R. Mathews and E.M. Snyder. 2007. Solar Energy Outreach at Shepherd University. Talk presented at the West Virginia Public Energy Authority Hearings, Charleston, WV.

M.W. Brown and C. R. Mathews. 2007. Restoring Ecological Balance to Orchard Insect Pest Management. Poster presented at the Ecological Society of America National Meeting, San Jose, CA.

D. Smith and C. R. Mathews. 2007. Determining the suitability of Shepherd University waste vegetable oil for conversion to Biodiesel. Talk presented at the West Virginia Academy of Sciences, Huntington, WV.

B. Silver, C.R. Mathews, and E.M. Snyder. 2007. Preliminary Analysis of Wind Resources at Shepherd University Renewable Energy Demonstration Site. Talk presented at the West Virginia Academy of Sciences, Huntington, WV.

M.H. Hallack and C.R. Mathews. 2006. U.S. Farm Bill and Solar Applications for WV Farms. Talk presented at the Alternative Energy Odyssey Conference, Shepherdstown, WV.

D. Anderson, C. Mathews, J. Burns, A. Elliot, and E. Snyder. 2006. Modification of GMC G3500 6.2L diesel van for utilizing waste vegetable oil fuel. Talk presented at the West Virginia Academy of Sciences, Shepherdstown, WV.

E. Messenger and C. Mathews. 2006. Tapping into Renewable Energy in WV. Poster presented at the West Virginia Academy of Sciences, Shepherdstown, WV.

A. Byers and C. Mathews. 2006. Effect of Dormitory Window Retrofit on Electricity Consumption in Relation to Heating Degree Days. Talk presented at the West Virginia Academy of Sciences, Shepherdstown, WV.

C.R. Mathews, M.W. Brown, and Dale G. Bottrell. 2005. Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) associated with extrafloral nectaries benefit peach trees. Talk presented at the Entomological Society of America National Meeting, Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

M.H. Hallack and C.R. Mathews. 2004. Profitability of Ethnic Vegetable Varieties for Sale in Urban Niche Markets. Poster, N.E. Sustainable Agricultural Research and Education Conference, Burlington, VT.