My CV

  • 2025

    Ph.D. Environmental Science and Management, Department of Earth and  Environmental Science, Montclair State University    

    Dissertation: “Thermal Biology of the Eastern Treehole Mosquito (Aedes triseriatus) (Diptera: Culicidae) and Other Vertivorous Dipterans”


    2014

    M.S. Biology, Concentration Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, Montclair State University

    Dissertation: “Do Arthropod Prey Alter Behavior When Exposed to Different Combinations of Sensory Cues from Predators?”

    2009

    B.S. Marine and Environmental Biology and Policy, Geography Minor, Monmouth University


  • 2015-2017, 2024-Present

    Adjunct Professor, Department of Biology, Monmouth University, West Long Branch, NJ

    2015-2017

    Adjunct Professor, Department of Biology  Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ

    2012

    Field Technician,   New Jersey Audubon Society, Highlands, NJ

    2010-2012
    Assistant Project Scientist, Weston Solutions, Inc., Edison, NJ

    2009-2010
    Laboratory Manager, Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

    2009
    Field Technician, Monmouth County Mosquito Extermination Commission, Tinton Falls, NJ

    2008, 2009
    Field Technician, Endangered and Nongame Species Program, New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, Monmouth County, NJ

  • 2016 - Present

    Editor, Life the Excitement of Biology (journal)

  • 2014 - Present

    Animal Behavior Society

    2021 - Present

    American Mosquito Control Association

  • Zimmerman, K. I., & Aardema, M. L. (2025). Temperature influences patterns of staggered egg hatching in the eastern treehole mosquito (Aedes triseriatus). Journal of Vector Ecology, 50:S1-S4.

    Aardema, M. L., & Zimmerman, K. I. (2021). The establishment of a new autogenous line of the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, from its current northern range limit in the United States. Journal of Vector Ecology, 46:112-115.

    Klee, R. J., Zimmerman, K. I., & Daneshgar, P. P. (2019). Community succession after cranberry bog abandonment in the New Jersey Pinelands. Wetlands, 39:777-788.

    Egizi, A., Martinsen, E. S., Vuong, H., Zimmerman, K. I., Faraji, A., & Fonseca, D. M. (2018). Using bloodmeal analysis to assess disease risk to wildlife at the new northern limit of a mosquito species. EcoHealth, 15:543-554.

    Zimmerman, K. I., & Kight, S. (2016). Responses of four arthropod prey species to mechanosensory, chemosensory and visual cues from an arachnid predator: a comparative approach. Life: The Excitement of Biology.

  • Aardema M.L., Zimmerman K.I. (2022) Modified use and taxonomic expansion of the citrated blood-feeding method for mosquito rearing. Newsletter of the New Jersey Mosquito Control Association 34:23-24.

  • 2023

    Entomological Society of America, The Chrysalis Fund ($516): Bugs Need Heroes Podcast

    2019

    Port Authority, Waterfront Scholarship for the Waterfront Conference: Rising Seas, Rising Risks, Adapting Our Region

  • 2025

    Ecological Society of America, Annual Mid-Atlantic Conference, Poster Presentation:  “Temperature influences patterns of staggered egg hatching in the eastern treehole mosquito (Aedes triseriatus)” (K. I. Zimmerman [presenter], M. L. Aardema)

    2025

    Atlantic Estuarine Research Society, Annual Meeting: “Pollinator-Prey Conflict With Carnivorous Plants in the New Jersey Pine Barrens” (S. Broadhead [presenter], K. I. Zimmerman, P. P. Daneshgar)

    2024

    Entomological Society of America, Annual Convention: “When Bugs Need Heroes: Using Unconventional Outreach to Engage the Public”

    2024

    Student Research Conference, Monmouth University, Poster Presentation: “Purple Pitcher Plant Community Ecology In The New Jersey Pine Barrens” (P. Santarsiero [presenter], S. Phelps [presenter], R. Damstra [presenter], K. I. Zimmerman, P. P. Daneshgar)

    2023

    New Jersey Mosquito Control Association (NJMCA), Annual Convention: “When Bugs Need Heroes: Using Unconventional Outreach to Engage the Public”

    2022

    New Jersey Mosquito Control Association (NJMCA), Annual Convention, Poster Presentation: “Laboratory maintenance of the eastern tree hole mosquito, Aedes triseriatus, using the citrated blood feeding method” (K. I. Zimmerman [presenter], M. L. Aardema)

    2021

    International Symposium on Terrestrial Isopod Biology, Annual Conference, Invited Speaker: “Responses of four arthropod prey species to mechanosensory, chemosensory and visual cues from an arachnid predator: a comparative approach. (K. I. Zimmerman [presenter], S. Kight)

    2019

    Benthic Ecology Meeting, Annual Conference, Poster Presentation: “Assessment of Eelgrass Resilience and Recovery Following Hurricane Sandy” (K. I. Zimmerman [presenter], M. L. Aardema, P. A. X. Bologna)

    2018

    Benthic Ecology Meeting, Annual Conference, Poster Presentation: “Assessment of Eelgrass Resilience and Recovery Following Hurricane Sandy” (K. I. Zimmerman [presenter], P. A. X. Bologna)

    2017

    School of Science Student Research Conference, Monmouth University, Poster Presentation: “Community Succession after Cranberry Bog Abandonment within the New Jersey Pinelands” (R. Klee [presenter], K. I. Zimmerman, P. P. Daneshgar)

  • Adjunct Professor, Monmouth University

    BY495 Senior Seminar 2025
    BY342 Coastal Zone Management 2025
    BY220 Environmental Biology and Policy 2024

    BY109 Introduction to Ecology and Evolution (lecture, lab) 2015 - 2017,  2024

    BY103 Environmental Science 2015 - 2017

    SC130 Climate Science for 21st Century Citizens 2017

    Adjunct Professor, Kean University

    ENV1100 Foundation of Environmental Science 2019

    Adjunct Professor, Montclair State University

    BIOL490 Senior Seminar in Biology 2017

    BIOL100 Introduction to Biological Sciences (lecture, lab) 2015 - 2017

    BIOL213 Introduction to Ecology (lab) 2016 - 2017

  • Undergrad Students

    Monmouth University

    Shelby Broadhead (2025), Rebecca Klee (2017)

  • 2025

    Discussion Panelist, “Mod’s Week: Education on Reddit”, Reddit Inc.

    Webinar Presenter, “Good Bugs, Great Gardens: An Introduction to Beneficial Insects,” Wild Ones

    Poster Judge, Ecological Society of America, Annual Mid-Atlantic Conference

    Discussion Panelist, “Wellness Summit,” Reddit Inc.

    Scientific Advisor, “Jackson’s Wilder Adventures Vol. 3,” Simon & Schuster

    2024

    Guest Speaker, “Leave the Leaves.” The Native Plant Society of New Jersey, Union City

    Guest Speaker, “Leave the Leaves.” The Native Plant Society of New Jersey, Jersey City

    Guest Speaker, On being a woman in STEM and my academic/career journey, Passaic County Community College

    Scientific Advisor, “Jackson’s Wilder Adventures Vol. 2 “ (published 2025), Simon & Schuster

    Scientific Advisor, “Jackson’s Wilder Adventures Vol. 1” (published 2024), Simon & Schuster

    2023

    Discussion Panelist, Reddit’s Quarterly Leadership Summit (science outreach on their platform) Reddit, Inc.

    Quoted in Print/Online News Articles:

    2024

    “How scientists are making the most of Reddit” For: Nature Careers

    “How do total eclipses affect animals?” For: WNIN, Evansville, Indiana

    2009

    “Volunteers Helping State Monitor Plover PopulationFor: The New York Times

    Interviews for Television:

    2023

    “Fall ‘bugs’ of the Pacific Northwest” For: Fox 12 Now, Portland, Oregon

    2016

    “Nature’s Weirdest Events” For: The British Broadcasting Company (BBC), Natural History Unit

    Interviews for Podcasts:

    2022 - Present

    Podcast Co-Host For: Bugs Need Heroes (79 episodes)

    2025

    Podcast Episode 121: “Why Mosquitoes Are Super Cool” For: Lil Dudes Insect Academy

    Podcast Episode 17: “Plants Need Bugs” For: Plants Always Win

    2023

    Podcast Episode 211: “Mosquitoes w/ Kelly Zimmerman!” For: Just the Zoo of Us

    Discussion Panelist for Comic Conventions:

    2024

    Discussion Panelist, “Queerness in Nature,” Flame Con, New York, NY

    2023

    Discussion Panelist, “Wolverine’s Don’t Howl,” Rose City Comic Con, Portland, OR

    Discussion Panelist, “Are You Sidious? The Biology of Species in a Galaxy Far Far Away?,”  Rose City Comic Con, Portland, OR

    2022

    Discussion Panelist, “Whatever A Spider Can,” Thy Geekdom Comic Con, Philadelphia, PA

    2021

    Discussion Panelist, “Wolverine’s Don’t Howl,” Rose City Comic Con, Portland, OR

    Discussion Panelist, “Whatever A Spider Can,” Rose City Comic Con, Portland, OR

    2019

    Discussion Panelist, “Wolverine’s Don’t Howl,” Garden State Comicfest , Morristown, NJ

    2018

    Discussion Panelist, “Wolverine’s Don’t Howl,” Rose City Comic Con, Portland, OR

    Reviewer for Journals:

    Aquatic Ecology

    Invertebrate Reproduction and Development