Chelsea Harbach and Zach Schumm are the new dynamic duo at Iowa State University’s Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic. 
Chelsea Harbach grew up on her family’s farm in northwestern Illinois. She earned a master’s degree with Dr. Glen Hartman at the University of Illinois and a PhD with Dr. Greg Tylka at Iowa State University.
Prior to joining the diagnostic lab, Chelsea spent three years as a commercial agriculture Extension educator with the University of Illinois and continued collaborative work with Extension educators at Iowa State University.
Chelsea is passionate about plant pathology and helping people and believes her career as a plant doctor is the perfect fit. In her free time, Chelsea enjoys spending time with her partner and three-legged corgi, reading books, playing tabletop role-playing games, sports, and creating art through hand embroidery and polymer clay. 
Zach Schumm has had a lifelong love for insects and other wildlife. Giant silk moths are his favorite group of insects. As a child, he enjoyed collecting them from around the building lights at a business park where his father worked. The moths were supported by a nearby forest that was eventually clearcut to expand the business park. Following the clearcut, Zach noted the absence of silk moths, and this sparked his passion for insect and wildlife conservation.
Zach has bachelor’s degrees from the University of Delaware in entomology and wildlife conservation and ecology. While pursuing his undergraduate degrees, he had the opportunity to assist researchers using biological control agents to manage invasive insects. This experience encouraged him to complete a master’s degree at Utah State University researching invasion ecology and management of the brown marmorated stink bug in the Utah agricultural landscape.
At the Iowa clinic, Zach assists clients with their insect inquiries and concerns. He is passionate about introducing people to different perspectives about bugs and shifting
