Curriculum Vitae
I am an Assistant Professor of Citrus Entomology and I recently joined the TAMUK-Citrus Center. My Research interests include biologically-based management of arthropod pests in citrus orchards, nurseries and dooryard settings.
Research Activities
Citrus trees suffer from a wide range of insect and mite pests, which can cause serious yield quantitative and qualitative losses or simply ruin fruit marketability. It is also important to note that citrus agro-ecology is constantly changing with new pests making their way in every time. This dynamic of arthropod pest complex affecting citrus requires the use of a holistic approach in citrus pest management. Integrated pest management (IPM) is a broad approach to pest control that does not rest solely on the use of chemical insecticides. It aims to be practical, effective, economic and protective of public health and the environment. My research interests are to develop pest management strategies that are based on an understanding of pest ecology, the use of biological control agents as well as pesticides that are inimical to the pests without being highly toxic to the environment. The unintended introductions of new pests in the LRGV such as the Asian citrus psyllid, a vector of greening disease that is a potential industry killer, also requires the development of a comprehensive monitoring program. Although my research interests comprise all pest species affecting citrus, I will pay special attention to the citrus rust mite or the “mighty mite” as per Dr. French, the Asian citrus psyllid, the citrus leaf miner, the false spider mites, the leaf cutting ants, the root weevils, the brown citrus aphid, and citrus scales.
Teaching
My teaching interests include courses in General Entomology, Integrated Pest Management and Agricultural Statistics. Specifically, I am teaching or plan to teach the following courses:
Insects and Human Society (PLSS 4390) ─ The intimate bonds existing between insects and humans is often overlooked. But insects affect almost all aspects of human activities; they affect our crops, our animals, our belongings, and even us. We tend to look at insects through anthropomorphic eyes, seeing them as foes or friends: they eat and contaminate our food and homes, transmit devastating diseases to our crops, animals and us, and are a great nuisance that can prevent us from living in particular areas of the world, yet they pollinate our crops, control pests, are important food in ecological food chains, help break down decaying matter, provide clues in criminal investigation and are useful models to study evolution. This course will provide an introduction to the wonderful and fascinating world of insects and related arthropods, and how they interact with man. A brief survey of insect history, diversity, structure, function, and behavior will be
presented. Examples will also be provided on the effects of beneficial and harmful insects on people and a variety of their activities with special reference to some profound impacts insects have had on history, society, and culture. A brief summary will be presented on how humans deal with harmful insects.
This course will be taught every fall starting from Fall 2006.
Principles of Integrated Pest Management (with special reference to Citrus pests) —IPM is not an “Improved Pesticide Management” instead a decision making process that combines different actions to reduce pest problems after an understanding of the life systems of the pest, and the ecological, economical and social consequences of such actions. The objectives of this course are to give students a theoretical and working knowledge of Integrated Pest Management and promote a greater interest of the principles and practices of IPM.
Agricultural Statistics-- Experimentation is one key component of agricultural research. This course is intended for graduate students in the Plant and Soil Science Department and its objectives are to discuss the fundamental concepts of experimental and statistical methods as applied to agricultural research. Various types of experimental designs, their analysis and application to agricultural research will also be discussed. Hands-on training with SAS software will prepare students to real life data analysis.
This course will be taught every spring starting from Spring 2007.
Employment History:
2006-present: Assistant Professor-Citrus Entomology, TAMUK-Citrus Center
2003-2006: Research Scientist, Beneficial Insects Research Unit, USDA, Weslaco
2002-2003: Senior Scientist and Project Coordinator, International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya
2000-2002: Postdoctoral Research Associate and Research Assistant, Texas Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Weslaco
Education and Qualifications:
1996–1999 Dr. rer. hort (Ph.D.), Horticultural Entomology (minor in Agricultural Statistics), University of Hanover, Germany.
1994-1996 M.Sc., Crop Science, University of Cape Coast, Ghana
1990-1992 Ingénieur Agronome, Plant Protection, Benin National University, Benin
1985-1990 B. Sc., Agronomy, Benin National University, Benin
Awards:
1. Summa cum laude, University of Hanover, Germany, 19992. Graduate Fellowship, German Development Agency (DAAD), 1998
3. Best Young African Insect Scientist, AAIS, August 1995
4. Price of Excellence, Gembloux Agricultural University (Belgium), 1992
Professional Membership:
1. Entomological Society of America (ESA)
2. African Association of Insect Scientists (AAIS)
3. Benin Association of Agronomists (AAB)
4. German Society for Plant Protection (DPG)
Reviewer:
Annals of Entomological Society of America
Biological Control
Biocontrol Science and Technology
Biocontrol
Bulletin of Entomological Research
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata
Environmental Entomology
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science
Journal of Applied Entomology
Subtropical Plant Science
Language Skills: English (fluent), French (fluent), German (spoken and reading), Spanish (some understanding)