Awards

Research Assistant Receives Staff Meritorious Service Award

December 19, 2018 by Rob Williams

Azyucena Mendoza-Herrera receiving the Staff Meritorious Service Award from Dr. David Ragsdale. Photo by Rob Williams — Azucena Mendoza-Herrera, left, receiving the Staff Meritorious Service Award from Dr. David Ragsdale. Photo by Rob Williams

Congratulations to research assistant Dr. Maria Azucena Mendoza-Herrera as she received the Department of Entomology’s Meritorious Service Award during a special awards presentation on Thursday, December 13.

Mendoza-Herrera has been working as a research assistant in Dr. Cecilia Tamborindeguy’s lab since 2014 where she has helped Tamborindeguy achieve her research goals in her lab. During her career, Mendoza-Herrera has authored five papers, including first author recognition on two. This year she published two papers describing the plant symptoms associated with two bacterial haplotypes.

Mendoza-Herrera is currently working on the interaction between plant hosts, psyllids and the bacterial pathogen they transmit. Tamborindeguy praised her for her dedication to helping keep the lab running and mentoring students in the lab.

“Azucena is very dependable and hard working,” Tamborindeguy said. “She performs all her tasks on time, often anticipating the needs of other lab members and allowing experiments to be performed in a timely manner.”

Before working with the Department, she has worked as a postdoctoral research associate at Texas A&M University with the Horticulture Science Department Institute for Plant Genomic and Biotechnology from 2006-2011, the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology in 2001-2004, and with the Ecosystem Science and Management from 1999-2001.

During her career, she has mentored and supervised four undergraduate students, seven graduate students, and two visiting scientists during different stages of their thesis and dissertation research in the labs.

“Azucena takes very seriously her place in the laboratory,” Tamborindeguy said. “She is an asset for the success of my students. She helps them as much as she can and she works side by side with them to encourage them. She helps them to be top presenters, contributing to the success of my students in student competitions at the regional and national level.”

Ibanez Recognized with 2018 Comstock Award

December 5, 2018 by Rob Williams

Freddy Ibanez. Photo by Entomological Society of America

Former Ph.D. student Freddy Ibanez’s research and hard work were recently recognized as he received the Entomological Society’s John Henry Comstock Award for his research conducted in Texas A&M University under the supervision of Dr. Cecilia Tamborindeguy.

Ibanez received his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Santiago of Chile in 2006 and began his career studying molecular biology, focusing on developmental genes associated with gastrulation in Drosophila melanogaster, and epigenetic mechanisms. In 2013, Ibanez started his Ph.D. in entomology at Texas A&M University under the direction of Dr. Cecilia Tamborindeguy. His dissertation research focused in the study of Bactericera cockerelli reproduction. Bactericera cockerelli, known as the potato psyllid, is the vector of “zebra chip.”

During his four years at Texas A&M University, Ibanez wrote nine manuscripts, with six of them as first author. He was a member of the Linnaean Games team when the team was awarded first place in ESA Southwestern Branch in 2016. Ibanez was also awarded the USDA-AFRI Student Travel Grant in 2014 to attend the 2014 ESA national meeting in Portland where he received the first-place award in the student poster competition for President’s Prize, in the section of Physiology Biochemistry and Toxicology.

Tamborindeguy was very proud of Ibanez hard work and dedication and for receiving the award. “The John Henry Comstock Award is the highest honor for graduate students in entomology to receive in this country,” she said. “Freddy has been an exemplary graduate student and an outstanding scientist.” This prestigious award recognizes one graduate student from each branch for their accomplishments in research, service, and public engagement. The award included an all-expense-paid trip to the national meeting, a $500 cash prize, and a certificate that is presented during the ESA Annual Meeting

Ibanez currently is a postdoctoral researcher in Department of Entomology and Nematology at the Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, working with Dr. Lukasz Stelinski. The main goal of this research is to address the effectiveness of pesticide applications to control Diaphorina citri on ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’-infected citrus groves and evaluating the effect of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ inoculation frequency on citrus greening progression and plant defense response.

Students Receive Top Awards at ESA Annual Meeting

December 5, 2018 by Rob Williams

Alex Payne standing to receive her award. — Alex Payne, center, with Dr. Tyler Wist, research scientist for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and a member of the Entomological Society of Canada’s Awards Committee, and Dr. Michael Parrella, 2017-2018 president of the Entomological Society of America. Photo by the Entomological Society of America

The Department of Entomology had a winning year as several students received awards and were recognized at this year’s Entomological Society of America’s annual meeting in Vancouver, B.C Canada.

The first of the students was Ph.D. student Alex Payne who won first place in the Physiology, Biochemistry and Toxicology Section with her talk titled “Spillover in eusocial insects: Detection of honey bee (Apis Mellifera) associated viruses in ants”

Xiaotian Tang, center, with Dr. Tyler Wist, left, and Dr. Michael Parrella. Photo by the Entomological Society of America

Franchesca Rodriguez, center, with Dr. Tyler Wist, left, and Dr. Michael Parrella. Photo by the Entomological Society of America

“I am very proud of Alex. She’s a great presenter and it doesn’t matter what project it is, she does it very well and she is very well prepared,” said Dr. Rangel, her PhD advisor.

Ph.D. student Xiaotian Tang received first place in the Plant-Insect Ecosystems section for his talk titled “Reduced intracellular immune response of potato psyllids, Bactericera cockerelli, to ‘Candidadus Liberibacter solanacearum’ in the gut interface” while senior Francesca Rodriguez received first place in her section of the undergraduate 10-minute presentation category “Behavioral effects of Juvenile hormone on the worker caste of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta”

“Xiaotian is an outstanding PhD student,” Dr. Tamborindeguy said. “He is hard-working and very dedicated to his research. His presentation was flawless, he engaged the audience and presented clearly a large body of research. I am glad that he was recognized at the national level with a first place in the graduate student competition.”

Tamborindeguy also was proud of Rodriguez’ hard work and dedication.

MacKenzie Kjeldgaard, right, with Dr. Tyler Wist, left, and Dr. Michael Parrella. Photo by the Entomological Society of America

“Franchesca is an excellent undergraduate student in our department,” she said. “Her presentation was excellent and she was very calm. I am very happy that she received the First place in the undergraduate student competition and I am certain that Franchesca will achieve a successful career in entomology.”

Ph.D. student MacKenzie Kjeldgaard received first place in the Systematics, Evolution, and Biodiversity section for her talk titled “Sugar is an ant’s best friend: Testing food web theory predictions in invasive ants.”

“MacKenzie is an outstanding researcher and one of the best public speakers I have worked with in my twenty years as a faculty member,” Kjeldgaard’s faculty advisor Dr. Eubanks said.

Zach Popkin-Hall, center, with Dr. Tyler Wist, left, and Dr. Michael Parrella. Photo by the Entomological Society of America

Ph.D. student Zach Popkin-Hall advised by Dr. Slotman received second place in the Medical, Urban, and Veterinary Entomology section for his presentation titled “Differential expression of chemosensory genes in the proboscis of the sibling species Anopheles (An.) coluzzii and An. quadriannulatus”. Jocelyn Holt, advised by Dr.

Jocelyn Holt, center, with Dr. Tyler Wist, left, and Dr. Michael Parrella. Photo by the Entomological Society of America

Medina, also received second in the Plant-Insect Ecosystem section for her presentation titled “Characterization of the sugarcane aphid microbiome in the continental U.S.”

“I am glad that I had the opportunity to present my research at ESA in Vancouver and I am honored to represent Texas A&M’s Entomology Department as well as Aggie Women in Entomology,” Holt said. “It is exciting to be recognized for my research presentation and I will continue to work to communicate invasive insect pest mutualisms in an engaging way.”

The graduate Linnaean Team received second place during the annual Linnaean Games competition after defeating the University of Georgia in the first round, then being defeated by the University of California-Davis and Berkeley in the finals.

The Linnaean Team. From left to right, Dr. Deane Jorgenson, grad students Mark Janowiecki, Mackenzie Tietjen, Joanie King, Fabian List, and Dr. Michael Parrella. Photo by the Entomological Society of America.

The graduate team included students Joanie King, Fabian List, Mackenzie Tietjen, and Mark Janowiecki. King said she was very proud of her teammates and enjoyed competing against top teams.

“It was a lot of fun. For me, it was really exciting to go up against the University of Georgia because I did my Master’s there in the Entomology Department,” she said. “We tied and had a “sudden death” match and the last question was about insect pin sizes. It was a special moment for me because I talked about insect pin sizes to Dr. Rangel during practice one day.”

Rangel said that this year’s competition was challenging, but said that the team did well against a tough team in the finals.

“I am actually incredibly proud that they got second place,” Rangel said “They are a great team and hope they can get first place next year.”

Professor Named 2018 TAMU Presidential Impact Fellow

November 8, 2018 by Rob Williams

Dr. Zach Adelman next to a microscope. Photo by Rob Williams — Dr. Zach Adelman. Photo by Rob Williams

COLLEGE STATION, Texas–The Department of Entomology would like to congratulate Dr. Zach Adelman for being named a Texas A&M University Presidential Impact Fellow.

Adelman was among a total of 21 faculty members from the University’s 16 colleges, two branch campuses, and its libraries, who were honored during a special ceremony in the Bethancourt Ballroom at the Memorial Student Center on October 25.

Following earlier work on the generation of mosquitoes resistant to viral pathogens, Adelman’s research has more recently focused on the development of novel gene editing/gene replacement approaches for disease vector mosquitoes, as well as understanding genetic interactions between arthropod-borne viruses and their mosquito vectors.

Adelman’s work has been featured in such journals as Science and PNAS and Science, and has co-authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications and is regularly contacted by members of the media on topics relating to gene editing. He has also recorded webinars on gene drive for such organizations as the National Academy of Sciences, the American Institute of Biological Science, and the Scientist Magazine.

Adelman’s research program has been funded by the National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Disease at the National Institutes of Health since 2007, with additional support from the State of Texas, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

“It is a great honor to be selected as a Presidential Impact Fellow. I had been thinking for a long time how to develop some new platforms for communicating critical concepts in genetics that underlie many current issues affecting Texans and the world at large, such as personalized medicine and the biology of cancer, genetically-modified foods, and gene drive,” Adelman said. “The mentorship and support I will have access to through the PIF will be instrumental in making these new platforms a reality. I am very grateful to my Department and College leadership and especially President Young for their faith in my future, and I will do my best to exceed their expectations.”

Each recipient receives an annual cash stipend for the next three fiscal years to help support their research, teaching, and service efforts. The honorarium helps foster opportunities to collaborate with other leading scholars and create new partnerships and confers the lifetime title of Presidential Impact Fellow.

“Texas A&M University is proud to invest in our amazing faculty who continue to make significant impacts through teaching, research and service efforts,” Texas A&M University President Michael K. Young said. “These rising stars are meeting the challenges in their field and demonstrating what influence they have toward creating a better world.”

Hapes Recognized for Completing Emerging Leaders Mentorship Program

October 23, 2018 by Rob Williams

Rebecca Hapes, right, with Locksley Knibbs, left, and Amy Sannes, NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising President (2017-2018). Submitted photo.

Congratulations to Senior Academic Advisor Rebecca Hapes as she recently completed the 2016-2018 National Academic Advisors Association’s Emerging Leadership Program Class this October.

Hapes was recognized for completing her role as a mentor during the two-year-long program during an awards of the NACADA annual conference in Phoenix in October.

Hapes was one of 10 academic advisors that were selected internationally to become a mentor to 10 Emerging Leaders, which are advisors that are interested in advancing in leadership within the NACADA organization, engaging in work on committees and moving into other elected positions.

Each mentor helps their partner to develop leadership skills with skill-building activities during the two-year-long course. The partners then go on to fill leadership roles within the organization or serve as mentors to new Emerging Leaders.

The Emerging Leaders program was established to encourage members from diverse groups to get involved in leadership opportunities within the organization and to encourage and assist members of underrepresented populations in the association’s leadership to attend state, regional, or national conferences.

According to the NACADA website, the benefits of being a mentor include collaborating with other members from different institutions, meeting inspirational members interested in contributing to the future of the NACADA, and helping colleagues understand how the organization works, while enriching mentoring skills through participation in a structured program.

“My participation was less about helping me be better at my role and more about helping others succeed so they will, in turn, help their students be even more successful,” Hapes said. “Any time I work with efforts for advisor training, that’s essentially my goal: if I can help advisors improve upon their practice that will allow them to be better at helping the student populations they serve.”