Texas A&M Entomology Research Network

Awards

Hawkings Receives Women’s Progress Student Award

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Chloë Hawkings, right, with Rebecca Hapes. Photo by Rob Williams
Chloë Hawkings, right, with Rebecca Hapes. Photo by Rob Williams

Congratulations to Ph.D. student Chloë Hawkings as she received the Women’s Progress Student Award during the ACE Awards Ceremony in the MSC on Wednesday, April 11.

Hawkings, who is currently advised by Dr. Cecilia Tamborindeguy, was honored for her hard work and dedication in demonstrating a commitment to improving the environment for women students through volunteer work, an elected position or advocacy programs on or off campus.

Since her college career, Hawkings has been instrumental in representing the Department in several ways. She has served as a leader and mentor to other graduate students in her role as a lead teaching assistant where she facilitated weekly planning meetings for all lab sections in the Department. She also has been a leader in redesigning the laboratory curriculum and developing a laboratory manual that is currently in use.

“Chloë tirelessly connects students interested in entomology and related STEM fields to individuals who can assist them in identifying and achieving their goals, then follows up and maintains her relationship with those students, mentoring them to continued success,” senior advisor Rebecca Hapes said.  “Her diligent and intentional efforts with students in this manner are simply remarkable.”

In 2017, Hawkings founded the Aggie Women in Entomology, an organization created to enhance the professional community of women in entomology. She currently serves as President of the organization, has hosted two seminar speakers for the Departmental seminar series. Also she founded the mentorship in entomology program where undergraduates could attend panels and workshops helpful for transitioning to graduate school.

“Chloë leads in the creation of positive solutions for an improved environment for women and a commitment to women’s issues,” said EGSO president Phillip Shults.

Hawkings is an active member of Women in Science and Engineering (WISE), where she has served as an entomology workshop leader for the ‘Expand your Horizons’ event, a career conference for 6th grade girls designed to inform and engage them in STEM through innovative and experiential experiences.  She also represents WISE as a graduate student mentor, meeting with undergraduate students formally on a weekly basis and interacts with her mentees frequently as they need her.

Hawkings also established herself as a strong entrepreneur and businesswoman.  She is involved with the entrepreneurship community within Texas A&M University through Startup Aggieland, and is a student representative of the female founders group.  In 2017, she received the Dell Computers Scholarship for women from Mays Business School to attend the Circular Summit Women in Entrepreneurship Annual Meeting in Houston.  Hawkings also was selected by Startup Aggieland to present her entrepreneurial success at conferences in both New York City and Florida.

Tamborindeguy was very proud of Hawkings for receiving the honor.

“Chloë has performed outstanding service for the Department of Entomology, the University and for the entomological and scientific community,” Tamborindeguy said. “This award highlights Chloë’s stellar contribution and leadership role for advancing women in science.”

Students, Postdoc Receive Awards During TAMU Research Competitions

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The winners from Student Research Week 2018. From left to right: Makaylee Crone, Pierre Lau, and Sydney, Tippelt.
The winners from Student Research Week 2018. From left to right: Makaylee Crone, Pierre Lau, and Sydney, Tippelt. Photos by Rob Williams

The Department of Entomology has received a lot of recognition this spring as several students and one postdoctoral research associate received honors for their research during Student Research Week and the Ecological Integration Symposium in March and April.

The first set of awards were awards were given during Student Research Week in March. Ph.D. student Pierre Lau and undergraduate students Sydney Tippelt and Makaylee Crone as they received awards during the university’s Student Research Week.

Lau received Second Place Oral in Graduate Sciences Category for his presentation titled “Are honey bees out for the gains? Honey bee pollen preferences between nutritionally distinct diets” while Tippelt received First Place Oral presentation in the Undergraduate Sciences category for her talk titled “Assortative Mating in the Anopheles gambiae Species Complex.”

“Pierre has become such a good presenter,” Lau’s faculty advisor Dr. Juliana Rangel said. “He looks very calm, cool and collected when presenting his research. This shows how much he has improved in his presentation skills and I’m very proud of that.”

Alex Payne standing with her award
Alex Payne

Tippelt is an undergraduate biomedical sciences major that is working in Dr. Michel Slotman’s lab and Crone is a bioenvironmental sciences major working in Rangel’s lab.

“Sydney did an outstanding job in her research project. As a testament to her excellence, she has received a full fellowship to support her PhD studies in the Texas A&M Genetics Program and I expect great things from her in the future,” Slotman said.

Lau also received the Sigma Xi Interdisciplinary Science Award while Crone received the Vice President for Research Excellence in Research Award for her outstanding efforts with undergraduate research.

Christine Madamba (left), Cody Gale (center), and Zoey Kramer (right). Submitted photo.
Christine Madamba (left), Cody Gale (center), and Zoey Kramer (right). Submitted photo.

“I am honored to win an award for my oral presentation in my respective section and for my interdisciplinary research,” Lau said.  “I am grateful for the GPSC for putting this event together and the Sigma Xi for supporting research and young scientists. I am also thankful for my mentors for supporting me throughout my program.”

Six students also received awards at the annual Ecological Integration Symposium during a special awards presentation on Friday, April 7.

In the graduate oral presentation category, Ph.D. student Alex Payne received first place for her talk titled “Synergistic effects of in-hive miticides and agro-chemicals on honey bee (Apis mellifera) colony growth while Ph.D. student Bert Foquet received third for his talk “The molecular basis of locust phase polyphenism in a phylogenetic framework.”

Payne works in Rangel’s lab while Foquet is in Dr. Hojun Song’s lab.

Bert Foquet standing outside the Biocontrol Center
Bert Foquet

“I am very glad to learn that Bert has received the third place for his talk at EIS. Bert’s project focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of density-dependent phenotypic plasticity in locusts and grasshoppers, and he has generated and analyzed an impressive amount of data,” Song said. “His research provides a novel insights into understanding what makes locusts, and I am confident that he will continue to produce excellent research.”

Christine Madamba received first place for her presentation titled “Fungal Seed Treatment Enhances Defensive Volatile Responses to Herbivory in Cotton” and Zoey Kramer received third for her talk titled “Effects of Habitat Complexity on Estuarine Environments.” Both Madamba and Kramer are undergraduate students working in Dr. Greg Sword’s lab.

Postdoctoral Research Associate Dr. Travis Calkins received first place in the postdoctoral category for his talk titled “Brain Gene Expression of Queen Fire Ants.” Calkins is currently working in Dr. Patricia Pietrantonio’s lab.

Travis Calkins in Dr. Patricia Pietrantonio's lab
Travis Calkins

“I am very pleased that his effort in research has been recognized. The presentation summarized our most recent publication on the fire ant queen brain transcriptome and despite being a group effort,” Pietrantonio said. “Travis’s participation allowed for speedy project conclusion. I could not be happier for him in receiving the EIS award, he is a truly outstanding and committed post-doc.”

In the poster competition, Sword Lab member Benjamin Thomas received second place in the undergraduate category for his poster titled “The effect of macronutrient intake on gossypol susceptibility in Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).”

Sword was very pleased with his lab members receiving the honors during the symposium.

Benjamin Thomas in front of banner
Benjamin Thomas, left, with Ashley Tessnow. Submitted photo.

“Undergraduate research can be a pivotal experience for students getting degrees in science because it provides them with the opportunity to see how science really gets done and to participate firsthand in the process,” he said. “The quality of the research Zoey and Christine and Benjamin have done and the importance of their contributions to the lab really shines through in their receipt of awards at EIS this year. We are very proud of them, and thrilled to watch them succeed.”

“The awards were well deserved and I am proud of everyone,” Rangel said.

Department Names Dr. Doug Landis 2018 Adkisson Seminar Speaker

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Dr. Doug Landis (left) with Dr. David Ragsdale. Photo by Rob Williams
Dr. Doug Landis (left) with Dr. David Ragsdale. Photo by Rob Williams

The Department of Entomology recently invited Dr. Doug Landis this year’s  Dr. Perry Adkisson Distinguished Lecturer for 2018.  The lecture was held at 4 pm in the Minnie Belle Heep Center during our regular departmental seminar  on Thursday April 5.

Landis is a Professor of Insect Ecology and Biological Control in the Department of Entomology at Michigan State University where his research focuses on understanding the factors that influence biodiversity in arthropods and ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes. He is the author of more than 140 peer-reviewed journal articles, 25 book chapters, and more than 50 Extension bulletins.

Landis has won numerous awards for his work including the Entomological Society of America’s Recognition Award in Entomology for outstanding contributions in agriculture, and the Outstanding Alumnus Award from the North Carolina State University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He also received the MSU Beal Distinguished Faculty Award in 2013 and was named a Fellow of the Entomological Society of America in 2016.

In his Extension program, Landis focuses on the use of ecological restoration to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services, with a special focus on the ecology and management of invasive organisms. His current areas of outreach include the biodiversity implications of various bioenergy landscapes, prairie fen and oak savanna restoration, the use of native plants to enhance ecosystem services, monarch butterfly conservation, and biological control of the invasive spotted knapweed.

The Perry Adkisson Distinguished Lecturer is the premier award in the area of Integrated Pest Management named after Dr. Perry Adkisson, former head of the Department and Chancellor the Texas A&M System.    During his career, Adkisson was elected to the National Academy of Sciences, and the first ever recipient of all three of the world’s major prizes in agriculture, the Alexander von Humboldt Award, the Wolf Prize, and the World Food Prize. Along with Dr. Ray Smith at the University of California, they co-developed what is now known as IPM or Integrated Pest Management.  His legacy is alive and well in Texas and in most states where IPM Coordinators help organize Extension faculty and other professionals to implement IPM practices in agriculture in their respective states.

Former PhD Student Receives Top Award for Research in Malaysia

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Chong Chin Heo standing at a stage receiving a medal.
Chong Chin Heo, right, receiving the medal from Professor Emeritus Dr. C.P. Ramachandran, left. Submitted photo.

Congratulations to former Ph.D. student Chong Chin Heo as he received the research medal for his research at the 54th annual meeting of the Malaysian Society of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine.

Heo was honored with the Nadchatram Silver Medal during the opening ceremony held in Kuala Lumpur. The award was given every year to scientists under 45 years old that have done outstanding research in both parasitology and tropical medicine fields.

Heo received his Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences in 2006 and Master of Science in 2009 from the National University of Malaysia, and then his Ph.D. in Entomology from Texas A&M in 2016. He is currently a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine at the Universiti Teknologi MARA in Malaysia, where he is teaching medical parasitology and entomology to pre-clinical medical students.

Before becoming a faculty member, Heo was a research officer at the Institute for Medical Research in Kuala Lumpur, and was a member of Dr. Jeff Tomberlin’s FLIES Facility when he was a grad student. Heo’s research interests are carrion decomposition ecology, biodiversity of necrophagous and coprophagous dipteran species, and forensic entomology/acarology.

Heo has given more than 70 platforms and poster presentations at conferences locally and internationally since 2017.

“Chin has always been a stellar researcher. So, I am not surprised by his receiving such a prestigious award,” Heo’s former mentor Dr. Jeffery Tomberlin said. “This recognition highlights his amazing contributions to the field of parasitology and entomology as well as his dedication to the students at his university.”

“I felt very honored to be selected by the committee as the recipient for Nadchatram Medal 2017. I am very grateful to the Malaysian Society of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine for their recognition to young scientists in the field of parasitology and entomology.,” Heo said.

Heo was also grateful for the time that he had spent at Texas A&M and for the faculty that have trained him.

“I sincerely thank my former professors and supervisors who taught me, particularly Dr. Jeffery Tomberlin, Dr. Pete Teel, Dr. Aaron Tarone, Dr. Jacqueline Peterson (Soil and Crop Sciences, TAMU) and Dr. Tawni Crippen (USDA-ARS) for their support and help during my PhD program here at the Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University,” he said. “Being a former PhD graduate from the Department, this unique experience definitely enhances my confident and quality as a researcher, and making me a proud Aggie who work hard to promote entomological sciences, and spread the Aggie spirit and culture to the local community.”

Teel Receives TAMUS Regents Professor Award

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Teel with Chancellor Sharp and Board of Regents
Dr. Pete Teel was recognized for receiving the TAMUS Regents Professor Award during a recent ceremony in the MSC. Pictured with Teel are: (from left) Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp, Dr. Teel, Mr. Charles Schwartz, Board of Regents Chair, and Elaine Mendoza Board of Regents Vice Chair. Photo by Butch Ireland, Butch Ireland Photography

The Department of Entomology would like to congratulate Dr. Pete Teel as he received Regents Professor Award from the Texas A&M System during a special recognition ceremony in February.

Teel was one of 12 faculty members that were recognized during ceremonies held in the Bethancourt Ballroom by the TAMUS Board of Regents. The award is given to recognize those professors that have made exemplary contributions to the university and the people of Texas.

Teel is currently Professor and Associate Department Head for Academic Programs in the Department and is internationally recognized for his expertise and research discoveries on ticks and tick-borne diseases, which are a significant impediment to the health and well-being of humans, companion animals, livestock and wildlife.

Since his career at A&M, Teel has provided leadership in support of industry, regulatory, animal health and public health concerns, as well as in the strategic planning for research and regulatory efforts from state to national levels and generated over $4 million in research support through the US Department of Agriculture, United States Agency for International Development, the Department of Defense, US Department of Homeland Security, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, animal health companies and state programs. These programs resulted in more than 230 scholarly publications in peer reviewed journals, book chapters, technical reports, extension and trade publications, as well as more than 300 invited and submitted presentations at scholarly conferences and stakeholder meetings.

Teel’s research findings have benefited livestock producers facing annual costs to ticks and tick-borne diseases exceeding $450M, by improving management tactics and strategies for tick control.  His work on cattle fever ticks alone contributes toward protection of more than 400K cattle producers in the southern U.S. that produce more than 1/3 of all fed cattle.  USDA estimates the cattle industry losses would exceed $1B annually in the southern US, if these ticks were permitted to re-establish in this region.

Teel is also leading a new collaboration between Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the USDA, ARS, through the AgriLife Genomics and Bioinformatics Center to search the genetic codes of the two cattle fever tick species in the U.S. Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program using comparative genomic and transcriptomic approaches.  New challenges to tick elimination have heightened the need to find innovative solutions.  This collaboration is expected to yield new discoveries for anti-tick vaccines and identification of new targets for pesticide development, with opportunities for commercialization.

Since 1994, Teel’s dedication in leading the Department’s recruiting, curriculum, and other teaching activities have resulted in making it the largest and nationally-recognized entomology teaching programs in the United States.

Teel has been instrumental in creating the Undergraduate Certificate in Public Health Entomology. Launched in 2012, the certificate’s goal is to prepare students for opportunities in public health services from local to international levels, military services, and relevant graduate and professional schools.

Teel also led the growth and development of the Forensic and Investigative Sciences program from a single course into a separate major and developed a capstone course for the undergraduate curricula called Case Studies in Problem Solving (ENTO 435), which he taught from 2006-2010.

In his tenure, Teel has graduated 16 PhD and 9 Master’s former students in his research program.  He presently supports and advises 2 PhD and 2 Master’s students with research projects on subjects pertaining to ticks.  His former students include teaching faculty at the University of Oklahoma,  the US Air Force Academy and University of Arkansas Monticello.

Nine of Teel’s former students have previously, or are currently, serving in the U.S. Armed Forces as medical entomologists, whose mission is to protect service men and women globally from vector-borne diseases.  Other students work in animal health companies, public health agencies, and veterinary medicine.   He has mentored 10 B.S. students in high impact research or internship experiences in the last 5 years, each resulting in publication of scholarly work.  Each of these students have successfully completed post-graduate programs or are presently in professional schools.

He has received numerous awards during his career including the Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching in 2016 from the Entomological Society of America, the 2014 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean’s Outstanding Achievement Award in Excellence in Educational Enrichment and Innovation, and the 2008 Vice Chancellor’s Award in Excellence, Entomology Recruitment Team, Diversity Efforts.