Previous Winners

2007

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Jeffery LaFage Graduate Student Research Award

Alvaro Romero

Alvaro Romero is a Ph.D student at the University of Kentucky, majoring in Entomology. He received his M.S. in Entomology from Kansas State University. At the National University of Colombia, Bogota, he received a D.V.M. working with insecticide resistance in cattle ectoparasites. After receiving his degree, he worked as a veterinary entomologist for the Colombian Corporation of Agricultural Research (CORPOICA) for six years. His research at U. of Kentucky now focuses on the biology, ecology and management of bed bugs. The objectives of his research are focused on 1) studying the circadian organization of locomotion activity in bed bugs, 2) isolating and identifying chemical compounds from volatiles emitted by bed bugs and determination of their role in aggregation behavior, 3) detecting and characterizing insecticide resistance in field bed bug strains, and 4) determining sublethal effects of insecticides on the biology and behavior of bedbugs.

Award Overview:
This grant encourages research by graduate students in the field of the biology and control of termites or other insect pests of the urban environment. Established as a tribute to the late Jeffery P. LaFage, a professor of urban entomology at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge who specialized in the study of the biology and control of termites. For nearly 10 years before his death, his research activities involved studies of the Formosan subterranean termite and methods of applying this knowledge to the management of this introduced termite.

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Henry and Sylvia Richardson Research Grant

Ksenia Onufrieva

Ksenia Tcheslavskaia Onufrieva is a postdoctoral research associate at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University working in gypsy moth control using mating disruption. The gypsy moth feeds on the leaves of over 300 different species of trees in all climate zones in the U.S.  It is considered primarily to be a pest of eastern U.S. forest and shade trees but also poses a threat to a number of fruit and nut crops and causes defoliation of residential property. The goal of her proposed research is to study and implement a new method of pheromone application for gypsy moth mating disruption treatments.  She received her Ph.D in Entomology from Virginia Tech and her M.S. in Zoology from Lomonosov Moscow State University.

Award Overview:
The purpose of this grant is to provide research funds to postdoctoral ESA members who have at least one year of promising work experience, are undertaking research in selected areas, and have demonstrated a high level of scholarship.

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SNodgrass Memorial research award

No winner for 2007

Award Overview:
This award recognizes outstanding research by graduate students who have completed investigations in selected areas of entomology. Since Dr. Snodgrass was a leader in insect morphology, the award recipient must have completed his/her research thesis or dissertation in a related field of entomology. The amount of the monetary prize varies each year; and includes a certificate.

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 Kenneth and Barbara Starks Plant Resistance to Insects Graduate Student Research Award

Philip Morton is a graduate student research assistant at Purdue University. He received his B.S. in Entomology from Oklahoma State University. His research deals with the Hessian fly, a major pest of wheat worldwide, by acquiring new in-depth understanding of current and historical population gene flow with the use of microsatellites. With this improved understanding of the Hessian fly population genetics, Philip is hoping that his research will contribute to better Hessian fly management schemes and also shed light on the origin and dispersal of North American populations.  Philip is actively involved in Purdue’s department of Entomology working as the Graduate Student Organization past President, the Student Representative of the Teaching and Curriculum Committee and the Linnaean Team Captain.

Award Overview:
Established by an endowment from donations by Kenneth J. and Barbara Starks and additional funding partners, this grant encourages research by graduate students in the field of plant resistance to insects in entomology or plant breeding/genetics. The annual grant consists of a plaque and a research grant dependent on the interest earned from the endowment.

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