Previous Winners

2008

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Jeffery LaFage Graduate Student Research Award

Neil Spomer

Neil Spomer is a Ph.D. student majoring in Entomology at the University of Nebraska. Neil's Ph.D. program in urban entomology emphasizes environmental toxicology and soil chemistry impacting subterranean termite management. He is specifically focusing on soil chemistry affecting the behavior of new generation non-repellent termicides. Neil has five peer reviewed articles published and one under review. Neil is also a Board Certified Entomologist Intern.

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

No award given in 2008.

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

    Jessica Ware

Jessica Ware received a Ph.D. from Rutgers University in 2008. Her research focused on the superfamily Libelluloidea, which comprises Macromiidae, Corduliidae and the extremely speciose family Libellulidae. She incorporated molecular and morphological analyses to determine the evolution of several behavioral and biogeographical characters within Libelluloidea. Jessica also studies convergent evolution, particularly in dragonfly wing venation patterns. She is collaborating on several species level odonate systematics studies (e.g., Stylogomphus, Synlestes,and Syncordulia). Jessica recently won an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship to work on the systematics of lower termites with Dr. Dave Grimaldi at the American Museum of Natural History.

 


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

 
Keith Post

Keith Post is pursuing his M.S. degree at SUNY-College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Keith’s research involves insect interactions with genetically modified elm and chestnut to see if transgene expression itself, or the inexact gene insertion process, has any non-target effects on typical herbivorous insects. His research results will provide quantitative data for determining whether forest restoration using these particular transgenic trees is environmentally safe.

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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