Entomology and Plant Pathology
Meet Kassie Hollabaugh, a doctoral candidate who has dedicated her graduate studies to the art of teaching and mentoring. Originally from Warren, Pennsylvania, Hollabaugh moved to Knoxville in 2015 to pursue her education at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In 2019, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, specializing in ecology and evolutionary biology, and minoring in wildlife and fisheries science. Remaining at UTK, Hollabaugh delved deeper into her studies, earning a master’s degree in entomology and plant pathology in 2022. She’s set to complete her doctorate in December of 2023. Her current research explores how a fungus interacts with insects and
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture recognized some of its top faculty, staff, researchers and Extension experts at UTIA’s annual awards and promotions luncheon on the UTIA campus in Knoxville on August 15, 2023. Many of the awards are gifts made possible by faculty, alumni and friends of the Institute. UT Institute of Agriculture Senior Vice Chancellor and Senior Vice President Keith Carver hosted the award winners and celebrated their work. “I’m excited to celebrate the amazing work of our UTIA faculty and staff,” says Carver. “These awards are well-deserved and represent our employees’ steadfast dedication to their work, the Institute and the people
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture recognized some of its top faculty, staff, researchers and Extension experts at UTIA’s annual awards and promotions luncheon on the UTIA campus in Knoxville on August 15, 2023. Many of the awards are gifts made possible by faculty, alumni and friends of the Institute. UT Institute of Agriculture Senior Vice Chancellor and Senior Vice President Keith Carver hosted the award winners and celebrated their work. “I’m excited to celebrate the amazing work of our UTIA faculty and staff,” says Carver. “These awards are well-deserved and represent our employees’ steadfast dedication to their work, the Institute and
Autumn McLaughlin, a doctoral student with the Herbert College of Agriculture Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, was selected as a recipient of the I.E. Melhus Graduate Student Symposium at the American Phytopathological Society (APS) Annual Meeting, Plant Health 2023. The highly anticipated symposium, which centers around the theme of “Systems-based approaches, tools, and tactics to combat mycotoxins for a sustainable and safe food supply,” provides current and recent graduate students the opportunity to present their research during the acclaimed Melhus session. Recipients receive an honorarium of $500 to apply to the cost of attending the
Dawson Kerns, a doctoral student conducting research on resistance mechanism to Vip3Aa in corn earworm, received the Mauro E. Martignoni award at the 2023 International Conference on Invertebrate Pathology and Microbial Control and 55th Annual Meeting of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology (SIP) held in College Park, Maryland. The Mauro E. Martignoni Award, the Society’s premier award for student research, recognizes Kerns’s scientific excellence and ability to communicate their science effectively in their application. SIP is a scientific society that brings together people from diverse backgrounds within the scientific community, fostering unity and collaboration. To learn more about SIP, visit siponline.org. For those interested in learning
With a passion for advocating science policy, Corey Day, a first-generation college student, channels his research to protect communities from the threats posed by vector-borne diseases. Graduating from Western Carolina University with a bachelor’s degree in environmental health and a master’s degree in biology, Day has since set his sights on a mission – to protect the health and wellbeing of communities from mosquito-borne diseases. Currently pursuing a doctoral degree with a focus in bioinformatics, genomics, and molecular interactions, Day is using a combination of entomology and epidemiology to investigate the distribution of pediatric La Crosse virus disease in eastern Tennessee and North Carolina. Q&A
Sonya Dexter, an exceptional individual who is an invaluable member of the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, holds over three decades of dedicated service with the department. With unwavering dedication and a relentless pursuit of growth and innovation, Dexter continues to play a pivotal role in the department’s success. Currently, Dexter serves as an accounting assistant, leveraging her financial expertise and attention to detail. About Sonya Dexter Joining EPP in 1990, Dexter started her professional journey as a word processor, diligently typing every document that passed through the department. From typing typewriter forms to interoffice memos, book chapters, and class materials, Dexter played
Bug Camp 2023, held at the UT Arboretum in Oak Ridge, TN, recently concluded, marking its triumphant return since the Covid-19 pandemic. The three-day camp, held from June 14- June 16, showcased the importance of insects in our world to 14 rising third to fifth-grade students. Led by Professor Jerome Grant from the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, alongside Michelle Campanis, UT Arboretum education coordinator, and Janet Bigelow, UT Arboretum Society president, Bug Camp 2023 provided a unique platform for children to appreciate the vital role insects play in our ecosystem. Through a diverse range of activities, including bug crafts, nature walks, science experiments, and
The Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology welcomes Nar Ranabhat as an assistant professor and Extension plant pathologist at the Soil, Plant, and Pest Center located in Nashville, TN. Ranabhat is scheduled to join the team on July 1, 2023. In this role, Ranabhat will specialize in diagnosing and managing diseases of ornamental plants, nursery plants, and turf in commercial and residential, natural, or managed systems. Ranabhat will utilize traditional and innovative tools to educate diverse audiences, ranging from Extension agents to government agencies and agricultural producers. Throughout Ranabhat’s graduate and postdoctoral research, he has worked on employing a range of traditional and advanced
The publication titled “How Environmental Changes Can Lead to Increased Transmission of Vector-Borne Illnesses,” authored by Associate Professor Rebecca Trout Fryxell in collaboration with Jennifer Richards, an Extension curriculum specialist, Susan Reynolds, a teacher at South Doyle High School, and Lynne Middleton, a State 4-H curriculum specialist, details a MEGA:BITESS lesson plan for middle and high school students. The lesson plan is designed to teach the learner to understand how mosquitoes serve as vectors for transmission of infectious agents causing disease, identity what factors are needed for mosquito oviposition, and observe how changing temperature and precipitation patterns could potentially increase the number of individuals affected by
