Gianfranco Anfora is a Full Professor at the University of Trento, affiliated with both the Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering and the Center Agriculture Food Environment (C3A), where he serves as Deputy Dean. His research focuses on agricultural entomology, biological control, and sustainable pest management. Key expertise areas include integrated pest control, semiochemicals, and viticulture-related challenges. Anfora teaches courses on biopesticides, vine protection, and eco-sustainable management of invasive species. His research emphasizes vibrational communication in pests like Halyomorpha halys and Drosophila suzukii, exploring non-chemical control strategies such as sterile insect techniques and biological control agents. Collaborative projects include classical biological control programs targeting invasive species in vineyards and果园. Anfora’s work often bridges ecology and applied pest management, addressing climate and landscape impacts on agricultural practices. Recent studies highlight innovations in vibrational mating disruption, substrate-borne signaling, and radiation effects on pest behavior. His contributions aim to balance productivity, environmental sustainability, and regulatory compliance within agri-food systems. No scientific awards are explicitly mentioned, but his extensive publication record reflects significant contributions to entomological and agricultural research.
Prof. Ingo Grass is a Full Professor at the University of Hohenheim, heading the Department of Ecology of Tropical Agricultural Systems (490f) and serving as Deputy Head of the Department of Crop Production in the Tropics and Subtropics (490e). He is Director of the Hans Ruthenberg Institute for Tropical Agricultural Sciences and an Equal Opportunities Officer within the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences. His research focuses on agroecology, tropical agricultural systems, and biodiversity conservation in human-modified landscapes. Education: PhD in Biology from Philipps-Universität Marburg (2014). PostDoc at University of Göttingen (2014-2019) before moving to Hohenheim. Research Interests: Agroecosystem biodiversity, pollination ecology, land-use impacts on ecosystems, and sustainable farming practices. His work emphasizes reconciling productivity with biodiversity preservation, with a focus on tropical regions and temperate grasslands. Articles Trends: Recent work explores pesticide impacts on non-target insects, agroecological strategies to enhance pollination and biocontrol, and biodiversity benefits of diversified crops. He frequently collaborates on global studies involving tropical landscapes and urban agriculture dynamics. Awards: Maria Sibylla Merian Award (2013), Teaching Excellence Awards (2016 & 2018). Labs/Teams: Leads interdisciplinary teams in tropical agroecology, collaborating with institutes in Indonesia, Madagascar, and South Africa.
Martin Kaltenpoth serves as Director at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena since 2020 and Professor for Evolutionary Ecology at Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz since 2015. Previously, he led the Research Group Insect Symbiosis at the MPI for Chemical Ecology from 2009 to 2015. Education: PhD in Biology (summa cum laude), University of Würzburg, 2006 Diploma in Biology (with honors), University of Würzburg, 2003 His research centers on insect-bacterial symbioses , investigating evolutionary, ecological, and chemical dimensions of host-microbe interactions. Key foci include nutritional and defensive symbiosis in beetles, genomic adaptations of symbiotic bacteria, and chemical mediation of symbiotic relationships. His work bridges entomology, microbiology, and chemical ecology to unravel coevolutionary mechanisms. Analysis of recent publications reveals dominant trends in beetle-microbe systems, emphasizing symbiont roles in cuticle synthesis, antifungal defense, and host-plant adaptation. His studies frequently employ genomic, biochemical, and experimental approaches across diverse insect lineages. No scientific awards were documented in the source material. While specific advisees and grants remain unlisted, his leadership of research groups and dual academic appointments indicate active supervision of graduate researchers and externally funded projects in symbiosis evolution. Currently directing research at the Max Planck Institute, Kaltenpoth advances understanding of symbiotic systems with implications for evolutionary theory and sustainable pest management strategies.
Tom Wenseleers is a Professor at KU Leuven's Department of Biology within the Faculty of Science, where he leads the Laboratory of Socioecology and Social Evolution. His research spans theoretical and experimental approaches to evolutionary biology, with particular focus on social insect systems. Research spans social insects (ants, bees, wasps), microbes, viruses, and human systems Primary model organisms: social insects studying major evolutionary transitions Current projects examine caste determination, chemical communication, and evolutionary conflicts His research integrates theoretical modeling with experimental, behavioral, and comparative studies. Recent work combines genomic techniques and high-throughput GC/MS analysis to decipher chemical communication systems. Current trends show increasing interdisciplinary work spanning virology (SARS-CoV-2 variants), microbial ecology (antibiotic resistance), and robotics (pollinator behavior monitoring). The research demonstrates consistent application of evolutionary theory to diverse biological systems while maintaining social insects as the core model. Wenseleers actively mentors PhD students and postdocs, with recent graduates including Kamiel Debeuckelaere and Viviana Di Pietro. His lab receives substantial funding through multiple concurrent research projects, including Promotor roles on grants examining caste development in bee societies and microbial metabolite screening. The laboratory maintains strong international collaborations across Europe and South America. The lab operates within the Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity Conservation unit at KU Leuven, with physical location at Naamsestraat 59, box 2466, 3000 Leuven. The research group maintains active outreach programs including science workshops for schools and public engagement events focused on insect conservation.
Dr. Katja Wehner is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Faculty of Biology at the Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany, specializing in soil arthropod ecology with a focus on oribatid mite communities across forest microhabitats including litter, soil, dead wood, and tree bark. Her work examines their role in forest food webs and responses to environmental stressors. Education: PhD in Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt (2009). Dissertation: 'Parthenogenesis and Sexuality in Oribatid Mites' Diploma in Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt (2004). Thesis: 'Variability at the hsp82-locus of the parthenogenetic oribatid mite Platynothrus peltifer' Research Focus: Dr. Wehner investigates biotic interactions and acarological dynamics in Central European forests, emphasizing how land-use intensity, drought, and structural factors shape oribatid mite biodiversity. Her work integrates community ecology, soil science, and microhabitat specialization to understand ecosystem resilience and food-web interactions, with particular attention to parthenogenetic versus sexual reproduction strategies in microarthropods. Publication Trends: Recent publications (2018-2022) reveal a strong emphasis on anthropogenic impacts, including land-use change effects on aboveground-belowground linkages, drought/storm damage consequences for soil communities, and microhabitat-driven variations in mite sex ratios and seasonal dynamics. Her collaborative work in journals like Nature Communications and Global Ecology and Conservation demonstrates methodological integration of field surveys, controlled experiments, and multi-taxon analyses. Collaborative Networks: Dr. Wehner actively participates in large-scale ecological initiatives including the Biodiversity Exploratories project, collaborating with researchers from institutions like the Technical University of Munich and University of Würzburg on cross-taxa biodiversity studies. Her co-authorship on multi-investigator papers indicates strong engagement with Germany's ecological research infrastructure.
Eveline Verhulst is an Associate Professor at the Laboratory of Entomology within Wageningen University & Research, affiliated with the PE&RC (Production Ecology & Resource Conservation) research school. Her work focuses on evolutionary genetics of insects, particularly parasitoid wasps and their interactions with endosymbionts. Her research interests span entomology, evolutionary biology, and genetics with specific focus on parasitoid wasps (particularly Nasonia vitripennis), biological control mechanisms, endosymbiont relationships, CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing applications in insects, polyploidy in animal evolution, and sexual dimorphism. Her work bridges fundamental evolutionary questions with potential agricultural applications. Dr. Verhulst's recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward applying cutting-edge genomic techniques to understand insect evolution and symbiosis. Her research combines molecular genetics with ecological perspectives, particularly examining how microbial symbionts influence host insect evolution and biological control potential. The work spans from basic mechanisms of gene regulation to applied agricultural contexts. NWO Vidi grant (€ 800.000) for research on 'How do differences between males and females evolve?' Dr. Verhulst actively supervises multiple PhD candidates including Williams, A., Sivaprakasham Murugesan, S., Guerra, F., Beekman, M., and Donner, H. Her research receives funding through various projects examining evolutionary transitions in pheromone communication, neopolyploidization mechanisms, Doublesex interactome, and defensive symbiosis in biocontrol. Her laboratory appears to focus on insect genomics, evolutionary genetics, and symbiosis research, with strong connections to agricultural applications in biological pest control.
Matthew Ronshaugen is a Senior Lecturer in the Division of Developmental Biology & Medicine (L5) at the Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester. He has held academic positions since 2007 as a Manchester Fellow, followed by Lecturer (2012-2017), and Senior Lecturer since 2017. 1991-1995: Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Linguistics, University of Nevada, Las Vegas 1995-1997: Master of Science in Systematics, University of Nevada, Las Vegas 1997-2002: Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Molecular Biology, University of California, San Diego 2003-2007: Ruth L. Kirschstein NIH Postdoctoral Fellow at University of California, Berkeley His research focuses on non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), particularly their roles in gene expression and developmental differentiation. His lab investigates how ncRNA evolution contributes to metazoan body plan diversification, centering on the Hox complex—a conserved genomic region rich in ncRNAs. He uses tiling microarrays and fluorescent in situ hybridization to analyze ncRNA dynamics in Drosophila, Tribolium, and Parhyale. Recent publications highlight his work on miRNA functions in embryonic development, aging-related changes in myeloid cells, and comparative transcriptomics across arthropods. His team employs genetics tools to dissect ncRNA roles in transcriptional regulation, epigenetic control, and silencing mechanisms. Scientific Awards: Ruth L. Kirschstein NIH Postdoctoral Fellow Manchester Fellow He supervises research on developmental transcriptomes and contributes to datasets on piRNA expression and Hox complex analysis. Collaborations span immunology, genomics, and evolutionary development, with outputs cited in fields like RNA interference, transgenics, and wound healing.
Barbara Sharanowski is a Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Central Florida (College of Sciences). Her research integrates phylogenetics, genomics, and ecology to study parasitic Hymenoptera evolution, particularly Braconidae wasps, with applications in biodiversity conservation and biocontrol. She directs an active lab developing mobile tools for integrated pest management. Education includes advanced degrees in Entomology/Evolutionary Biology. Research focuses on: Macroevolutionary patterns in parasitic wasps Genome evolution and viral symbionts in insects Biocontrol optimization using digital solutions Publications emphasize insect systematics, with recent work exploring genomic adaptations in parasitoids and field applications for sustainable agriculture. Awards include leadership of the International Society of Hymenopterists and NSF grants. Mentorship spans 6+ graduate students studying wasp taxonomy and tri-trophic interactions. Lab activities include international fieldwork and bioinformatics tool development.
Hans Smid is a researcher at Wageningen University & Research working in the Laboratory of Entomology. He holds a doctorate and serves as a research supervisor and collaborator on multiple projects focusing on insect behavior, particularly parasitoid wasps and their interactions with host plants and insects. Dr. Smid's research focuses on several key areas in entomology and insect neuroscience: Parasitoid wasp behavior and biological control applications Olfactory learning and memory in insects Neural mechanisms underlying insect behavior Plant-insect interactions, particularly in agricultural contexts Neuroethology of small-brained insects Brain size evolution in parasitic wasps His recent work shows a strong emphasis on understanding how insects like Pieris brassicae butterflies and Cotesia glomerata wasps use olfactory cues in their foraging and oviposition behaviors. This research has important implications for developing more sustainable agricultural practices through biological control methods, as evidenced by his 2024 publication on strawberry cultivation and parasitic wasp attraction. Dr. Smid's research has generated significant attention, with his work being picked up by 4 news outlets, posted by 9 X users, and shared on Facebook pages, indicating broad interest in his findings. His publications have accumulated readers on Mendeley and citations in Scopus. As a research supervisor, Dr. Smid has guided multiple PhD students including J. de Bruijn and J. Groothuis through their doctoral work. His collaborative approach is evident in the numerous multi-investigator projects he participates in, often working alongside colleagues like Marcel Dicke and Louise Vet. Current active projects include 'Apport, parasitic wasps as biodetectors' and 'Smart parasitoids: effective biological control.' Dr. Smid maintains an active research profile with continuous output, including multiple publications in 2024. His work bridges basic research on insect behavior with practical agricultural applications, demonstrating the real-world impact of entomological research.
Jeffrey Harvey is an Endowed Professor in the Department of Ecology & Evolution at the Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. His research focuses on parasitoid biology, hyperparasitoid interactions, and climate change impacts on insect communities. He contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to sustainable agriculture and food security. Recent work explores spider life history strategies, pest management under climate change, and hyperparasitoid development dynamics. Education details are not explicitly provided, but his extensive publications (107 articles) and datasets (23) indicate advanced academic training in entomology and ecological sciences. Research collaborations span international institutions, with active projects investigating climate warming effects on trophic level interactions. His work has been cited across platforms like Mendeley and Bluesky, reflecting significant academic impact. Supervised four PhD theses, though specific student names aren't listed here. Key research themes include parasitoid wasp ecology, insect pest management, and behavioral adaptations under environmental stressors.
Vincent Foray is a Researcher at the University of Tours, affiliated with the Research Institute on Insect Biology (IRBI) and the Department of Animal Biology and Genetics. He specializes in thermal biology, symbiotic interactions, and the impacts of climate change on insects. His work focuses on how temperature and endosymbiotic bacteria influence insect phenotypes and fitness, particularly in aphids. Research themes include: (1) Thermal biology, exploring how temperature fluctuations affect insect performance and adaptation, and (2) Symbiotic interactions, studying the role of endosymbionts like Serratia symbiotica and Wolbachia in thermal tolerance and host-symbiont dynamics. He teaches courses in population genetics and organism biology. Publications span topics like aphid-parasitoid dynamics, microbial symbiont effects on host fitness, and thermal adaptation mechanisms. Collaborations include studies on Drosophila suzukii invasions and metabolic impacts of dietary shifts. His work is grounded in integrative approaches combining molecular, physiological, and behavioral data.
Maria Tatiana Pina Desfilis is a Professor at the Faculty of Teacher Training, Universitat de València, and an active researcher in agricultural and environmental sciences. She is affiliated with the Department of Experimental A and associated with the research groups GEOLIT (Literary Geographies) and Didactics of Experimental Sciences. She has also served as a Post-Doc at Universitat Jaume I de Castelló in Ciències Agràries i del Medi Natural. Her work bridges science education and applied entomology, particularly in sustainable citrus farming. PhD in Biological Sciences, Universitat de València (2007) Research focus: biological control, integrated pest management, soil ecology Current affiliation: Universitat de València Email: tatiana.pina@uv.es Her research centers on the biological control of key citrus pests such as Tetranychus urticae (two-spotted spider mite) and Ceratitis capitata (Mediterranean fruit fly). She investigates the impact of cover crops, pollen quality, and soil microorganisms on predator-prey dynamics and natural enemy efficacy. Her work includes evaluating acaricides and alternative control methods, such as petroleum-derived oils, and exploring molecular techniques like multiplex PCR to analyze gut contents of predatory mites. She also studies host adaptation in mite populations and the role of mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen-fixing bacteria in plant-herbivore interactions. Her publications, primarily from 2001 to 2015, show a consistent focus on sustainable pest control in citrus agroecosystems. Key themes include the enhancement of phytoseiid mite communities, the side effects of chemical treatments on natural enemies, and ecological engineering for pest regulation. Her collaborative work with researchers like Helga Montón, G. Camañes, and Josep A. Jacas highlights her integration into a broader network of agricultural scientists. Scientific Awards: No awards mentioned in the provided texts. She has contributed to advising and research projects related to pest management, though no formal list of students is available. Her work has been supported through institutional affiliations and collaborative research, particularly in integrated pest management programs in Spanish citrus orchards. She is involved in field surveys, semi-field experiments, and molecular ecological studies. Laboratories and Research Teams: Research group: 'didacies' – Research group in science education and science teacher training Research group: GEOLIT – Literary Geographies Former Post-Doc at Universitat Jaume I de Castelló Collaborative network in citrus pest management and biological control
Jeffrey Feder is a full Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame, where he has been a faculty member since 1993 and earned tenure in 2006. He is affiliated with the College of Science and contributes to interdisciplinary initiatives including the Eck Institute for Global Health, the Environmental Change Initiative, Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics, and the Integrated Biomedical Sciences graduate program. He also directs GLOBES, an NSF-funded interdisciplinary graduate training program in environment and society. Research Interests: Dr. Feder's research focuses on ecological and evolutionary genomics, particularly the mechanisms of sympatric speciation. His lab studies the apple maggot fly ( Rhagoletis pomonella ) as a model system for real-time speciation driven by host plant shifts. His work integrates genomics, population genetics, neurophysiology, and field ecology to understand how ecological adaptation leads to reproductive isolation and biodiversity. Additional interests include vector-borne diseases like Chagas disease and the coevolution of insect communities under climate change. Recent Research Trends: His recent publications highlight the genomic architecture of speciation, the predictability of evolutionary trajectories, and cascading diversification across trophic levels. Articles span topics from transcriptomic responses to host environments to the dynamics of tipping points in speciation, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach combining empirical data with theoretical insights. Sloan Foundation Evolutionary Biology Fellow NSF Career Award Fellow, Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin Fellow, John J. Reilly Center for Science, Technology, and Values NSF Dimensions of Biodiversity Grant (co-PI, $2M) Advising and Grants: Dr. Feder has mentored numerous PhD and master’s students, including Cheyenne Tait, Glen Hood, Mary Glover, and Meredith Doellman, many of whom have published high-impact research. He actively recruits graduate students with backgrounds in bioinformatics and evolutionary biology. His lab has secured major funding from the NSF, Indiana Clinical and Translational Science Institute, and other sources to support research on speciation genomics and disease vector diagnostics. Labs and Teams: The Feder Lab at Notre Dame is a vibrant research group focused on evolutionary genetics and genomics. It collaborates widely, including with researchers at the University of Florida, University of Colorado Denver, and Binghamton University. The lab emphasizes both field and laboratory work, maintaining strong ties to the broader Rhagoletis research community and contributing to global understanding of speciation dynamics.
Derek D. Houston is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Western Colorado University, affiliated with the Natural & Environmental Sciences Department and the Clark Family School of Environment & Sustainability. He holds a PhD in Biology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (2009), an MS in Zoology from Brigham Young University (2002), and a BS in Zoology from Brigham Young University (1999). His research focuses on phylogeography , molecular ecology , and conservation of desert fishes , with fieldwork spanning western North America, British Columbia, and Baja California. Key interests include: Evolutionary adaptations of aquatic organisms using DNA sequencing Population genetics of western North American fishes Ecological impacts of parasites on mutualistic systems Climate change effects on alpine and desert species Houston teaches courses including Biogeography, Cell Biology, Conservation Genetics, Ecology, and Fisheries Biology. His publications emphasize evolutionary patterns in aquatic insects and fishes , nematode-fig wasp interactions , and conservation genetics , frequently leveraging genomic tools to explore ecological relationships. He conducts fieldwork in diverse western ecosystems and values interdisciplinary collaboration to address conservation challenges.
Professor James Cook is a Theme Leader for Plants, Animals and Interactions at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment (HIE) at Western Sydney University. He holds the academic rank of Professor and leads research focused on ecology, evolution, and symbiosis, with particular emphasis on pollination systems and insect ecology. Professor Cook received his BA in Zoology from Oxford University and his PhD in Evolutionary Biology from Imperial College London. His previous academic appointments include positions at La Trobe University, Imperial College London, and the University of Reading. Professor Cook's research interests lie at the intersection of ecology, evolution, and symbiosis , with particular emphasis on pollination systems and insect-microbe interactions . His work spans multiple scales from molecular to ecosystem levels, investigating how species interactions shape biological communities. He is particularly renowned for his expertise in fig-pollinator mutualisms and stingless bee biology . His research integrates field studies, laboratory experiments, and molecular approaches to address fundamental questions in evolutionary ecology while also addressing applied challenges in agricultural pollination and conservation biology . Analysis of Professor Cook's recent publications reveals a strong focus on pollination ecology and insect-microbe symbioses . His work spans both fundamental research on evolutionary processes and applied studies addressing agricultural challenges. A significant portion of his recent work examines stingless bees as potential managed pollinators for Australian horticulture, alongside investigations into alternative pollinators beyond honey bees. His research increasingly incorporates molecular methods to understand microbial communities and their impacts on host biology. There's also a growing emphasis on climate change impacts on pollination systems and the development of resilient pollination strategies for future agricultural systems. Natural Environment Research Council (NERC, UK) College Member (2007-2010) Royal Entomological Society Symbiosis Special Interest Group Convenor (2005-2012) Editorial Board Member, Journal of Evolutionary Biology (2005-2008) NERC Advanced Research Fellow (1998-2003) SERC Research Fellow (1993-1995) Royal 1851 Commission Research Fellow (1991-1993) Australian Entomological Society Conservation Committee Member (2017-present) Invited collaboration with Professor Wan-Jin Liao's group at Beijing Normal University Professor Cook currently leads multiple significant research projects focused on pollination services for Australian horticulture. His grant portfolio includes projects on stingless bee husbandry , alternative pollinators including flies, and pollinator health . He collaborates extensively with researchers across Australia and internationally, with projects spanning from basic research on fig-wasp mutualisms to applied studies on crop pollination. Professor Cook has authored over 70 research articles and six book chapters, demonstrating sustained research productivity throughout his career. Professor Cook's research involves extensive field, laboratory, and glasshouse work, with a strong emphasis on molecular methods. His work connects with collaborators across Australia, India, China, France, the UK, and the USA, creating a robust international research network focused on pollination ecology and insect symbioses. His leadership in the Plants, Animals and Interactions research theme at HIE provides a framework for integrating fundamental ecological research with practical applications for sustainable agriculture and conservation.
