معرفی
Alejandro Calixto serves as Director of Cornell University's Integrated Pest Management Program (Cornell IPM) within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He leads interdisciplinary teams in entomology, plant pathology, and pesticide safety to develop ecologically resilient pest management solutions for agricultural and urban environments.
His educational background includes:
- Ph.D. in Entomology from Texas A&M University (2005-2008)
- M.Sc. in Entomology from Texas A&M University (2002-2004)
- B.Sc. in Biology from Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia (1991-1997)
Calixto's research centers on invasive species ecology and management, particularly exotic insects in agricultural and urban settings. His work integrates molecular techniques, field experiments, and ecological modeling to develop sustainable IPM strategies. Current projects focus on making IPM accessible to marginalized communities and developing predictive decision-support systems using big data analytics to reduce unnecessary pesticide applications.
His publication portfolio demonstrates consistent contributions to entomological science, with recent work emphasizing web-based decision tools and invasive species impacts. Key themes across his research include:
- Development of predictive agricultural models
- Ecological impacts of invasive ant species
- Integration of information technology in pest management
- Community ecology approaches to pest suppression
Professional recognition includes:
- Dow AgroSciences Innovators Award (2016)
- Texas AgriLife Extension Superior Service Award (2011)
- Entomological Society of America Graduate Student Award (2007)
Calixto actively engages in extension work through Cornell AgriTech, developing tools that help producers determine optimal pest management timing. His international experience spans projects in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and New Zealand. Though not formally teaching at Cornell, he annually instructs an applied entomology module in Colombia's field ecology program.
