Team

The Southern Piedmont Entomology Lab 2023!

 

Arash Rashed
Principal Investigator
Insect Ecology and Pest Management

 

Hadi Farrokhzadeh, Visiting PhD Student
Biological Control; Research topics: 1) Endophytic entomopathogens and pest control, 2) Plant-mediated interactions between endophytes and foliar pests.

Email: fhadi@vt.edu

 

Shirin Parizad, PhD Student, barley yellow dwarf disease epidemiology; the interface between animal and crop production systems.

Email: shparizad@vt.edu

Usha Panta, PhD Student Cultural Practices and Soil Health; Research topics: 1) Biofumigation and non-target subterranean organisms, 2) Host-mediated effects of soil biofumigation on above-ground pests.

Email: Usha@vt.edu

 

Jennifer Nguyen is an undergraduate intern from Virginia Tech. Jen is studying neuroscience and is focused on learning various laboratory techniques in our program.

Pradyumna Kombethota is a master’s student in Computer Science at Virginia Tech. As part of his internship, he is exploring the use of technology in pest monitoring.

Lab Alumni

Atoosa Nikoukar, PhD, 2024

Atoosa Is now a Research Associate with AgroSpheres

Eli Hoar, MS, 2024

Eli is now a Research Associate with Bayer