Urban Landscape Entomologist (Specialist in CE)
Department of Entomology,
UC Davis (80% CE, 20% CE UC IPM)
Position Description: This Specialist in CE would serve as a statewide resource in arthropod
identification, biology/ecology and integrated pest management of arthropods attacking ornamental plants
in the urban landscape and in urban forests with a special emphasis on biological control and invasive
arthropods. The candidate must have a PhD in Entomology and experience with applied aspects of
entomology in horticulture or plant agriculture. The position would be based at the Department of
Entomology at UC Davis but have a 20% joint appointment with the UC Statewide IPM Program and
interact closely with the California Center for Urban Horticulture (CCUH) at UC Davis and with CE
county horticulture advisors.
Justification: This position will further the ANR Vision to promote healthy communities and
environments and engage all levels of the ANR continuum with the people of California. A focus will be
to develop and extend environmentally sound pest management programs for arthropod pests in urban
landscapes and forests. The Urban Landscape Entomologist will be involved in addressing the ANR
strategic issues related to Managing Endemic and Invasive Pests but also could be aligned with the
Providing for Healthy Families and Communities initiative as well as Improving Water Quality, Quantity
and Security. Many invasive pests arrive and then first establish in California through the movement of
landscape plants, firewood, or other items into urban and suburban landscapes. Currently some of the top
invasives of concern that are likely to establish or are already established in urban landscapes include
brown marmorated stink bug, Asian citrus psyllid, and goldspotted oak borer; but there will continue to
be new species’ introduced every year. Run-off of pesticides applied to control insects in urban
landscapes is a key water quality issue and demonstrating ways to limit these problems will also be a
priority. Reduction of pesticide use in urban areas and improving the quality of landscapes contributes
directly to the goals of the Healthy Families and Communities initiative.
Extension: The candidate will be expected to develop a strong CE program to demonstrate and extend
information related to identifying and managing pests in urban landscapes. Key activities will be
coordinating with Horticulture Advisors, UC Master Gardeners, public agencies such as parks and
recreation departments, and landscape professionals to deliver a program that addresses priority issues
and problems. The candidate will be expected to extend information through UCANR publications as
well as the Internet and new communication media to reach this large and diverse audience. The
successful candidate will also play a major role in providing expertise for UC IPM’s pest management
databases and educational programs for landscape and urban forestry pests.
Research: The successful candidate will focus his/her research on applied insect ecology and its
application that will include the development, implementation, and delivery of a research-based,
extension program to support Integrated Pest Management of insect and mite pests affecting urban
landscapes in California, including new invaders. Biological control, host plant resistance or plant choice,
managing insecticide resistance, biorational/reduced risk insecticides, and arthropod vectors of plant
disease are some of the areas that could be addressed. To meet current and emerging challenges, the
candidate would develop a research program that applies current and cutting edge technologies in
response to the stated needs of the urban public, County Extension Advisors, public agencies including
parks. pest management practitioners, and other stakeholders. Solutions and strategies developed must be
durable, economical and both environmentally and socially acceptable if they are to remain effective
against key pest species. The candidate will be expected to publish in high impact journals appropriate to
the appointment as well as in extension publications for clientele.
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ANR Continuum: The successful candidate will conduct research on insect and mite ecology with the
long-term goals of developing environmentally sound, systems-based, integrated insect and mite
management strategies. UC ANR has a concerted outreach focus in this area through the substantial
effort of UC IPM with its coordination of the Pest Note publication series and its comprehensive ‘Pests in
Homes, Gardens, Landscapes, and Turf’ web site, but there has been limited applied research support for
this increasingly important area. A close affiliation for this Specialist with the UC IPM Program would
strengthen this link. UC IPM is developing a team (currently 3) of urban IPM Advisors and affiliated
Advisors who will work closely with this Specialist. A likely focus on ‘non-point source pollution’ issues
related to problem pesticides would connect with water quality initiatives in both the College and ANR.
Such a position would also reinforce the investment the College is making in the California Center for
Urban Horticulture and the Center for the Study of Regional Change. The extension and research
programs developed are expected to involve collaboration with research and extension faculty within the
departments of Entomology, Plant Pathology, Plant Science, Land, Air & Water Resources,
Environmental Toxicology, Biological & Agricultural Engineering and Environmental Science & Policy
at the University of California, Davis as well as scientists from other UC campuses. In addition, the
Specialist will provide leadership for planning and coordination of statewide extension education and
information transfer programs related to arthropods attacking urban landscapes in California working with
Horticulture Advisors and UC Master Gardener Programs throughout the state and linking with the
Ornamental Horticulture Program Team and the ANR Landscape Workgroup (which has endorsed this
position).
Departmental Connection: The Department of Entomology has identified five areas of core
competency and excellence and we are committed to maintaining and building these into the future. This
position will likely contribute to two of these areas: Insect Behavioral Ecology (IBE) and Sustainable
Insect Management (SIM). The IBE group focuses on the whole insect and its environment, with
particular emphasis on behavioral and community ecology and demography. Faculty in the area include
include James Carey, Richard Karban, Sharon Lawler, Jay Rosenheim, Neal Williams, Ed Caswel-Chen,
and Louie Yang. The SIM area has been one of the department’s greatest strengths, with specialization in
invasion biology, biological control, insect pathology, urban entomology and apiculture. Faculty members
contributing to this area of emphasis include James Carey, Mary Louise Flint, Larry Godfrey, Edwin
Lewis, Howard Ferris, Becky Westerdahl, Eric Mussen, Michael Parrella, Jay Rosenheim, Charlie
Summers, Diane Ullman and Frank Zalom.
Support: Clerical and other administrative support for day-to-day activities would be provided by staff
in the Department of Entomology at UC Davis, where the specialist’s office and laboratory facilities
would be located. An account manager in the Phoenix administrative cluster at UC Davis would handle
grant administration and personnel matters. The candidate would receive departmental support for his or
her program according to the same formula used for all other faculty members/Extension Specialists in
the Department of Entomology.
Other Support: The Urban Landscape Entomologist would be expected to develop extramural funding
opportunities to support a research and extension program. Potential funding sources include USDA
(including USDA-Forest Service), US EPA, NSF, NIH, California DPR, California Water Quality
Boards, and other public agencies. As a member of the UC Statewide IPM Program, the Specialist will
have opportunities to participate in funding opportunities as part of that group such as federal E-IPM
programs. UC IPM has editorial staff and IT staff that can facilitate delivery of IPM information for
urban landscape audiences.
Location: This position would be located on the UC Davis Campus where both the Entomology
Department and the UC Statewide IPM Program are headquartered. A tight link to the core competency
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areas in Entomology, a strong emphasis in ornamental horticulture in the Plant Sciences Department,
potential collaborators in the Plant Pathology Department and the campus Arboretum, and the growing
strength of the CCUH make Davis an ideal location for this position.
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