Position Title: Management of Arthropod Vectors of Plant Disease (Specialist)
Position: The successful candidate will conduct research on vector biology and ecology as related to
disease epidemiology (e.g., population dynamics, transmission efficiency) with the long-term goal of
developing environmentally sound, systems-based, integrated management strategies that fit into the
framework of agricultural sustainability. The incumbent will be expected to act as a statewide resource for
vector identification and control, and to deliver current information related to the biology, ecology, and
occurrence of vector populations and vector-disease epidemiology to statewide clientele.
The applicant must have a Ph.D. degree in entomology, plant pathology, disease epidemiology, applied
ecology, or a closely related field, with experience and interest related to vector ecology and management.
A strong commitment to problem-solving research and extending results to clientele groups is expected;
The UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology is the supporting unit for this position.
Justification: Safe, nutritious food and a healthy environment are cornerstones of our way of life in
California. Arthropods, being one of the most numerous organisms on the planet, affect human health in
several ways. Concrete examples of areas within the framework of the ANR Strategic Vision impacted by
arthropod pests include: (1) Healthy food systems – pest insects damage crop plants, (2) Healthy
environments - water and air quality are impacted by the use of pesticides, (3) Healthy communities –
alternatives to pesticides for backyard vegetable gardeners improve public safety, (4) Healthy Californians
– food safety and the summary of the above points affect Californians daily.
Recently, the UC System has lost expertise in pest management (Nick Toscano - UC Riverside, Richard
Coviello - ANR, Walt Bentley - UC IPM located at KARE, Charlie Summers - UC Davis located at KARE,
Steve Welter - UC Berkeley, and Marshall Johnson - UC Riverside located at KARE. Most of these
researchers had programs that served California’s Central Valley – a key agricultural area. In addition, the
ranks of ANR advisors with expertise and efforts in pest management have declined; e.g., Farm Advisors in
Fresno, Tulare, Kings, Madera, Merced, and San Joaquin Counties.
Extension: The Management of Arthropod Vectors of Plant Disease Specialist will plan and coordinate
statewide extension education and information transfer programs related to arthropods as vectors of plant
diseases in California. Interactions with faculty across all UC campuses, County-based Advisors and UC
IPM Advisors are expected. Delivery of science-based information to improve the sustainability of
California’s agriculture and to reduce its footprint on the environment is critical. A Specialist focusing on
Vector Ecology, Disease Epidemiology and Management would extend results from his/her studies as well
as liaison with campus faculty and County Advisors. Specific clientele groups would also include pest
control advisers, commodity group personnel, governmental agencies, environmental groups, NGOs, and
others. Contributions to ANR publications, e.g., Pest Management Guidelines, are expected.
Research: Numerous research areas exist within the fields of vector ecology, vector/disease epidemiology
and vector management; the successful applicants will be chosen for their ability to contribute to problemsolving research and to the science of insect biology. Emerging areas of research in these areas dovetail
with several missions of Cooperative Extension and land grant colleges. Economic losses incurred by
agriculture in California have recently increased through the invasion of numerous arthropod pests, and
some of the most important are vectors of plant disease (e.g., glassy-winged sharpshooter, vine mealybug,
citrus psyllid) or induce fruit damage through associated rots (e.g., spotted wing drosophila, brown
marmorated stink bug). To meet current and emerging challenges, novel research approaches will be
developed and implemented in response to the needs of clientele. Insect vectors are often heavily treated
with insecticides because a small population can cause considerable damage. The long-term goal is to
develop more sustainable management options by better understanding vector ecology and vector/disease
epidemiology.
ANR Network: Sustainable management of plant disease vectors will be achieved only through a team
effort and the CE Specialist will work closely with campus-based AES and CE and County-based CE
across a broad range of research disciplines. The Department of Entomology and Nematology comprises
five areas of excellence among our faculty, and will maintain and build these into the future. This position
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can link expertise in three of these areas and synergize effort to address vector-borne plant disease
problems: Behavioral Ecology (BE), Sustainable Pest Management (SPM) and Insect/Nematode Functional
Biology (FB). The BE group focuses on the whole organism and its environment, emphasizing behavioral
and community ecology and demography. Faculty members of this group include professors Carey,
Karban, Lawler, Rosenheim, Williams, Caswell-Chen, Lewis, Ferris and Yang. The SPM area is 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
professors Carey, Godfrey, Lewis, Ferris, Westerdahl, Johnson, Parrella, Rosenheim, Ullman and Zalom.
The FB group integrates insect molecular ecology, physiology and chemical ecology using a strongly
collaborative approach both within the department and among other departments and colleges. Faculty
members in the group include Professors Chiu, Hammock, Johnson and Luckhart. In the co-administered
Department of Plant Pathology, the faculty working with vector-borne plant pathogens include professors
Casteel, Falk, Gilbertson, and McRoberts.
The CE and applied research-based programs to be developed are expected to be collaborative efforts. In
addition to the faculty of Entomology and Nematology and Plant Pathology, the incumbent may also
collaborate with research and extension faculty in the departments of Plant Science, Land, Air & Water
Resources, Environmental Toxicology, Biological & Agricultural Engineering and Environmental Science
& Policy at the University of California, Davis and scientists from other UC campuses. A core of AES and
CE entomologists and plant pathologists are active at KARE (Michalaides, Grafton-Cardwell and Daane)
and could provide excellent mentoring for the individual in the proposed position. Overlap in
responsibilities with the entomologists currently at KARE is limited, as disease vector biology is not the
focus of these scientists. Similarly, there are research entomologists located at the USDA ARS San Joaquin
Valley Agricultural Sciences Center, but their missions include post-harvest losses and pests of
horticultural crops. Advisors with commodity specialization are present in the Central Valley and could aid
in highlighting relevant research questions. The greatest need is for an individual to locally synergize with
Advisors and ANR clientele, and to facilitate interactions with campus-based scientists. There is
widespread support for this position among CE Farm Advisors in the Central Valley and many will write
letters of support if asked to do so.
Support: Clerical and other administrative support for day-to-day activities would be provided by staff at
the KARE, where the Specialist’s office and laboratory facilities would be located. An account manager
located at the UC Davis campus would handle grant administration and personnel matters. The candidate
would receive departmental support for his/her program according to the same formula used for all other
faculty members/CE Specialists in the Department of Entomology and nematology at UC Davis.
Other support: Numerous commodity groups can be expected to provide monetary support for programs
develop by a CE Specialist working on Vector Ecology, Vector/Disease Epidemiology and Management.
Location: We propose to locate the requested CE position at KAC, where the appointee would help to fill a
void left by the retirement of the CE Specialists listed above. At KAC a CE Specialist in Vector Ecology,
Vector/Disease Epidemiology and Vector Management would be co-located with other entomologists,
plant pathologists, and others concerned with pest management in the Central Valley. This location also
carries the advantage of proximity to the area’s major production counties: Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera,
Merced and Tulare Counties.
Developed and proposed by: This position was developed by specialists, advisors and faculty in the UCD
Department of Entomology and Nematology with input from faculty located at KARE.
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