Lab Members
- Kevin Orta – PhD student
- Laissa Cavallini – PhD student
Laissa received her BS degree in Biological Sciences at Sao Paulo State University (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and my MS degree in Entomology at Montana State University (Montana, USA). Her current research project is part of an ongoing IPM program for tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). It focuses on the use of genetically engineered cotton in controlling damaging F. fusca populations, in addition to better understanding insecticide resistance mechanisms and efficacy against F. fusca. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, camping, paddleboarding, and binge-watching TV shows with friends.
- Taynara Possebom – PhD student
Taynara finished her MS in our program, with a project focused on Helicoverpa zea in soybeans. She has just started her PhD work, with a project testing various traps for stink bugs in soybeans. One of the traps is an exciting new design from FMC using AI to detect stink bugs.
- Alexis Alsdorf- MS student
Alexis completed her MS in our program, where her research focused on Bt and non-Bt yield differences under Helicoverpa zea injury. She is now pursuing her PhD studying how different refuge strategies in Bt corn influence H. zea fitness. Her work focuses on resistance management and the sustainability of Bt crops.
- Esme Chiara- MS student
Esme is an MS student developing a project on the peanut burrower bug (Pangaeus bilineatus), starting with studying the effects of different tillage practices on their populations in peanut fields. She received her BS degree in zoology from NC State University in December 2024. In her free time, Esme enjoys seeking out/photographing reptiles and amphibians with friends, volunteering at the Wake County Animal Center, and watching sitcoms with her own shelter cat, Roach.
- Steven Roberson- Research Assistant
I am a NCSU graduate with a B.S. in Agricultural and Environmental Technology. I started my career with NCSU Entomology in 2010. I am responsible for conducting field experiments studying the ever-changing entomological issues with North Carolina’s field crops.
- Emily Goldsworthy- Research Assistant
As a Research Assistant in the Reisig lab I maintain corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea) colonies to be used for field, greenhouse, or laboratory research throughout the year. During the warmer months I use pheromone traps, light traps, and sampling of fields to track the movement of many different insects moving through the northeastern part of NC. These insects can then be brought back to the lab for further testing to determine resistance to the Bt proteins used in field crops.
- Dominic Reisig- Principle Investigator
Lab Alumni
Past master’s and doctoral students
- Igor Schardong, 2023-2025, M.S. Entomology, Ph.D. student at Clemson University
- Daniela Pezzini, 2019-2022, Ph.D. Entomology, employed at Bayer Crop Science
- DeShae Dillard, 2019-2022, M.S. Entomology, Ph.D. student at Michigan State University
- Hayden Schug, 2019-2021, M.S. Entomology, Agriculture & Food Systems Extension Educator at University of Maryland Extension
- Ben Arends, 2018-2020, M.S. Entomology, JABB of the Carolinas
- Lewis Braswell, 2015-2018, Ph.D. Entomology, employed at Syngenta
- Arun Babu, 2014-2018, Ph.D. Entomology, University of California Cooperative Extension Entomology Advisor for Imperial County
- Shawnee Gundry, 2016-2018, M.S. Entomology
- Forrest Howell, 2014-2016, M.S. Entomology, North Carolina farmer
- Brad Fritz, 2013-2015, M.S. Entomology, employed at Certis USA
- Alejandro Del Pozo-Valdivia, 2012-2016, Ph.D. Entomology, Assistant Professor of Entomology, Virginia Tech
- Rachel Suits, 2011-2013, M.S. Entomology, Oregon State University Extension Service
Post-doctoral scientists directed
- Arun Babu, 2019-2020, University of California Cooperative Extension Entomology Advisor for Imperial County
- Mohammad-Amir Aghaee, 2015-2018, Cal Poly Strawberry Center Entomology Program Leader
- Alejandro Del Pozo-Valdivia, 2016-2018, Ph.D. Entomology, Assistant Professor of Entomology, Virginia Tech
- Sriyanka Lahiri, 2015-2017, Assistant Professor of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida
International visiting scientists
- André Augusto Corso, 2025, Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil
- Conrado Henrique Marins Freire, 2025, Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal campus, Brazil
- Ândrea Caprini Sagiorato, 2024, University of Passo Fundo, Brazil
- Jerson Guedes, 2023-2024, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Brazil
- Carolina Gonçalves, 2023-2024, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Brazil
- Ligiany Reginato Oliveria, 2023, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio Grande do Sul – Campus Sertão, Brazil
- Igor Schardong, 2022-2023, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Brazil
- Maiquel Pizzuti, 2018, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Brazil
- Guoping Li, 2014, Institute of Plant Protection, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
- Jin Miao, 2014, Institute of Plant Protection, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
Clifton Moore- Research Specialist
Clifton began worked for our program as a temporary employee in 2010. He became a permanent member in April 2013 as a research technician. Clifton was a dependable worker with excellent equipment expertise. He developed a deep knowledge of applied entomology during his employment. Clifton tragically passed away in May 2025. His presence as an employee and a friend is missed by us all.
Positions
We welcome applications to our lab depending on interest and funding. Please send an e-mail to Dominic!