People

Lab Members

  • Kevin Orta – PhD student

Kevin is currently focusing on understanding the colonization patterns of brown stink bug (Euschistus servus) and other stink bugs in North Carolina corn and soybean systems. More specifically, he is working to identify potential overwintering sites to provide growers with locations prone to stink bug colonization in an effort to increase scouting efficiency and minimize insecticide resistance by promoting effective spraying practices.

 

 

 

 

  • 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 works with Helicoverpa zea (corn earworm/bollworm) in corn, cotton, and soybeans. She is observing yield differences between similar Bt/non-Bt hybrids in corn throughout the state of North Carolina to help convince growers to plant refuge corn. In cotton and soybeans, she is investigating how different tillage practices influence the survival of bollworm pupae.

 

 

 

 

  • 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.

 

 

 

 

  • André Augusto Corso- Undergraduate intern

André is an undergraduate student in Brazil at the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM). He began his journey into entomology at the Integrated Pest Management Laboratory (LabMIP UFSM). Currently, he is completing his final internship at North Carolina State University (NCSU) as an intern at the Resig lab.

 

 

 

  • Conrado Henrique Martins Freire- Undergraduate intern

Conrado is an undergraduate student from Brazil studying at São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal campus. He has experience in agricultural experimentation, focusing on soil fertility and plant nutrition during his first internship in Brazil. Currently, Conrado is completing an internship at North Carolina State University in the Reisig Lab, where he is studying the effects of Helicoverpa zea on corn development.

 

 

 

 

 

  • 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, Summer 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

  • 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!