Curriculum Vitae

Education

Ph.D., Entomology University of California, Davis. Sept. 2015. Dissertation: Improving integrated pest management of rice water weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel) in California Rice. Advisor: Dr. Larry D. Godfrey

M.S., Entomology University of California, Davis. June 2013. Advisor: Dr. Larry D. Godfrey

B.Sc., Environmental Science, Genetics and Plant Biology, Forestry Minor, University of California, Berkeley. May 2010.

Employment

Postdoctoral Researcher Aug. 2015 – present

North Carolina State University

Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

Advisor: Dominic Reisig (252-505-2082)

Duties:

· Evaluated treatment efficacy and planting date on plant bug injury in cotton

· Used data analysis to develop a prototype resistance monitoring tool based on feeding patterns of bollworm in Bt cotton

· Established lab protocols for evaluating Bt protein expression in field collected cotton plants using ELISA and Bradford assays

· Disseminated information on pest management to growers

· Supervised summer workers in the field

Graduate Student Researcher July 2010 – July 2015

University of California, Davis

Department of Entomology and Nematology

PhD advisor: Larry D. Godfrey (deceased)

Duties:

· Evaluated effectiveness of biopesticides against rice water weevil (RWW) in field and greenhouse settings

· Examined effectiveness and investigated the mechanisms of winter flooding as a cultural control against RWW

· Evaluated reports of host plant resistance in rice to RWW.

· Evaluated host potential of California rice to brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB)

· Evaluated ecology of Lygus bugs in different green beans

· Prepared technical reports for IR-4 regarding biopesticide project

Undergraduate Research Assistant. Sept 2007 – May 2010

University of California, Berkeley

Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management

Advisor: Vincent Resh 510-642-3763

Duties:

· Conducted study on the effects of drought on snail infection rates by trematodes

· Quality assurance and control of field collected data sets on amphibian infections and pond biodiversity

· Aided graduate student project with field collection of aquatic insect samples at research station in Hopland, CA

Grantsmanship

NIFA USDA Postdoctoral Fellowship 2017-2019 $147,000 Factoring temperature and drought into Helicoverpa zea feeding patterns on Bt cotton $147,000
Cotton Incorporated. Reevaluation of treatment thresholds in cotton against Lygus spp in North Carolina. 2016 (PI: D. Reisig and M.A. Aghaee) $30,000
IR4 Biopesticide Research. Evaluation of Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. galleriae on rice water weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus, Kuschel) 2012. (PI: L.D Godfrey and M.A. Aghaee). $25,000
McBeth Memorial Scholarship. Investigating the mechanism of winter flooding as a pest management tool against Lissohroptrus oryzophilus. 2011-2013 (PI. M.A. Aghaee) $3000
Henry A. Jastro Award 2011-2013 Effectiveness of silicon fertilization against rice water weevil damage in rice (PI. M.A. Aghaee) $3000

Refereed Publications

Aghaee, M-A., Lee, S. R., Milnes, J.M., Goding, K. M. and L.D. Godfrey. 2018. Is Halyomorpha Halys a threat to California Rice? Reference: CROPRO-D-17-01227 [Accepted]

Reisig, D.D., Huseth, A. S., Bacheler, J. S. Aghaee, M-A., Braswell, L., Burrack, H. J., Flanders, K., Greene, J. K., Herbert, D. A., Jacobson, A., Paula-Moracs, S. V., Roberts, P. and S. V. Taylor. 2018. Long term empirical and observational evidence of practical Helicoverpa zea resistance to cotton with pyramided Bt toxins. Journal of Economic Entomology Reference: ECONENT-2018-0026 [Accepted]

Aghaee, M-A., and L.D. Godfrey. 2016. Winter flooding of California rice fields reduces rice water weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) larval populations in the spring. Pest Management Science DOI: 10.1002/ps.4507

Aghaee, M-A., L. Espino, K. Goding, E. Goldman, and L.D Godfrey. 2016. Effects of Seeding Rates and Rice Water Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Density on Damage in Two Medium Grain Varieties of Rice. Journal of Economic Entomology. 109(2): 667-678

Aghaee, M., Olkowski, S., Shelomi, M., Klittich, D., Kwok, R., Maxwell, D., and M, Portilla. 2015. Waiting on the Gene Revolution: Challenges for Adopting GM Crops in the Developing World. Trends in Food Science and Technology. 46(1): 132-136

Aghaee, M. and Godfrey, L.D. 2015. Effect of Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. galleriae on rice water weevil in California rice. Journal of Economic Entomology 1(8): 45-52

Aghaee, M. and L.D. Godfrey. 2014. A Century Rice Water Weevil: A History of Research and Management with an Emphasis on the United States. Journal of Integrated Pest Management 5(4): D1-D14

Extension Publications

Aghaee, M-A., and D. Holcomb. Pest Management Guidelines for Small Acreage North Carolina Rice Growers. Created 12/9/2017 North Carolina State Extension https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/pest- and-weed-management-guidelines-for-north-carolina-rice-growers?x=91635

Non-Refereed Publications

Aghaee, M-A., Carlson, J., Klittich, D., Scampavia, M. and R. Washington Jr. 2016. ESA 2014 Student Debates Management Strategies-Solutions to Grand Challenges:

Neonicotinoids are causing the death of bees essential for pollinating our food crops. The use of neonicotinoids should end. Con position. American Entomologist. 62(2):102-103.

Aghaee, M., Klittich, D., Shapiro, I., and M. Shelomi. 2015. Entomological Society of America student debates 2013: Scientific issues arising from a connected world: Using GMOs to Increase Food-Security in Regions Where the Technology is not Universally Accepted. Con Position. American Entomologist. 61(3): 157

Aghaee, M-A., book review. Methods for Catching Beetles by Carlos J. Aguilar American Entomologist. 2015. 61 (3): 191-192

Carlson, J., Shelomi, M., Aghaee, M-A., and I. Shapiro. 2014. Entomological Society of America Student Debates: Identify, Clarify and Speak Out about the Land-Grant Mission, Organic Agriculture, and Host Plant Resistance Programs. Topic: “What is the best individual solution to the threat of global climate change? Afforestation and Reforestation.” American Entomologist. 60(4): 216-217.

Merwin, A., Aghaee, M., Shapiro, I., and M. Shelomi. 2013. Entomological Society of America Student Debates: Identify, Clarify and Speak Out about the Land-Grant Mission, Organic Agriculture, and Host Plant Resistance Programs. Topic: Is the land grant mission still economically relevant to departments of entomology. Pro Position. American Entomologist 59(4):217-218

Teaching History

Co-instructor and Course Creator. Fall 2013-2014. Freshman Seminar: Bugs, Germs, and Steel: A History of Entomology in Warfare. Introduction to insect biology through the context of human conflict

Teaching assistant. Fall 2013-2014. Scientific Method through Practice.

Course focused on fish and their parasites as way to teach undergraduates about the process of research, experimentation and writing scientific papers.

Teaching assistant. Winter 2012. Arthropod Pest Management Course was centered on the identification of insects important to California agriculture and methods of pest management with focus on sustainable tactics

Guest Lecturer. Fall 2012. Introduction to Insects

Agricultural entomology and the insecticide arms race between humans and insect pests of crops.

Guest Lecturer. Fall 2011. Introduction to Insects

Role of arthropod related themes in comic books and related media and its impacts on public perceptions.

Teaching assistant/Instructor. Summer 2008-2016. UC Berkeley Forestry Summer Camp

A one day field course in aquatic entomology and Sierra Nevada aquatic ecosystems with a special on biomonitoring, habitat assessment and insect identification.

Invited Presentations

Aghaee, M. Oh When the Weevils Come Marching In: Improving management of Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus California Rice. Pacific Branch Entomological Society of America Coer d’Alene, ID 2015

Aghaee, M. Charge of the Bug Brigade: An Interactive Project on Insects, Disease, and the Crimean War Pacific Branch Entomological Society of America Coer d’Alene, ID 2015

Extension Presentations

D.D. Reisig and Aghaee, M. Tarnished plant bug and recommendations. Cotton Field Day. Upper Coastal Plains Station. Rocky Mount, NC 2016.

Aghaee, M., Braswell, L., and D.D. Reisig. Cotton Entomology 2017. Cotton Production Meeting. Edenton, NC 1/31/2017.

Aghaee, M., Braswell, L., and D.D. Reisig. Cotton Entomology 2017. Cotton Production Meeting. Elizabethtown, NC 2/7/2017.

Aghaee, M., Braswell, L., and D.D. Reisig. Cotton Entomology 2017. Cotton Production Meeting. Greenville, NC 2/9/2017.

Aghaee, M., Braswell, L., and D.D. Reisig. Cotton Entomology 2017. Cotton Production Meeting. Rocky Mount, NC 2/27/2017.

Contributed Presentations

Aghaee, M. and D.D. Reisig. Reevaluating Lygus lineolaris Thresholds in North Carolina Cotton. Oral Presentation. Beltwide Cotton Meeting Dallas, TX 2017

Aghaee, M-A, Reisig, D.D., Caprio, M., Cook, D., Green, J., Musser, F., and F. R-Jones. Bract Feeding on Bolls as a Plant Bioassay for Resistance Monitoring in Bt Cotton. Oral Presentation. International Congress of Entomology, Orlando, FL 2016

Aghaee, M-A, Reisig, D.D., Caprio, M., Cook, D., Green, J., Musser, F., and F. R-Jones. Characterizing Helicoverpa zea Injury to Different Cotton Tissue Types and Different Bt Protein Combinations for Use in IRM Modeling. Oral Presentation. World Cotton Conference Goiânia, Brazil 2016

Aghaee, M. and D. D. Reisig. Bract Feeding as an Indicator of In-Field Resistance by Helicoverpa zea in Bt Cotton. Poster Presentation. Bayer Research Symposium Durham, NC 2016

Aghaee, M-A, Reisig, D.D., Caprio, M., Cook, D., Green, J., Musser, F., and F. R-Jones.

Characterizing the Development and Survival of Helicoverpa Zea and Injury to Different Cotton Tissue Types and Different Bt Protein Combinations for Use in IRM Modeling. Oral Presentation. Beltwide Cotton Meeting New Orleans, LA 2015

Aghaee, M. and L.D. Godfrey. Brown Marmorated Stinkbug (Halyomorpha halys) may pose a threat to California Rice. Oral Presentation. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting Minneapolis, MN 2015

Aghaee, M. and L.D. Godfrey. Brown Marmorated Stinkbug (Halyomorpha halys) may post a threat to California Rice. Oral Presentation. Pacific Branch Entomological Society of America Coer d’Alene, ID 2015

Aghaee, M. and L.D. Godfrey. Effect of Silicon Augmentation on Rice Water Weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus, Kuschel) in California Rice. Oral Presentation. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting Portland, OR 2014

Aghaee, M. and L.D. Godfrey. Effect of Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. galleriae on Rice Water Weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus, Kuschel). Oral Presentation. Pacific Branch Entomological Society of America Tuscon, AZ 2014

Aghaee, M. and L.D. Godfrey. New IPM strategies for control of Rice water weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel). Oral Presentation. 35th Rice Technical Working Group New Orleans, LA 2014

Aghaee, M. and L. D. Godfrey. Effects Silicon Augmentation on Rice Water Weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus, Kuschel). Poster Presentation. Rice Field Day Rice Experiment Station Biggs, CA 2014

Aghaee, M. and L. D. Godfrey. Effects of Bacillus thuringiensis spp. galleriae on Rice Water Weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus, Kuschel). Poster Presentation. University of California Cooperative Extension Workshop UC Davis, CA 2014

Aghaee, M. and L.D. Godfrey. Mechanisms of Winter Flooding Effects on Rice Water Weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus, Kuschel) survival in California Rice Fields. Oral Presentation. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting Austin, TX 2013

Aghaee, M. and L. D. Godfrey. Effects of Bacillus thuringiensis serovar galleriae on Rice Water Weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus, Kuschel). Poster Presentation. Rice Field Day. Rice Experiment Station Biggs, CA 2013

Aghaee, M. and L.D. Godfrey. Effect of Straw Amendment on Rice Water Weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus, Kuschel) Oral Presentation. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting Knoxville, TN 2012

Aghaee, M. and L. D. Godfrey. Effects of Bacillus thuringiensis spp. galleriae on Rice Water Weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus, Kuschel) Poster Presentation. Rice Field Day. Rice Experiment Station Biggs, CA 2012

Aghaee, M. and L.D. Godfrey. Sampling Methods of Lygus bug (Lygus hesperus) in Green Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). Oral Presentation. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting Reno, NV 2011

Godfrey, L.D., R. Long, S. Temple, E. Goldman, and M. Aghaee. Refined Management for Western Tarnished Plant Bug in Baby Lima Beans. Poster Presentation. Bean Field Day. University of California, Davis, CA 2011

Awards

Student and Early Professionals (STEP) Travel Award ICE 2016

$1000 Travel award for participation in the International Congress of Entomology

John Henry Comstock Award- Pacific Branch 2015

Outstanding PhD student

William and Kathleen Golden International Agriculture Fellowship 2014-2015

Fellowship for supporting graduate student research in rice production

ESA Student Debates 1st Place 2014

Entomological Society of America Portland, OR

Neonicotinoids are causing the death of bees essential for pollinating our food crops. The use of neonicotinoids should end. Con position

President’s Prize 1st Place 2013

Entomological Society of America Austin TX

ESA Student Debates 1st Place 2013

Entomological Society of America Austin TX

Using GMOs to Increase Food-Security in Regions Where the Technology is not Universally Accepted. Con Position

Eugene Cota-Robles Fellowship 2010-2012

Fellowship for students demonstrating high potential and promise, with an interest in an academic career in teaching and research.

Bill and Jane Vegetation Management Award 2010

$1000 university scholarship for investigating the effects of weed management on overwintering rice water weevils

Activities

NC State Postdoctoral Association Social Media 2016-2017

Entomology Graduate Student Association- Secretary/GSA representative 2013-2014

UC Davis Graduate Student Recruitment Coordinator 2012-2014

UC Davis ESA Debate Team 2011-2014

(Captain 2013-2014)

UC Davis Linnean Games Team 2012-2014

(Captain 2014)

Professional Affiliations

Entomological Society of America (2011-present)
-Pacific Branch member (2010- 2015)

-Southeastern Branch member (2015-present)

Berkeley Model United Nations Alumni Association (2010 – present)

Cal Forestry Alumni Association (2009- present)

Volunteering

North Carolina Science Fair 2015- Judge

North Carolina 4-H State Presentation Competition 2016- Judge

BugFest Volunteer 2016- NCSU Entomology booth

STEM Mentor East Wake High School Fall 2016

Darwin Day Volunteer 2017- NCSU Entomology booth