The Entomology Graduate Student Organization  

Mentorship in Entomology Symposium Program  

9th February 2018 
 
10:00 am​ - ​Breakfast and coffee in room 413 
 
10:25am​ ​- ​Opening Remarks  
Phillip Shults​, President of the EGSO 
 
10:30am​ - ​Opening Plenary Speaker 
Dr. Jonathan A. Cammack​, Ph.D., M-ABFE “Coming Full Circle and Completing the Cycle”. Postdoctoral 
research associate in the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University. 
 
11:00am ​- ​Undergraduate research presentations: Session 1 
11:00 - 11:02 
Introductory Remarks:​ ​Jocelyn Holt, S​ ymposium Moderator 
 
11:02 - 11:12 
Davyion Adams, ​Entomology. “The Co-circulation of Haemosporida Parasites with West Nile Virus in Avian 
Hosts and Mosquito Vectors in East-Central Texas”. Mentor: ​Andrew Golnar​, PI: ​Dr. Gabe Hamer. 
 
11:14 - 11:24 
Abby Jones, ​Forensic and Investigative Science. “Taxonomic Resolution provides greater insight to impact of 
mass mortality events on local ecosystems”. Mentor: ​Samantha Sawyer​ PI: D
​ r. Jeff Tomberlin. 
 
11:26 - 11:36 
Zoey Kramer,​ Bioenvironmental science“The effect of Fungal Endophytes on Olfactory Responses of Stink 
Bugs”. Mentor: ​Cody Gale​, PI: ​Dr. Greg Sword. 
 
11:38 - 11:48 
Mikahl Barajas, ​Entomology. “Mutualisms Between Sugarcane Aphids and Tawny Crazy Ants”.  
Mentor: ​Crys Wright​, PI: D​ r. Raul Medina. 
 
11:50 - 12:00 
Sydney Tippelt, ​Biomedical Science.“Assortative Mating in the Anopheles gambiae Species Complex”. Mentor: 
Zach Popkin-Hall​, PI: ​Dr. Michel Slotman. 
 
12:00 pm -​ Lunch (on your own) 
 
1:30 pm ​-​ Undergraduate research presentations: Session 2 
1:30 - 1:32 
Introductory Remarks:​ ​Jocelyn Holt, S​ ymposium Moderator  
 
1:32- 1:42 
Austin D. Krueger,​ Horticulture.“The effect of Gibberellic Acid on Plant Defenses”.  
Mentor: ​Xiaotian Tang​, PI: D ​ r. Cecilia Tamborindeguy. 
 
1:44 - 1:54 
Aria C. Deluna, ​Entomology “Density-dependent Phase Polyphenism in S. piceifrons: A Color Analaysis”. 
Mentor: ​Bert Foquet​, PI: ​Dr. Hojun Song. 
 
1:56 - 2:06 
Michelle Marie Jonika , ​Forensic and Investigative Science. “Let’s Talk about Sex: Identifying Female and 
Male Markers in Blow Flies”. Mentor: ​Ashleigh Faris​, PI: ​Dr. Aaron Tarone. 
 
2:08 - 2:18 
Jonathan Hernandez, ​Plant and Soil Science “Different Questing Behaviors of the Blacklegged Tick on 
Different Climbing Substrates”. Mentor: ​Mackenzie Tietjen​, PI: ​Dr. Raul Medina. 
 
2:20pm​ - ​Coffee in Atrium 
 
3:00pm ​- ​Undergraduate research presentations: Session 3 
3:00 - 3:02 
Introductory Remarks:​ ​Jocelyn Holt, ​Symposium Moderator 
 
3:02 - 3:12 
Franchesca I. Rodriguez,​ Entomology. “Behavioral effects of juvenile hormone on the worker caste of the red 
imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta”. Mentor: ​Chloe Hawkings​, PI: ​Dr Cecilia Tamborindeguy. 
 
3:14 - 3:24 
Christine Madamba, ​Microbiology. “Fungal Seed Treatment Enhances Defensive Volatile Response to 
Herbivory in Cotton”. Mentor: ​Cody Gale​, PI: D ​ r. Greg Sword. 
 
3:26 - 3:36 
Betty N. Hernandez, ​Entomology.“Differences in Pollen Consumption Between Male and Female Blow 
Flies”. Mentor: ​Pierre Lau​, PI: D
​ r . Juliana Rangel. 
 
3:38 - 3:48 
Drew Little, ​Biology. “A Multiple Regression Model to Predict Phases of Schistocerca piceifrons”.  
Mentor: ​Bert Foquet​, PI: ​Dr. Hojun Song. 
 
3:50 pm​ - ​Closing Plenary Speaker 
Dr. Christina M. Brock​, Ph.D. “Questing” for knowledge: A microbiologist’s path to the field of Entomology. 
Postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University. 
 
4:20pm ​- Closing remarks 
 Chloe Hawkings​, Symposium Committee Chair and EGSO Events Coordinator  
Pierre Lau​, Symposium Committee Member 
 
4:30pm ​- ​Awards Ceremony 
Karen Poh​, Vice President of Internal Affairs of the EGSO  
Tyler J. Raszick,​ Vice President of External Affairs of the EGSO 
 
The EGSO would like to thank the contributions and support for this symposium from the College of Agriculture 
and Life Sciences and the Department of Entomology. The EGSO would also like to acknowledge the symposium 
committee, Chloe Hawkings, Jocelyn Holt, Pierre Lau, Karen Poh and Tyler Raszick.