Welcome Rob Curtiss to Louie’s lab as a Postdoc. Dr. RT Curtiss has a PhD from Michigan State University, a MS from Washington State University, and a BS from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Dr. Curtiss has worked as an entomologist at SUNY-ESF, Cornell University, the University of British Columbia, and the State of Hawaii – Department of Agriculture. Rob’s past research included taxonomy of terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates in Upstate New York, chemical ecology of Tomicus piniperda, pathogens of Anoplophora glabripennis and Lymantria dispar, attractants of Chrysopidae in Pacific Northwest pear orchards, taxonomy of Pacific Northwest insects, the use of the sterile insect technique on a farm-scale, and farm-scale dispersion of Cydia pomonella and the influence of farm structures and pheromone mating disruption on their dispersion. In Hawaii, Dr. Curtiss was responsible for the State’s Biological Control, Chemical and Mechanical Control, and Apiary programs and implemented successful large scale invasive insect eradication and control programs. He has also worked as the Manager of Special Projects at the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission and as a contract entomologist/identifier. While at Washington State University Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center, Dr. Curtiss will be studying cultural control techniques for and dispersion of Cacopsylla pyricola in Pacific Northwest pear orchards.
