
People
Staff

Peter Smytheman, Research Assistant
Phone: 509-293-8757
Email: peter_smytheman@wsu.edu

Chris Sater, Research Assistant
Phone: 509-293-8754
Email: csater@wsu.edu
Postdocs

Dylan Beal, PhD
Email: dylan.beal@wsu.edu
Current Students

Dowen Jocson, PhD Student (2022)
Email: dowen.jocson@wsu.edu

Rob Czokajlo, MS Student
Email: robert.czokajlo@wsu.edu
Former Staff

David Enicks
(2019-2020)

Bruce Greenfield
(Retired 2019)

Molly Darr (2018-2019)
Current position:
Postdoctoral Associate
Forest Health and Invasive Species
Clemson University
Email: mndarr@clemson.edu
Matt Giannandrea
(2015-2017)
Karen Blaedow
(2013-2014)
Former Post-Docs

Kacie Athey (2019-2020)
Current position:
Assistant Professor
University of Illinois, Crop Sciences
Email: kathey@illinois.edu

Louis Nottingham (2016 – 2019)
Current position:
Research Assistant Professor
Department of Entomology
Washington State University
Email: louis.nottingham@wsu.edu

Andrea Bixby-Brosi (2014-2017)
Email: abixby.brosi@gmail.com
Former Students

Jim Hepler
Education:
PhD, 2021, Entomology
Dissertation Title:
Landscape Ecology and Management of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug in the Pacific Northwest
Current Position:
USDA-ARS
Appalachian Fruit Research Station
Kearneysville, WV
Email: james.hepler@wsu.edu

Adrian Marshall
Education: PhD, 2020, Entomology
Dissertation Title: Netting Applications for Insect Management in Apple Orchards
Current Position:
Post-Doc, Tobin Northfield Lab
WSU-TFREC
Wenatchee, WA
Email: atmarshall@wsu.edu

Josh Milnes
Education: MS, 2019, Entomology
Thesis Title: Ecology of the Asian Egg Parasitod Trissolcus Japonicus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) and Impact on Eastern Washington Pentatomids Under Field Conditions
Current Position:
Pest Biologist II
WA State Dept. of Ag – Plant Protection Division
Yakima, WA
Email: jmilnes@agr.wa.gov
Phone: 509-220-1134

Alix Whitener
Education: PhD, 2018, Entomology
Dissertation Title: Behavior and integrated pest management of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Washington state sweet cherry
Current Position:
FMC Technical Services Manager
Wenatchee, WA
Email: whitener.alix@gmail.com

Brittany Buchanan
Education: MS in Agriculture, 2017
Current Position:
AgroFresh
Philadelphia, PA
Email: brittanyadell@gmail.com

Rebecca Schmidt-Jeffris
Education: PhD, 2015, Entomology
Dissertation Title: Phytoseiids as Biological Control Agents of Phytophagous Mites in Washington Apple Orchards
Current Position:
Research Entomologist, Tree Fruit Biological Control
USDA-ARS, Wapato, WA
Email: rebecca.schmidt@usda.gov
Phone: 509-454-6556

Luis Martinez Rocha
Education: MS, 2013, Entomology
Thesis Title: Effects of Pesticides and three Sulfur-Based Products on Integrated Mite Management in Washington State

Lessando Gontijo
Education: PhD, 2011, Entomology
Dissertation Title: Integrated Biological Control of Woolly Apple Aphid in Washington State
Current Position:
Professor of Entomology
Universidade Federal de Viçosa
Brazil

Dario Fernandez
Education: MS, 2000, Entomology
Thesis Title: Effect of seasonal mineral oil applications on the pest and natural enemy complex of apples (Malus domestica Borkhausen) and oviposition deterrence of white apple leafhopper (Typhlocyba pomaria McAtee) in laboratory bioassays
Current Position:
INTA EEA Alto Valle
Rio Negro, Argentina
E-mail: dfernandez@correo.inta.gov.ar

Michael Reding
Education: PhD, 2000, Entomology
Dissertation Title: Biology, monitoring, and management of Campylomma verbasci (Meyer) (Hemiptera: Miridae) in Washington apple orchards
Current Position:
Research Entomologist
USDA-ARS
Wooster, OH
Phone: 330-263-3629
E-mail: reding.2@osu.edu