People

Louie is a native of Virginia who caught the Western expansion bug after graduating from college with a BS in Biology. Following stints working in fisheries and ornithology (ask him about birds!) in several states including Montana, Idaho, and California, he returned to Virginia Tech to work on Vegetable IPM in Tom Kuhar’s lab for his PhD. In 2017 he headed west again, leaving veggies in the dust (much to the delight of his back) and started a post-doc in pear IPM with Betsy Beers’ lab at TFREC. His work on the efficiency of kaolin clay for suppressing pear psylla led to the spectacle of beautiful white clay covered trees that adorn the valley each spring.  In 2019 he started his own lab at TFREC as a research assistant professor and is currently the benevolent overlord of 4 post-docs, 2 technicians, and 3 seasonal employees. Louie’s current research areas include developing a pear psylla decision support tool incorporating a phenology model, pest thresholds and natural enemy levels; and improving pest management strategies for leafhoppers vectoring x-disease in cherries.  Louie loves the outdoors and all of the recreational opportunities this area has to offer. He spends his free time hiking, cycling, skiing and hanging out with his wife Molly and their awesome dog Blackbird.

Robert is a postdoctoral research associate focusing on various elements of pear IPM including biological control with earwigs and cultural control using reflective ground covers. Robert has a particular interest in understanding the roadblocks between research-based recommendations and commercial implantation. In his recent project testing reflective ground covers in commercial orchards, Robert is interviewing his orchardists to learn if these methods could be commercially viable. Follow Robert on Twitter @2robsterlobster.

Dr. Katlyn Catron is a recent graduate of the Virginia Tech Entomology Department in Blacksburg, VA. She has experience in a wide range of entomological contexts, from stream invertebrates to bed bugs and cockroaches to vegetable pests. She hopes her extensive background in science communication and Extension will be a valuable addition to the Nottingham lab, where she is excited to begin working on X-disease in Washington cherries.

Chris finished his Ph.D. in Horticulture in 2020 at Virginia Tech. He has worked in row crops, vegetable crops, with ticks, and bees. Chris hopes to bring together these experiences working in the Nottingham lab studying pear psylla, the usual suspect. He is excited to study the ecology and management of this pest of pear trees.

Rob has a Ph.D. 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. He 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, Rob 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 TFREC, Rob will be studying cultural control techniques for and dispersion of Cacopsylla pyricola in Pacific Northwest pear orchards.

molly.sayles@wsu.edu

Molly is a Ph.D. student researching the behavior and ecology of pear psylla and decision-making of pest management stakeholders. She graduated from Oberlin College in 2020 with a BA in Environmental Studies. At WSU, she is interested in learning how researchers can improve Extension efforts to better communicate findings with pear growers. In her free time, Molly loves outdoor recreational activities, reading (for fun) and bothering her cat, Warren. Follow her on twitter @entomollogist.

The lab cannot function without Chris! Chris manages administrative tasks like budget management, hiring, and purchasing, and is also critical to quality control of data, reports and publications. Additionally, Chris is our resident computer wiz, and is the one to go when you have an issue with MS Excel or need to make a spiffy PowerPoint slide. Finally, Chris is unofficially in charge of elevating lab morale with a contagious laugh and the best scones you’ve ever tasted!

Myk is a native of Western Washington and spent some time in Walla Walla, which allowed him to develop a love of all things wine. Since being in Wenatchee, he’s been interested in developing his skills in agriculture and pest managment to pursue a career in viniculture and wine making. We’re glad to have Myk around because he keeps us on our toes with tough research questions, and at 6’4, he can hang mating disruption in the upper canopy with ease!

Delany (i.e., Dr. Laney) is a native of Plain Washington – yeah, it’s a place, and it’s not as plain as it sounds!. She grew up doing all sorts of outdoor sports, from rock climbing, to cross country skiing, to snowboarding, to hiking (all are mandatory if you live in Plain). She is also an artist, inspired by the amazing scenery of her hometown. When Delaney is not finding parasitic wasps and bizarre insect eggs under the microscope, she is taking classes at Wenatchee Valley College and helping her friends ID insects on their small farm. We’re so excited to have Delaney with us this summer!

Cody hails from the one and only Apple Capitol of the woooooooorld (Wenatchee, WA). He graduated from WSU with a major in physical sciences. While he was interested in engineering career, we are hoping to show him to the light (pun intended) of entomology. Like most native Wenatchians, Cody spends his winters at Mission Ridge and his summers either on the Wenatchee River or the trails surrounding out beautiful valley. Glad you’re on board Cody!

Gera spends most of his days working for the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission as their equipment operator, but also helps our program and others at the TFREC in his off time by performing research and maintenance sprays. Gera grew up in an agricultural family and comes with a ton of knowledge about spray equipment and conducting both large and small plot spray trials. We are so grateful to Gera and the WA Tree Fruit Research Commission, because tractor sprayers are, like, really really complicated. Thanks Gera!