Department of Entomology | Plant-Insect Interactions Lab

1. Sorghum defense responses to phloem-feeding aphids. Sorghum, one of the world’s most important monocot crops grown for food, feed, and fuel, suffers severe yield losses due to attack by phloem-feeding insects, including aphids. This project will fill an important gap in current research by utilizing genomic resources to gain insight into the underlying genetic networks and phenotypic traits that contribute to sorghum resistance to aphids. To investigate this, we are utilizing the natural variation in a panel of sorghum inbred lines to elucidate the novel sources of sorghum resistance to sugarcane aphids (SCA). We are using a combination of molecular, biochemical, and electrophysiological approaches to enable better understanding of the genetic basis of sorghum resistance to aphids. The results from this project will provide improved insight as to how endogenous defenses and manipulation of defense signaling networks contribute to the development of more efficient and durable insect pest-resistant varieties of sorghum. This project is recently funded for more than $1.5 Million by the National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) Program.
   
2. Long-distance defense signaling in maize-insect interactions. We have identified that the aboveground feeding by aphids on maize rapidly sends a yet unidentified signal(s) to the roots that trigger belowground accumulation of the transcripts encoding insecticidal Maize Insect Resistance-Cysteine Protease (Mir1-CP), signifying a potential role of aboveground to belowground communication in maize defense against the phloem-feeding insects. Recently, we have also discovered that OPDA, an intermediate in the jasmonic acid biosynthesis pathway, can contribute to plant defense against insect pests by enhancing callose accumulation. Callose deposition is one of the defense mechanisms utilized by plants that contribute to sieve element occlusion and thus control infestation by phloem sap-feeding aphids. This study provided some interesting leads on how plant signaling mechanisms may limit insect performance by enhancing callose accumulation, thus providing an early line of defense against the insect.
   
3. Herbivore-Associated Molecular Patterns (HAMPs) in altering plant defenses. Plants have evolved complex defense mechanisms to overcome different stresses, including both biotic and abiotic stresses. At the same time, insects produce a suite of Herbivore-Associated Molecular Patterns (HAMPs) present in the insect oral secretions (regurgitant), saliva, and/or frass may either amplify/suppress the induced plant defenses. We are currently employing proteomic techniques to identify the protein components of caterpillar saliva and frass that modulate plant defenses in sorghum.
   
4. Electrical Penetration Graph (EPG) as a tool to study plant-insect interactions. EPG technique is a potent technique to investigate the specifics of plant resistance to piercing/sucking insects. Monitoring this probing behavior is critical in understanding the localization of plant defenses and to determine how plants engage their defense components to restrict aphid feeding. Louis lab has a direct current (DC)-EPG system, which measures the electrical resistance fluctuations produced by the penetrating insect as well as the electromotive force (EMF) signal components that are generated as a result of the aphid feeding. This responsiveness to EMF components is utilized to differentiate between intracellular and intercellular stylet tip positions. When the aphid stylet is inserted intercellularly, the voltage is positive and when inserted intracellularly, the voltage is negative, resulting in potential drops in the signal which is correlated with the physiological condition and defense status of the host.
   

1. Cardona JB², Grover S¹, Busta L, Sattler SE and Louis J^# (2023). Sorghum cuticular waxes influence host plant selection by aphids. Planta, 257(1), 22.
2. Grover S¹, Shinde S², Puri H², Palmer N, Sarath G, Sattler SE and Louis J^#(2022). Dynamic regulation of phenylpropanoid pathway metabolites in modulating sorghum defense against fall armyworm. Frontiers in Plant Science, 13:1019266.

3. Grover S¹, Puri H², Xin Z, Sattler S and Louis J^#(2022). Dichotomous role of Jasmonic acid in modulating sorghum defense against aphids. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions^®, 35:9, 755-767. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-01-22-0005-R

4. Pingault L¹, Basu S¹, Vellichirammal NN, Williams WP, Sarath G and Louis J^# (2022). Co-transcriptomic analysis of the maize–western corn rootworm interaction. Plants, 11(18), 2335.

5. Pingault L¹, Luong M², Louis J and Hein G (2022). Wheat transcriptomic responses to long-term feeding by wheat curl mites. Scientific Reports, 12: 12535.

6. Grover S¹ , Cardona J², Zogli P¹, Alvarez S, Naldrett M, Sattler SE and Louis J^# (2022). Reprogramming of sorghum proteome in response to sugarcane aphid infestation. Plant Science, DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2022.111289

7. Alam ST, Sarowar S, Mondal HA, Makandar M, Chowdhury Z, Louis J and Shah J (2022). Opposing effects of MYZUS PERSICAE-INDUCED LIPASE 1 and jasmonic acid influence the outcome of Arabidopsis thaliana-Fusarium graminearum interaction. Molecular Plant Pathology, DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13216 
8. Pingault L¹, Basu S¹, Zogli P¹, Williams WP, Palmer N, Sarath G and Louis J^# (2021). Aboveground herbivory influences belowground defense responses in maize. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.765940
9. Da Silva KF², Everhart SE^# and Louis J^# (2021). Impact of maize hormonal interactions on the performance of Spodoptera frugiperda in plants infected with Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis. Arthropod-Plant Interactions, DOI: 10.1007/s11829-021-09849-x
10. Pingault L¹, Varsani S², Palmer N, Ray S, Williams WP, Luthe DS, Ali JG, Sarath G and Louis J^# (2021). Transcriptomic and volatile signatures associated with maize defense against corn leaf aphid. BMC Plant Biology, 21: 138. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-021-02910-0

2016 - 2020

11. Zogli P¹, Pingault L¹, Grover S² and Louis J^# (2020). Ento(o)mics: the intersection of “omic” approaches to decipher plant defense against sap-sucking insect pests. Current Opinion in Plant Biology, 56: 153-161. DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2020.06.002
12. Grover S², Agpawa E³, Sarath G, Sattler SE and Louis J^# (2020). Interplay of phytohormones facilitate sorghum tolerance to aphids. Plant Molecular Biology, DOI: 10.1007/s11103-020-01083-y
13. Pingault L¹, Palmer NA, Koch KG, Heng-Moss T, Bradshaw JD, Seravalli J, Twigg P, Louis J^# and Sarath G^# (2020). Differential defense responses of upland and lowland switchgrass cultivars to a cereal aphid pest. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21, 7966.
14. Zogli P¹, Alvarez S, Naldrett M, Palmer N, Koch K, Pingault L¹, Bradshaw J, Twigg P, Heng-Moss T, Louis J^# and Sarath G^#(2020). Greenbug (Schizaphis graminum) herbivory significantly impacts protein and phosphorylation abundance in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). Scientific Reports, 10: 14842.
15. Koch KG, Palmer NA, Donze-Reiner T, Scully ED, Seravalli J, Amundsen K, Twigg P, Louis J, Bradshaw JD, Heng-Moss T and Sarath G (2020). Aphid-responsive defense networks in hybrid switchgrass. Frontiers in Plant Science, DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.01145
16. Grover S², Varsani S², Kolomiets M and Louis J^# (2020). Maize defense elicitor, 12-Oxo-phytodienoic acid, prolongs aphid salivation. Communicative & Integrative Biology, 1: 63-66
17. Basu S¹, Pereira A, Pinheiro DH, Wang H, Valencia-Jiménez A, Siegfried BD, Louis J, Zhou X and Vélez AM.(2019) Evaluation of reference genes for real-time quantitative PCR analysis in southern corn rootworm, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi (Barber). Scientific Reports, 9: 10703.
18. Palmer NA, Basu S¹, Heng-Moss TM, Bradshaw JD, Sarath G^# and Louis J^#(2019). Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda Smith) feeding elicits differential defense responses in upland and lowland switchgrass. PLoS One, 14(6): e0218352.
19. Varsani S², Grover S², Zhou S, Koch KG, Huang PC, Kolomiets M, Williams WP, Heng-Moss T, Sarath G, Luthe DS, Jander G and Louis J^# (2019). 12-Oxo-phytodienoic acid acts as a regulator of maize defense against corn leaf aphid. Plant Physiology, 179: 1402-1415.
20. Tetreault HM, Grover S², Scully ED, Gries T, Palmer N, Sarath G, Louis J and Sattler SE (2019). Global responses of resistant and susceptible sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) to sugarcane aphid (Melanaphis sacchari). Frontiers in Plant Science, 10: 145.
21. Nalam VJ, Louis J and Shah J (2019). Plant defense against aphids, the pest extraordinaire. Plant Science, 279: 96-107.
22. Grover S², Wojahn B³, Varsani S², Sattler SE and Louis J^# (2019). Resistance to greenbugs in the sorghum nested association mapping population. Arthropod-Plant Interactions, 13: 261-269.
23. Chapman K², Marchi-Werle L, Hunt TE, Heng-Moss T and Louis J^# (2018). Abscisic and jasmonic acids contribute to soybean tolerance to the soybean aphid (Aphis glycines Matsumura). Scientific Reports, 8: 1514.
24. Koch KG, Donze-Reiner T, Baird LM, Louis J, Amundsen K, Sarath G, Bradshaw JD and Heng-Moss T (2018). Evaluation of greenbug and yellow sugarcane aphid feeding behavior on resistant and susceptible switchgrass cultivars. BioEnergy Research, 8: 165-174.
25. Nalam VJ, Louis J, Patel M and Shah J (2018). Arabidopsis-Green Peach Aphid interaction: rearing the insect, no-choice and fecundity assays, and electrical penetration graph technique to study insect feeding behavior. Bio-protocol, 8(15): e2950.
26. Basu S¹, Varsani S² and Louis J^# (2018). Altering plant defenses: Herbivore-associated molecular patterns and effector arsenal of chewing herbivores. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, 31(1): 13-21.
27. Mondal H, Louis J, Archer L, Patel M, Nalam VJ, Sarowar S, Sivapalan V, Root DD and Shah J (2018). Arabidopsis ACTIN-DEPOLYMERIZING FACTOR3 is required for controlling aphid feeding from the phloem. Plant Physiology, 176: 879-890.
28. Koch K, Chapman K², Louis J, Heng-Moss T and Sarath, G (2016). Plant tolerance: A unique approach to control hemipteran pests. Frontiers in Plant Science, 7:1363.
29. Ray S, Basu S¹, Rivera-Vega L, Acevedo FE, Louis J, Felton GW and Luthe DS (2016). Lessons from the far end: caterpillar frass-induced defenses in maize, rice, cabbage and tomato. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 42:1130–1141.
30. Varsani S², Basu S¹, Williams WP, Felton GW, Luthe DS and Louis J^# (2016). Intraplant communication in maize contributes to defense against insects. Plant Signaling & Behavior, 11, e1212800.
    2011 - 2015
31. Louis J^#, Basu S¹, Varsani S², Castano-Duque L, Jiang V³, Williams WP, Felton GW and Luthe DS. (2015). Ethylene contributes to maize insect resistance1-mediated maize defense against the phloem sap-sucking corn leaf aphid. Plant Physiology, 169: 313-324.
32. Louis J^# and Shah J (2015). Plant defence against aphids: the PAD4 signalling nexus. Journal of Experimental Botany, 66 (2): 449-454.
33. Louis J^#, Peiffer M, Ray S, Luthe DS and Felton GW (2013). Host-specific salivary elicitor(s) of European Corn Borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) induce defenses in tomato and maize. New Phytologist, 199: 63-73.
34. Louis J and Shah J (2013). Arabidopsis thaliana - Myzus persicae interaction: shaping the understanding of plant defense against phloem-feeding aphids. Frontiers in Plant Science, 4: 213.
35. Louis J^#, Luthe DS and Felton GW (2013). Salivary signals of European corn borer induce indirect defenses in tomato. Plant Signaling & Behavior, 10.4161/psb.27318.
36. Cao T, Lahiri I, Singh V, Louis J, Shah J and Ayre BG (2013). Metabolic engineering of raffinose-family oligosaccharides in the phloem reveals alterations in carbon partitioning and enhances resistance to green peach aphid. Frontiers in Plant Science, 4: 263.
37. Louis J, Gobbato E, Mondal HA, Feys BJ, Parker JE and Shah J (2012). Discrimination of Arabidopsis PAD4 activities in defense against green peach aphid and pathogens. Plant Physiology, 158: 1860-1872. (Featured Cover article, April 2012).
38. Louis J^*, Mondal HA^* and Shah J (2012). Green peach aphid infestation induces Arabidopsis PHYTOALEXIN DEFICIENT4 expression at site of stylet penetration. Plant Signaling & Behavior, 7: 11, 1431-1433. *Co-first authors.
39. Singh V, Louis J, Ayre B, Reese JC and Shah J (2011). TREHALOSE PHOSPHATE SYNTHASE11-dependent trehalose metabolism promotes Arabidopsis thaliana defense against the phloem-feeding insect, Myzus persicae. Plant Journal, 67 (1): 94-104.
40. Zhu L, Reese JC, Louis J, Campbell L and Chen MS (2011). Electrical penetration graph (EPG) analysis of the feeding behavior of soybean aphids on soybean cultivars with antibiosis. Journal of Economic Entomology, 104 (6): 2068-2072.
    2006 - 2010
41. Louis J, Kukula K-L, Singh V, Reese JC, Jander G and Shah J (2010). Antibiosis against the green peach aphid requires the Arabidopsis thaliana MYZUS PERSICAE-INDUCED LIPASE1 gene. Plant Journal, 64 (5): 800-811.
42. Pallipparambil GR, Reese JC, Avila CA, Louis J and Goggin FL (2010). Mi-mediated aphid resistance in tomato: tissue localization and impact on the feeding behavior of two potato aphid isolates with differing levels of virulence. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 135: 295-307.
43. Louis J, Leung Q, Pegadaraju V, Reese JC and Shah J (2010). PAD4-dependent antibiosis contributes to the ssi2-conferred hyper-resistance to the green peach aphid. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, 23 (5): 618-627.
44. Mutti NS, Louis J, Pappan LK, Pappan K, Begum K, Chen MS, Park Y, Dittmer N, Marshall J, Reese JC and Reeck GR (2008). A protein from the salivary glands of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, is essential in feeding on a host plant. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 105 (29): 9965-9969.
45. Pegadaraju V^*, Louis J^*, Singh V, Reese JC, Bautor J, Feys BJ, Cook G, Parker JE and Shah J (2007). Phloem-based resistance to green peach aphid is controlled by Arabidopsis PHYTOALEXIN DEFICIENT4 without its signaling partner ENHANCED DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY1. Plant Journal, 52 (2): 332-341.
46. Diaz-Montano J, Reese JC, Louis J, Campbell L and Schapaugh WT (2007). Feeding behavior by the soybean aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on resistant and susceptible soybean genotypes. Journal of Economic Entomology, 100 (3): 984-989.
47. Voothuluru P, Meng J, Khajuria C, Louis J, Zhu L, Starkey S, Wilde GE, Baker CA and Smith CM (2006). Categories and inheritance of resistance to Russian wheat aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) biotype 2 in a selection from wheat cereal introduction 2401. Journal of Economic Entomology, 99 (5): 1854-1861.

1. Felton GW, Chung SC, Estrada-Hernańdez MG, Louis J, Peiffer M and Tian D (2014). Herbivore oral secretions are the first line of protection against plant induced defenses. Annual Plant Reviews, 47: 37-76.
2. Luthe DS, Louis J, Jin S and Castano-Duque L (2013). Expression of the defense gene mir1 depends on herbivore feeding guild and maize genotype. In “Proceedings of the IOBC/WPRS Working Group - Induced resistance in plants against insects and diseases”, Vol 89: 323-327. M Bardin, B Mauch-Mani, S Mazzotta, P Nicot, C Pieterse, J-L Poessel, M Ponchet and A Schmitt, eds. OIBC/OILB, Avignon, France.
3. Louis J^#, Singh V and Shah J (2012). Arabidopsis thaliana – aphid interaction. The Arabidopsis Book, 10: e0159.
4. Parker JE, Rietz S, Wirthmüller L, Bartsch M, Bautor J, Pegadaraju V, Louis J, Singh V, Reese J and Shah J (2008). Processes in plant resistance to invasive pathogens and probing insects. In “Biology of Plant-Microbe Interactions,” Vol 6. M. Lorito, S. L. Woo, and F. Scala, eds. IS- MPMI, St Paul, MN.
   
   

The Louis Lab organizes and participates in various public scientific education and outreach events. These events include “BugFest,” “Fascination of Plants Day,” “Research Experience for Teachers” Program, “Visits by Scientist” program at Lincoln Public Schools, and the “Research Experience for Undergraduate Students” Program.

November 2022
Congratulations to Dr. De-Fen Mou on her new position at the University of Florida Department of Entomology as an Assistant Professor. She will begin her new position on Jan 1, 2023. 

At right, Joe Louis (center), Heena Puri (right), and Edith Ikuze (left), received the Entomological Society of America (ESA) Plant-Insect Ecosystem’s (P-IE) Recognition Award in Entomology, Kenneth and Barbara Starks Plant Resistance to Insects Graduate Student Award, and Undergraduate Student Achievement in Entomology Award, respectively, at the ESA meeting held at Vancouver, Canada (Nov. 13-16, 2022) 


The Plant-Insect Interactions lab participated in the UNL Plant Science Retreat held at Nebraska City on Nov. 10-11, 2022. Dr. Pritha Kundu (pictured at left) gave an oral presentation and Dr. Lise Pingault, Heena Puri, Sanket Shinde and Edith Ikuze presented posters at the meeting.

The Plant-Insect Interactions Lab performed outreach activities at the Culler Middle School and Schoo Middle School on Nov 3, 2022.

September 2022

Congratulations to Joe Louis, Heena Puri, and Edith Ikuze for receiving awards from the Entomological Society of America (ESA)! See the news release here.

A UNL research project spearheaded by Dr. Sajjan Grover, UNL Plant-Insect Interactions Lab alumni, was highlighted in a Sept. 2 news release. The research expands human understanding of sorghum defenses against the sugarcane aphid threat. This study was further explained in a manuscript published in Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions by Louis, Grover, Heena Puri (graduate student), Scott Sattler from the UDSA in Lincoln, and Zhanguo Xin in Texas. 

August 2021

Giovanna Sagestegui, REEU student pictured in the center, presented her work at the Nebraska Summer Research Symposium (at left). She is pictured with L-R: Sanket Shinde, De-Fen Mou, Pritha Kundu, and Edith Ikuze.

Best wishes to Juan Betancurt Cardona on his new position at Bayer Research and Development as a research technician. Congratulations Juan!


July 2022

Edith Ikuze and Heena Puri were awarded the Charles C. Cooper/Emma I. Sharpless Fellowship and Widaman Distinguished Graduate Fellowship Award from the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR), University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Congratulations Edith & Heena!

June 2022
We hosted eight Lincoln Public School (LPS) Teachers for the Plant-Insect Interactions Workshop from May 31-June 3, 2022 (pictured at right). It was great fun!

We welcomed Edith Ikuze as a new M.S. student in our lab for fall 2022. 


The lab welcomed Giovanna Sagastegui to our lab from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) as part of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program.

May 2022
Congratulations to Mia Luong (left) and Juan Betancurt Cardona (right) for completing their Master's of Science degrees in Entomology. They are pictured at left with their advisor, Dr. Joe Louis, at the May 2022 Graduate Commencement.

April 2022
All lab members went for a lab lunch to celebrate awards, graduation, papers, and also welcoming new members to the Plant-Insect Interactions Lab.

March 2022
The lab welcomes Dr. De-Fen Mou (left) and Dr. Pritha Kundu as postdoctoral research associates!

 

February 2022
Dr. Joe Louis was appointed as an Eberhard Professor of Agricultural Entomology by the University of Nebraska starting January 2022. The endowed professorship is named for the late Harold and Alice Eberhard and their family. More details are at https://ianrnews.unl.edu/louis-named-eberhard-professor-agricultural-entomology-pursues-innovative-research-educational. Congratulations Joe!

Dr. Lise Pingault received the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) Travel Grant to attend the Plant Biology 2022 meeting, which will be held at Portland, OR, July 9-13, 2022. Congratulations, Lise!

January 2022
Congratulations to Dr. Lise Pingault for receiving the 2021 UNL Outstanding Postdoc Award from the Office of Graduate Studies. Pingault contributes to the lab, the department, and the university through her publications, outreach activities, mentorship, training, and service.  This award includes a $1,500 honorarium and recognizes the winner's comprehensive efforts in research, teaching, mentoring, innovation, and university or community service. She is pictured here with (L-R) Dr. L.J. McElravy, associate dean at Graduate Studies, and Dr. John Ruberson, Entomology department head.

Best wishes to Dr. Sajjan Grover on his new position at Bayer Research and Development in Chesterfield, MO. He will be a Scientist-II in Hemipteran Research. 

Congratulations to Heena Puri (Ph.D. student) and Juan Betancurt Cardona (MS student) for receiving Graduate Student Mini-Grant Awards from the Department of Entomology, UNL.

Congratulations to Heena Puri for receiving the UNL Agricultural Research Division’s Life Sciences Graduate Fellowship for spring 2022. 

November 2021
Congratulations to Juan Betancurt Cardona for receiving first place for his oral presentation at the Entomological Society of America (ESA) annual meeting held in Denver, CO., Oct. 31-Nov. 3, 2021.




August 2021

Congratulations to Sajjan Grover, postdoctoral research associate, who received the 2021 Student Activity Award from the Entomological Society of America (ESA)! 


June 2021 Recent UNL Entomology graduate and now postdoc Dr. Sajjan Grover had his ESA National Meeting presentation selected to be a part of the “Rising Stars of Entomology Award Symposium” at the meeting. He also took 1st place in the Ph.D. Presentation Session. Congratulations, Sajjan!


Ph.D. student Heena Puri was selected to receive the 2021-22 Hardin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship, which supports outstanding graduate students in work related to plant physiology. She is pictured (center) with Dr. Tiffany Heng-Moss, (CASNR Dean), Dr. Archie Clutter (Ag. Research Dean), Dr. John Ruberson (Entomology department head), Dr. Tom Burkey (CASNR interim associate dean for graduate education), and Jocelyn Gordon (CASNR coordinator of Professional Development) (L-R). Congratulations, Heena!


 Undergraduate students Jessica Ayala (left) and Isabella Rodriguez (right) joined the lab from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) as part of NSF Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program. Welcome Jessica & Isabella!


May 2021
Heena Puri, Ph.D. student, received the 2021-2022 Milton E. Mohr Fellowship from the Nebraska Center for Biotechnology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  Great work Heena!

Congratulations to Sajjan Grover on graduating at May 2021 Graduate Commencement with his Ph.D.  He is pictured at right with his diploma and with his advisor, Dr. Joe Louis. 



April 2021
Dr. Joe Louis was promoted to full Professor in the Department of Entomology. He is pictured (left) with UNL Biochemistry faculty at the Promotion and Tenure celebration. Joe was among 109 faculty members at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who were promoted and/or tenured this year.



January 2021
Congratulations to Sajjan Grover for successfully defending his Ph.D. dissertation! Sajjan is starting his new position as a postdoctoral research associate in our lab beginning February 2021.





August 2020
Earl Agpawa received the Undergraduate Student Achievement in Entomology Award from the Entomological Society of America (ESA) for his research on sorghum-aphid interactions. Congratulations Earl!

Sajjan Grover received the 2020 Kenneth and Barbara Starks Plant Resistance to Insects Graduate Student Award from the Entomological Society of America (ESA) for his research on sorghum-aphid interactions. Sajjan also received the 2020 Lillian and Alex Feir Graduate Student Travel Award in Insect Physiology, Biochemistry, or Molecular Biology from ESA. Congratulations Sajjan!




July 2020
Joe Louis received a USDA/NIFA grant to study resistance in sorghum to fall armyworm (see news release here)

Sajjan Grover was awarded the 2020 Shear-Miles Fellowship from the Institute of Agricultural and Natural Resources (IANR), University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Congratulations, Sajjan! A luncheon to honor all those receiving Graduate Fellowships will be held later this Fall.

June 2020

Mia Luong and Earl Agpawa received the Earl and Bertha Ramsey Memorial Fellowship Ephriam and Veallon Hixson Memorial Scholarship, respectively, from the Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Congratulations, Mia and Earl!

Kaitlin Chapman (Ph.D candidate) started a new position as Extension Educator in the Lancaster County Extension office in Lincoln, NE. Congratulations, Kait!

May 2020
Congratulations to Sajjan Grover for receiving first place for his oral presentation in the virtual ESA-NCB/SWB competition.

April 2020

Congratulations to Karen DaSilva for successfully completing her PhD dissertation! Karen will be starting her new position at Corteva AgriScience in May 2020!

March 2020

Joe Louis has been featured as the “Scientist to Watch” in The Scientist Magazine.

January 2020

Sajjan Grover received the 2020 Outstanding Research Award from Gamma Sigma Delta, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (pictured with Entomology Department Head Dr. John Ruberson, ARD Dean Dr. Archie Clutter and CASNR Dean Dr. Tiffany Heng-Moss).

Prince Zogli received the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) Travel Grant to attend the Plant Biology 2020 meeting, which will be held at Washington, DC (July 25-29), Congratulations, Prince!

December 2019

Mariana Sanchez at the Graduation Commencement where she received her master's degree. Mariana is pictured with her co-advisors Ana Velez and Joe Louis.

Mariana Sanchez receiving her insect pillow case at the Department of Entomology graduation ceremony.

Congratulations to Sajjan Grover (PhD student) for receiving the 2019 Mini-Grant Award sponsored by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Entomology.

Joe Louis has been featured in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2018-19 research report: Charting a Bold Future and Husker Researchers Tie CAREER Award Record

November 2019
Congratulations to Sajjan Grover and Earl Agpawa for receiving 2nd Place for Grad Infographic and 2nd Place of Undergrad Poster, respectively, at the 2019 Entomological Society of America’s (ESA) Annual Meeting.

Joe Louis received the ESA Early Career Innovation Award at the ESA meeting in St. Louis.

October 2019

Sajjan Grover and Karen Da Silva received the 2019 Widaman Distinguished Graduate Fellowship and Hardin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship, respectively, on October 10 at the ARD Award Luncheon.

Joe Louis was named as the 2019 recipient of the Early Career Innovation Award from the Entomological Society of America. See news release here and here.

August 2019

Sajjan Grover and Karen Da Silva were awarded the 2019 Widaman Distinguished Graduate Fellowship and Hardin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship, respectively, from the Institute of Agricultural and Natural Resources (IANR), University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Congratulations, Sajjan and Karen! A luncheon to honor all those receiving Graduate Fellowships will be held later this Fall.

Adryenna Perez and Juan Raya presented their work at the Nebraska Summer Research Symposium (pictured with Sajjan Grover).

July 2019
Earl Agpawa’s research proposal was awarded a $2,500 grant from the IANR Agricultural Research Division Undergraduate Student Research Program. Congratulations, Earl!

Karen Da Silva was named as the 2019 recipient of the I.E. Melhus Graduate Student Symposium Award from the American Phytopathological Society. Congratulations Karen!

We welcome Dr. Lise Pingault and Dr. Prince Zogli as postdoctoral research associates in our lab.

June 2019
We welcomed Adryenna Perez and Juan Raya to our lab from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV; Kariyat Lab) as part of the NSF Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program.

May 2019
Suresh Varsani at the Graduation Commencement.

April 2019
Joe Louis was promoted to Associate Professor and granted tenure at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Promotion and Tenure celebration.

March 2019

Kait Chapman and Sajjan Grover received the North Central Branch-Entomological Society of America Student Travel Scholarships to attend the meeting. Mariana Sanchez received the Graduate Student Travel Award from University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Office of Graduate Studies.

February 2019
Joe Louis received a five-year $1.5 million Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) award from the National Science Foundation.

October 2018

March 2018

Kait Chapman and Suresh Varsani received the North Central Branch-Entomological Society of America Student Travel Scholarships to attend the meeting.

January 2018