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 Tropical Pest Genetics and Molecular Biology Research Unit: Hilo, HI
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ARS Home Pacific West Area Hilo, Hawaii Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center Tropical Pest Genetics and Molecular Biology Research Unit People





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Scott M Geib    Research Entomologist Contact Information
USDA-ARS U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center64 Nowelo St.Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Ph: (808) 959-4335Fax: (808) 959-5470
Dr. Geib Publications via ARIS System via Google Scholar Education Ph.D., Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 2008
B. S., Zoology and Entomology, Lyman Briggs School of Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 2003 Academic Positions 2010-Current. Research Entomologist, USDA-ARS Pacific Basin Agricultural research Center, Hilo, HI
2008 - 2010. USDA Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University Research: My research focuses on utilizing genomic and molecular techniques to conduct research that supports the development and implementation of environmentally acceptable and sustainable strategies for management of tropical insect pests in support of Hawaii, the Pacific Basin, and U.S. agriculture. In particular, I perform fundamental research on the genomics of fruit flies, with focus on the oriental fruit fly (*Bactrocera dorsalis*) and related species. The goals of my research are to develop a foundation of information on the genomics structure of *Bactrocera*flies and utilize this information to develop new and novel sustainable means of managing tephritid fruit fly species. Development of techniques to improve survey, detection, and mass rearing (for sterile insect technique (SIT) implementation), as well as identifying target genes for novel control strategies are of particular interest. Major Projects: Oriental Fruit Fly Genome Sequencing Project: Next generation sequencing technologies are being used to analyze the genome of the oriental fruit fly. Whole genome shotgun approaches are being used to create a high coverage assembly of this species using the 454-Titanium pyrosequencing technology. In addition, high coverage transcriptome/RNA-seq analysis is being performed and a BAC library has been established for use in establishing various aspects of functional genomics of this species. The goal of this project is to identify unique and specific gene-level targets that could be used to develop novel control methods for the oriental fruit fly in the field, as well as allow for improvement to mass rearing and SIT.  Comparative genomic analysis of the Bactrocera dorsalis species complex for identification of novel molecular markers (USDA-ARS-PBARC/USDA-APHIS-PPQ-CPHST): Background *Bactrocera* is an economically important genus of fruit flies in the family Tephritidae. It includes many species that are of agricultural significance. Accurate identification of tephritid species is important for maintaining interception records that are useful for pathway analysis and resolving trade disputes. Unfortunately, fruit fly identification of intercepted larvae (detected in fruit at ports of entry) is problematic because larvae lack suitable characters for diagnosis. Although molecular DNA techniques based on mitochondrial markers (e.g., DNA barcodes) are useful for the diagnosis of many fruit flies, this technology does not diagnose many important pests within *Bactrocera* that belong to species complexes such as the *B. dorsalis* species complex. Recent taxonomic work on this complex suggests that it includes over 50 species of which eight are considered of high economic significance. Most of these species have restricted geographic ranges within the Indonesian Archipelago but some pest species such as *B. dorsalis*, *B. carambolae*, *B. papayae* and *B. invadens* have broader distributions. Discrimination of *B. dorslais*, *B. papayae*, and *B. philippinensis* has been especially problematic for many previous molecular diagnostic studies using DNA barcodes and other methodologies. Diagnostic marker development has traditionally relied on a laborious screening process in which putative regions of the genome are targeted and analyzed sequentially. This process is usually efficient for distantly related species but can become complicated for closely related species that share genetic types. One alternative approach to marker development that has emerged recently is the use of second generation sequencing (e.g., genomics) and bioinformatics to identify putative genetic markers. This technology generates many potential diagnostic characters simultaneously and relies on computational tools to search large databases for useful markers. The data generated from this approach can be used to develop species-level markers useful for pest identification and population-level markers useful for studying population geneticsof the species. It can also generate systematic information useful for evaluating species limits of cryptic species. Service, Leadership and Participation in Professional Activities: Entomology Society of America
American Society for Microbiology
International Society for Microbial Ecology
Served on Local Arrangements Committee and Student Competition Judge for ESA National and Branch Meetings
Candidacy Committee, Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University
Past President and Vice-President, Entomology Graduate Student Association, Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University Honors, Awards, Achievements and Recognition: John Henry Comstock Graduate Student Award, Eastern Branch. Entomology Society of America, 2009
USDA-CSREES-NRI Postdoctoral Fellowship, Biobased Products and Bioenergy Production Research, 2008-2010.
President's Prize in Physiology, Biochemistry, Toxicology, and Molecular Biology, Entomology Society of America, 2007
William Yendol Memorial Research Award, Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, 2007
Unimart Endowment Graduate Student Travel Award, College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, 2007
Ralph Mumma Graduate Award in Plant-Insect Interaction. Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, 2006.


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