Category: AGRICULTURE

         GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT         Professional Summary     Dedicated professional with excellent technical, analytical and communication skills demonstrated in ten years of experience in the agricultural sector, specifically in the Research and Development division with an extensive knowledge of biological control in the field of Entomology       Core Qualifications          Background in biological control using member from the Coleopteran family of insect   Expert in data analysis       Area wide surveys and data collection for research           Data presentation   Experimental design/implementation            Accomplishments      Successfully determine the biology, reproduction and the effect of chemicals on the   Thalassa montezumae , a predatory beetle of the new invasive scale insect  Phalacrococcus howertoni  in South Florida.  Integrated Pest Management Workshop Identification of Scales Mealybugs and Natural enemies.  Identification of Mites of economic importance to the Caribbean and their Natural enemies Training Seminar on Management of Protected Cultivation Insect.  Identification of Nematodes for Professional Consultants Green house training course.        Experience      Company Name    City  ,   State    GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT   01/2013   to   04/2016       Assist with various research project in the Center of Biological control lab.  Developing a potential biological control for Croton Scales ( Phalacrococcus howertoni ).  Maintain culture of Croton scales and  Thalassa montezumae   under green house and laboratory conditions,.          Company Name    City      PLANT PROTECTION OFFICER - Entomology   10/2011   to   12/2012       Rear Parasitoids wasp (  Anagyrus kamali ) and release in areas affected by the Pink Hibiscus Mealy bug ( Maconellicoccus hirsutus ) with 95% success rate and determined parasitism levels at each site.  Record data.  Maintain cultures of Pink Hibiscus Mealybug and   Anagyrus kamali  at rearing facility.  Develop solutions for pest problems in yam ( Dioscorea spp .) in Jamaica   Establish and conduct field evaluations with treatments against yam nematodes.  Develop Citrus Greening Management Programme in Jamaica in collaboration with Food and Agriculture Organization and Government of Jamaica Components.  Assist in the Island wide survey for incidence of citrus greening and parasitism levels of   Tamarixia radiate .  Assist the monitoring programme for the Area-wide Integrated Management Systems (AIMS) for Citrus greening in citrus orchards.  Develop management program for the Beet Army Worm( Spodoptera exigua ) and monitoring of farms in affected parishes.  Establish & maintain Beet Army Worm culture in the laboratory.  Conduct insecticide efficacy trial.  Implement Integrated Pest Management of major pests of crops under Protective Cultivation in Jamaica  Data generated on temperature, humidity and pest status in greenhouse crop.          Company Name    City      FIELD AND LAB RESEARCH ASSISTANT   12/2002   to   10/2011       Receive diagnostic samples from extension officers and farmers.  Prepare samples for diagnostics.  Rear and preserved specimens as necessary.  Establish experimental plots.  Visit field for prescribed observations and data collection as was set out in proposals.  Monitor on and off station experimental plots for infestations.  Maintain inventory list, materials and lab space.  Work on all research projects in the unit.  Assist in Crop and Plant Protection Unit Integrated Pest Management Systems developing on several crops threshold base pesticides.  Population dynamic study on Red Palm Mites and Broad Mites.          Education      Master of Science  :  Entomology - Qualifying   2016     Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University  ,   City  ,   State  ,   United States             Bachelor of Science  :  Environmental Science   2011     Knox Community College  ,   City  ,     Jamaica            Associate of Science  :  General Agriculture   2006     College of Agriculture Science and Education  ,   City  ,     Jamaica             Professional Affiliations     Entomological Society of America (ESA)   Florida Entomological Society   Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University ESA debate team   Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANNRS)       Awards and Publications     Reuben Capelouto Foundation and William L.Peters Memorial scholarship awardee 2013-2014 Monsanto 1890 Student Leadership Event participant, St.Louis Missouri, 2014  Mentoring at Purdue Summer Scholarship Program participant West Lafayette, Indiana, 2014.   ESA(Entomological Society of America). Annual Meeting. Portland, Oregon. Developing a Biological Control Measure for the Management of an Invasive Scale Insect,   Phalacrococcus howertoni  (Hemiptera,Coccidae) in South Florida "Published Abstract.  ESA (Entomological Society of America). Annual Meeting. Portland, Oregon. “What is the single best tool to reduce malaria cases throughout the world? “Published Article , 2014       Skills     Data collection, maintain inventory,statistical analysis, prepare sample and Microsoft office