Preliminary Evaluation of types of traps and lures for the invasive yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax), 2026-2027. USDA APHIS.
Development of Tools for Automated Identification of Trapped Amrasca biguttula (Cotton Jassid) and related genera (Hemiptera: Empoascini) using Geometric Morphometrics and Deep Learning, 2026-2027. USDA APHIS.
Invasive Hornet AI: a computer vision tool to identify images of exotic hornets (genus Vespa) and other look-alike insects, 2026-2027. USDA APHIS.
WVU Museums Passport: A Consortium-Level Open House for Education, Wellbeing, and Student Recruitment, 2026-2027. WVU Faculty Senate Community Engagement Grant.
Enhancing Regenerative Agriculture: Implementing Low-Cost Dung Beetle Nurseries in West Virginia Farm, 2024-2027. Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE).
Development of predictive models and management tools for transboundary migratory pests of food crops, 2026-2030. National Institute of Crop Science, South Korea.
Development of AI-based customized production and industrialization technologies for insect resources, 2026-2030. National Institute of Agricultural Science, South Korea.
Biological control of Arthropod Pests and Weeds, 2026-2030. Multistate Hatch.
DSFAS Partnership: Multimodal Data Fusion for Early
Detection of Forest Invasive Pests through UAS-based Continual Learning, 2025-2029. USDA NIFA Foundational and Applied Sciences Program.
Development of Entomology Open Educational
Resources for WV Educators and Students, 2025-2026. WV Higher Education Policy Commission.
Spatially Targeted Biological Control of Invasive
Plants Using Autonomous Drones and Machine Learning: Aerial Plant Detection and
Deployment of Natural Enemy Insects and Native Seeds for Site Restoration, 2025-2027. USDA Forest Service.
Proof of Concept Using Machine Learning for
Automated Identification of Trapped Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) of
Quarantine Importance in the USA, 2025-2026. USDA APHIS.
Detection of the invasive yellow-legged hornet’s
nests (Vespa velutina) in the field using drones, sensors, and computer vision, 2025-2026. USDA APHIS.
Drone-Assisted Precision IPM to Manage and
Prevent Reinvasion of Invasive Plants, 2023-2026. USDA AFRI CPPM ARDP.
Spatially-Targeted Biological Control of Invasive
Plants Using Precision Aerial Release of Natural Enemy Insects, 2023-2028. USDA Forest Service BCIFP.
Detection of Invasive Pests Using Drones and Sensors in Various Agroecosystems, 2024-2029. Hatch Project.
Past Projects (34 projects)
Allegheny National Forest Ash Health Monitoring with Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems, 2023-2025, USDA Forest Service Joint Venture Agreement.
Meet the Dung Beetles, Identifying Communities and Assessing Threats to Dung Beetles of WV, USDA NIFA AFRI. 2022-2025.
Development of Open Educational Resources for Entomology Classes in Appalachian Region, 2022-2025. WVU Libraries.
Risk Assessment and Management of Spotted Lanternfly in WV Specialty Crops through Research and Outreach, WV Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. 2021-2024.
International Pollinator Project,
2018-2019. WVU Davis College Faculty Enhancement Grant and
WVU Faculty Senate Travel Grant
Citizen science projects with bees, veterans, and WV citizens, 2018-2019.
WVU Davis College C2D2 Program and WVU Faculty Senate Grant for Community Engagement
Implementation of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems for the Management of Invasive
Plants in Eastern North America Using Biological Control,
2018-2019. USDA APHIS Farm Bill.
Proximal and Remote Sensing of Alfalfa Canopies for Early Detection of Insect
Pest Stress and Rapid Integrated Pest Management Decision-Making, 2017-2020.
USDA-NIFA AFRI Alfalfa and Forage Research Program.
Effects of Imidacloprid Treatment of Hemlocks on Aquatic Ecosystems: Is the cure
worse than the disease? 2017-2019. USGS/National Park Service Water
Quality Partnership Program and Program to Stimulate Competitive Research,
West Virginia University,
Effects of Imidacloprid on Soil Macrofauna within Riparian Hemlock Forests, 2016-2020.
National Park Service and CESU.
Aerial monitoring of orchard pests using unmanned aerial system,
2015-2016. State Horticulture Association of Pennsylvania.
Development of Mobile Insect Zoo, 2015-2016 Community Engagement Grant, WVU
Faculty Senate.
Building Attract-and-Kill Systems for Management of Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
in Apple Orchards,
2014-2017. Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education.
Effect of Climate Change on Multitrophic Interactions among Crops, Bees, and
Pests, 2014-2015. USDA-NIFA AFRI Foundational Program: Climate Change and
Variability.
Development of Systems for Predicting Spatial Distribution of Stink Bugs using
Geospatial Analysis, Sensing Technology, and Population Genetics, 2013-2015.
National Academy of Agricultural Science, Korea.
Development of UAV/AAV Systems for Forest Insect Pest Management, 2011-2017.
USDA Forest Service.
Organic Stink Bug Management through Research and Education, 2011-2017. USDA-NIFA
AFRI Organic Research and Education Initiative.
Management of Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs on Specialty Crops in West Virginia,
2011-2014. USDA-WV Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Control in Fruit Orchard, 2011-2012. State Horticulture
Association of Pennsylvania.
Attracting Generalist Natural Enemies Using Pheromones, 2010-2011. State
Horticulture Association of Pennsylvania.
Educational Outreach with WVU Insect Zoo Programs, 2010-2011. WVU Grants
for Public Service.
Extension Integrated Pest Management, 2009. USDA Extension Integrated Pest
Management Coordination and Support Program.
Cacapon River Watershed Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program for Farms, 2009-2013.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Ser
vice.
Landscape-Scale Detection of Pests Using Geospatial and Aerospace Technologies,
2008-2009. Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, West Virginia University.
Site-Specific Biological Control Using Pheromones, 2008-2009. Faculty Senate
Grant at West Virginia University.
Imidacloprid Impact on Insect Fauna Associated with Eastern Hemlock, 2006-2010.
USDA Forest Service.
Continued Development of IPM PIPE Risk Management, 2007-2009. USDA Cooperative
Extension & North Carolina State University.