Thursday, September 4, 2025
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM Eastern Time
With increasing uncertainty in traditional job pathways in the public and private sector in the field of entomology, it’s more important than ever for students and early career professionals to build diverse, adaptable skill sets. Panelists will highlight ways to gain meaningful experience, through internships, extension programs, cooperative work, grant opportunities, and more, that can help students and early career professionals stay adaptable and competitive. The focus is on proactive, practical steps to build diverse skill sets and grow professionally across sectors to help you thrive in a shifting job market. The webinar will have open Q&A discussion about potential solutions and strategies to build resilient careers in entomology for all.
Moderator: Harit Kaur Bal, Sajjan Grover
Panelist: Kendra Greenlee, Amanda Hodges, Ivair Valmorbida, Karen Poh
 |
Dr. Kendra Greenlee is Professor of Insect Physiology at North Dakota State University. Her research program is focused on understanding how environmental factors affect development and aging in insects. Their work contributes important new information regarding how changes in temperature affect juvenile and adult physiology, morphology, and fitness. Her focus includes pollinator health, environmental stress, and adaptation. Dr. Greenlee has served in many important administrative roles both internationally, nationally and regionally. She was Department Chair of the NDSU Department of Biological Sciences. |
 |
Dr. Amanda Hodges is an Extension Scientist and Director of the Doctor of Plant Medicine (DPM) program at the University of Florida. With over two decades of experience, she specializes in invasive species and plant biosecurity. Through her leadership of the DPM program and the Biosecurity Research and Extension Lab, Dr. Hodges mentors students in developing broad, interdisciplinary skill sets that prepare them for diverse roles in public service, academia, and industry. Her work exemplifies how varied professional experiences can lead to resilient, impactful careers in entomology and beyond. |
 |
Ivair Valmorbida is currently working as Assistant Professor & State Extension Specialist at University of Missouri-Columbia. Before joining the current role, he completed his PhD in Entomology at Iowa State University and worked as Product Development Manager for insecticides at ADAMA US. Valmorbida's responsibilities include developing and implementing extension and research programs that are focused on insect pest problems of field and forage crops. His research interests include developing and implementing integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, exploring how insect pests adapt to agroecosystem practices, and how agroecosystem practices affect insect diversity. |
 |
Karen Poh is a research entomologist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service in the Animal Disease Research Unit, in Pullman, Washington, where she works to identify spatial and temporal patterns in tick, host, and pathogen distributions and evaluate tick-host choice and behavior. Prior to her USDA position, Karen earned her bachelor’s degree in public health with a concentration in infectious diseases and public health microbiology from the University of Texas at Austin in 2012, her master of public health (MPH) in environmental and occupational health sciences from the University of North Texas Health Science Center in 2014, and her Ph.D. in entomology from Texas A&M University in 2018, where she researched the determinants of spatial and temporal variation of West Nile virus transmission in Texas. Karen also worked as a postdoctoral associate at the Pennsylvania State University from 2019 to 2022 studying host-parasite interactions, vector and animal behavior, and vector control as well as conducting extension education. |