Friday, February 28, 2025
12:00pm - 1:00pm ET
This webinar is hosted by the International Association of Black Entomologists (IABE) in honor of Black History Month to celebrate the brilliance and dedication of our emerging leaders who are pushing the boundaries of science and making a lasting impact on our community. This webinar highlights the exceptional accomplishments of our students and early career professionals. This event will showcase groundbreaking research, innovative projects, and significant contributions to the field of entomology. Attending this webinar will not only broaden your knowledge and network but also inspire you to achieve your own goals and contribute to the advancement of entomology.
Moderator: Tolulope Agunbiade and Tara-Kay L. Jones
Panelists: Stephen Onayemi, Allan Busuulwa, Seun Oladipupo, Festus Ajibefun
 |
Dr. Stephen Olusola Onayemi is an accomplished early-career entomologist and member of the International Association of Black Entomologists. His academic and professional journey reflects a deep commitment to advancing research in entomology. He completed his Ph.D. in Entomology at Washington State University in May 2024, focusing on pheromone-based mating disruption for grape mealybugs. He has since joined the Washington State Department of Agriculture as a Pesticide Registration specialist. Stephen's academic excellence is reflected in multiple awards and grants, including the 2023 Pacific Branch Entomological Society of America Student Leadership Award, the 2022-2025 Future Leaders for Food and Agriculture Fellowship, and research grants totaling over $30,000 for studies on queen banking and honey bee health. Stephen has received numerous scholarships, including from the Washington Wine Industry Foundation and the American Society for Enology and Viticulture. He has won several presentation prizes, including first place at the Washington Winegrowers Association conference in 2023. With a passion for service and outreach, Stephen has significantly contributed to extension activities, community events, and student mentoring programs. His leadership in academic and professional spheres continues to inspire those around him. |
 |
Allan Busuulwa is a PhD student in Dr. Sriyanka Lahiri’s Small Fruits IPM Entomology lab at the University of Florida’s Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, and active member of the International Association of Black Entomologists. His research focuses on the management of invasive insect pest species affecting small fruits, particularly strawberries. His work spans diverse areas, including insecticide-fungicide interactions with predatory mites, conservation biocontrol tactics, and the mitigation of insecticide resistance in Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood. Allan’s contributions to the field of entomology include publications on the compatibility of insecticides and fungicides with predatory mites and the use of flowering plants to attract naturally occurring predators that help suppress various pest species. His research excellence has earned him several prestigious awards, including the John A. Mulrennan, Sr. Outstanding MS Student Award (2025) from the University of Florida’s Department of Entomology and Nematology and the distinguished University of Florida CALS Fellowship (2024–2028). In addition to his academic achievements, Allan has secured multiple travel and research grants to support his studies and participation in national and international conferences. His passion for mentorship and outreach is evident through his active involvement in state-organized educational events, where he regularly trains small fruit growers and fosters strong researcher-grower collaborations. |
 |
Dr. Seun Oladipupo is an Assistant Professor of Urban Entomology at The Ohio State University. At Ohio State, Dr. Oladipupo's lab examines the socioeconomic drivers of urban pest prevalence, explores biotechnological approaches to disrupt pest behavior and ecology, and investigates how microbiomes influence key life history traits of urban insects. These efforts aim to produce efficient, eco-friendly pest management tools, ultimately improving public health and urban living conditions. Dr. Oladipupo earned his Ph.D. in Entomology from Auburn University in 2022, where he characterized the physiological effects of essential oils on insecticide-resistant German cockroaches, identifying components that could inform alternative control strategies. His work on Wolbachia-cockroach symbiosis, featured in Entomology Today and National Geographic, demonstrated how bacterial symbionts influence insect reproduction and survival, offering a potential framework for microbe-based pest control. Following his doctorate, he pursued postdoctoral research at Yale University, where he investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying Wolbachia-mediated cytoplasmic incompatibility, clarifying how bacterial symbionts manipulate host reproduction at the genetic level. Beyond research, Dr. Oladipupo is an active member of the International Association of Black Entomologists. Additionally, he engages in mentorship, science policy, and professional service, advocating for the integration of microbial ecology into urban pest control. His research bridges academia and industry, promoting pest management solutions that are both scientifically rigorous and ecologically responsible. |
 |
Festus Ajibefun is a Ph.D. candidate in Entomology at Kansas State University, with a passion for molecular entomology and sustainable pest management. His research focuses on exosome biogenesis and RNA interference (RNAi) in the southern corn rootworm, contributing to the development of eco-friendly pest control strategies. Festus has received numerous academic honors, including the Robert Nunemacher Scholarship, John and Beth Reese Scholarship, and the Henry Fadamiro Graduate Award for Outstanding Academic Performance. His research has been showcased at national and international conferences, including the Entomological Society of America (ESA) National Meeting, where he has delivered invited, oral, and poster presentations. Beyond research, Festus is an active leader and mentor in the entomology community. He serves on the Awards Committee at Kansas State University, mentors undergraduate researchers, and participates in outreach programs like the Kansas Science Festival and Bug-A-Palooza. His contributions have earned him recognition as a Featured Scientist in the PBT ESA Spotlight (2024). With a commitment to advancing entomology through research, mentorship, and outreach, Festus continues to make a lasting impact in his field. |
*Closed captioning is available*