Dr. Sujaya Rao received a doctoral degree in Entomology from the University of Minnesota. Subsequently, she was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Delaware and at UC Berkeley. She then worked as an Extension Advisor at UC Davis before moving to Oregon State University where she is now a Professor engaged in research, teaching and extension. She is also the leader for the Entomology Program and Associate Department Head for Crop and Soil Science. Over the years, Sujaya’s research has focused on the behavioral and chemical ecology of plant-insect interactions in native habitats and in diverse cropping systems; and she has led successful research programs on both insect pests and on native bee pollinators. Her ‘outside-the-box’ educational programs have impacted graduate and undergraduate students, colleagues on campus, K-12 students and teachers, and the public, and earned her the Distinguished Achievement in Teaching Award from ESA and the Hodson Alumnus Award from the University of Minnesota. She has also received local, regional and national team awards for her collaborative research and educational programs. Sujaya has been active in ESA since her graduate student days. She has organized research and education-related symposia, served on numerous committees and as Chair for ESA’s Education and Youth Committee was also an Entomological Foundation counselor. For the Pacific Branch, Sujaya chaired the Linnaean Games, Student Competition and Program Committees. As President for the Pacific Branch, she encouraged women to take on leadership positions, and her innovative additions included a symposium on social media, and an exciting entomological texting competition for increasing student attendance. As the current President of the Plant-Insect Ecosystem Section of ESA, she is a member of the Planning Committee for ESA's 2015 Annual Meeting and has organized, for the PIE Networking Section, a symposium on ‘Effective Communication: How to Avoid Pie in Your Face!’
