Rajesh will join us starting the fall semester of 2023. Here is the background about Rajesh:
Hi! I’m Rajesh from Andhra Pradesh, India. Having come from a farming background, insects have always intrigued me because of their beauty and the havoc they cause in croplands. I did my undergrad BSc in Agriculture (Hons) from the Agricultural College Bapatla, ANGRAU. Later I joined for my master’s in Entomology at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. There I studied Insect vector virus interactions (Thrips-GBNV) to develop novel pest management strategies at the Advanced Center for Plant Virology unit. After that, I was a Research Fellow at ICRISAT, Hyderabad, researching host plant resistance to fall armyworm under climate change conditions in sorghum. My work at UGA involves developing IPM tactics for redheaded flea beetle, a severe pest of container ornamental plant nurseries. I enjoy exploring the wild and watching sci-fi movies during my leisure time. I aim to devise ecologically-based insect pest management tactics with fewer nontarget effects on the growers, beneficial insects, and the environment. My work aims to enhance the sustainability of agricultural production systems by developing and promoting science-based solutions. In my career aspirations, I found that cooperative extension initiatives are closely associated with my interests.
During my undergrad, I participated in the Rural Awareness Works Experience program (RAWEP), where I spent considerable time in the countryside attached to Agriculture Science Centre (KVK, Garikapadu). There I met several progressive growers and gained a broad understanding of crop production and protection practices in diverse crops. This experience has created a lasting impact on me towards sustainable farming and Integrated Pest Management.
