I am Kavitha Patchipala, a new PhD student at Dr. Joseph’s lab. I worked as a Research Assistant at Citrus Center, Texas A&M University Kingsville, Weslaco, TX. I have earned an MS in Plant & Soil Science (August 2023) under the supervision of Dr. Mamoudou Setamou, Professor –Citrus Entomology & IPM. My MS research was focused on the IPM of the California Red Scale, Aonidiella aurantii Maskell, which is an important citrus pest. I have a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Hons) from the Agricultural College, ANGRAU, Bapatla, India. My academic education and research during MS have inspired my passion for entomology, especially in IPM.
Through my research and work experience, I have gained knowledge of insect pest management, population dynamics, insect ecology, experimental setup, and hands-on experience in developing effective pest management strategies and studying insect-molecular biology. I have gained hands-on experience in both field and laboratory-based experiments. The opportunity to join the University of Georgia is an incredible privilege. My current research is focused on the IPM of Eriophyid mite (a vector of rose rosette disease) and its behavioral studies, which are important pests of rose plants. I’m passionate about learning new skills, which drives me to self-motivate and complete more challenging tasks. I hope this PhD education, along with research knowledge and skills gained, will be a step towards achieving my long-term career goals. I would like to acknowledge Dr. Mamoudou Setamou, who encouraged me to continue my studies, and extend a special thanks to Dr. Shimat V. Joseph for allowing me to pursue my PhD program at UGA.
