Head of Virology & Zoology / Senior Entomologist
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Research interests/Areas of expertise
- Aphids and their transmission of potato viruses
- Taxonomic identification of aphids and plant pests
- Identification, management and epidemiology of honey bee pests and diseases
- Risk assessments, surveillance planning and outbreak management for quarantine insect pests of plants and honey bees
Biography
- 2005 – Present. Entomology Manager/Senior Entomologist, Virology and Zoology, SASA. I currently lead the entomology team at SASA. The team provide diagnoses and advice to SG plant and animal health policy/inspectors and the industry on a range of issues including aphid/virus epidemiology, quarantine insect pests and all aspects of honey bee health. We are involved in a number of research collaborations focussing on honey bee health and quarantine plant pests of concern to Scottish agriculture.
- 1999 – 2005. Diagnostician, Virology and Zoology, SASA. My main duties were identification of aphid species and examining soil samples for the presence of potato cyst nematodes. I was also involved in surveillance exercises and monitoring/eradication programmes. In this role, I developed extensive taxonomic skills for aphid, nematode and quarantine insect diagnostics and expertise in fieldwork and surveillance practices for insect pests and vector species.
- 1993- 1997. BSc (Hons) Zoology The University of Glasgow
SASA