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R. Patrick Akers
R. Patrick Akers Education: Ph.D., Entomology, University of California, Berkeley, 1985. Dissertation: Olfactory Discrimination and Orientation by Female Ips paraconfusus Lanier (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). Major advisor: Prof. David L. Wood. B.S., Entomology, University of California, Berkeley, 1974. Experience: • California Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento, 1996 to present, Agricultural Biologist and Environmental Research Scientist. 1996-2002: worked on invasive weed programs, particularly surveying and mapping systems for weed populations, and developing policy analyses, management plans, and water quality monitoring program. 2002-2003: worked in the Biological Control Program on Russian thistle and water hyacinth surveys and releases of natural enemies, and on host range test lists for natural enemies of weeds targeted for biological control. 2003-2004: worked in the Agriculture and Environment Stewardship Program in the Executive Branch, acting as a liaison between the Department and the CALFED program. 2004-present: working in the Biological Control Program on water hyacinth and hyacinth weevil biology. • California Department of Pesticide Regulation, Sacramento, 1994 to 1996, Environmental Research Scientist. Investigated pest management practices in situations where pesticide use was in controversy; reported on pest management alternatives when a pesticide was under review; produced public relations material for award programs promoting integrated pest management; investigated patterns of pesticide use and pest management practices in California agriculture. • California Department of Food and Agriculture, Pest Detection and Emergency Projects, Lemon Grove, 1993-1994, Economic Entomologist. Worked in trapping and public awareness programs on the Africanized honey bee, responses to lesser foreign pests, trapping program for fruit flies, organized larval survey system for Cooperative Medfly Eradication Project in Los Angeles, helped organize and execute program to notify public in Camarillo, CA, about malathion bait treatment for the medfly. • Dept. of Entomology, U.C., Berkeley. Postdoctoral Research Associate with Dr. Wayne Getz, 1990-1993. Investigated the sensory electrophysiology of the general sense of smell in honeybees and cockroaches. • Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology. NIH NRSA Postdoctoral Research Fellow with Dr. Robert O'Connell, 1985-1990. Investigated the sensory electrophysiology of pheromone perception in the moth Argyrotaenia velutinana. Initiated patch clamp and membrane reconstitution studies of pheromone receptor proteins in the moth Manduca sexta. • Dept. of Entomology, U.C., Berkeley. Graduate Research Assistant with Dr. David Wood, 1981-1985. Thesis work on a) olfactory discrimination by bark beetles among the compounds in their pheromone, using behavioral assays, and b) mechanisms of orientation to odors. Developed assay methods for isolating compounds that control tunneling and ingestion. • Dept. of Entomology, U.C., Berkeley. Graduate Research Assistant with Drs. W. Jan A. Volney and William E. Waters, 1978-1980. Assisted in life table studies of western spruce budworm and studies of its community ecology. • Peace Corps, Belize, Central America. General Agricultural Entomologist, 1974-1976. Expanded reference collection of agricultural pests; provided extension services, including writing a reference manual on insecticides available in Belize; surveyed pests of corn and initiated research into the integrated pest management of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. • Dept. of Entomology, U.C., Berkeley. Lab Assistant with Dr. Louis A. Falcon, 1972- 1974. Collected field data on cotton plant growth and on herbivores and their natural enemies; monitored spread of insect virus in cotton fields; assisted in sampling and analyzing coverage of crop plants using a drift method to apply Bacillus thuringiensis.

AffiliationCalifornia Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento, 1996 to present; University of California, Berkeley (Ph.D., Entomolog
Label AbbreviationR.P. Akers
Other NamesR.P. Akers

     
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