الخبرة
SCIENTIFIC OFFICER
My responsibilities include:
Setting up an entomology lab (layout, equipment, machines, consumables, paperwork)
Testing the efficacy of safer plant protection products (PPP) on target and non-target agricultural pests
Exploring the effect of PPPs on the behavior and biology of agricultural pests
Project coordination of two products in the development pipeline: nematicide and biocide against poultry mites
Analyzing and delivering results through reports and presentations
Revising commissioned studies to ensure alignment with OECD, EPPO, WHO and other guidelines
Creating new and maintaining existing national and international collaboration with universities and research centers
Providing scientific opinion and advice when needed
Updating the team on newly published research (summaries and reports)·Representing the company in international projects and platforms
Supporting the regulatory department in the introduction of new products in the MENA region (data collection, communication with authorities, market studies) and with organic notifications in EU countries
VISITING RESEARCHER
The aim of my research was to investigate the sensory physiology and morphology of individual neuronal cells responding to substrate vibrations in the ventral nerve chord of Halyomorpha halys adults
·Worked on the combined intracellular recording and staining technique
·Dissected adults and prepared the nervous tissue
·Used fluorescent microscope to visualize and morphologically characterize interneurons
·Performed physiological testing of neurons with vibration stimuli of different frequencies and intensities
VISITING RESEARCHER
The main purpose of my research was to assess the behaviour of the invasive Halyomorpha halys adults and nymphs upon exposure to insecticidal nets
·Recorded and assessed horizontal and vertical mobility and flight capacity of target insect
·Used video-tracking (EthoVision) and data acquisition (DASYLab) software
·Measured mortality of exposed insects and monitored their physical status
-Participated and assisted in other studies aiming at:
·Quantifying the effects of fluorescent powders used to mark H. halys
·Understanding whether the reproductive status and/or haplotypes of H. halys females influence their response topheromone-baited traps
·Investigating the behaviour relative to attracticidal spheres in fruit flies, Drosophila suzukii in semi-field trials
·Quantifying the behavioural effects of non-nutritive sugars as a potential toxicant for D. suzukii
·Testing trap effectiveness at capturing the spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula
التعليم
PH.D. IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
Dissertation title: ''Understanding the morphology, neurophysiology and behavior of the invasive Halyomorpha halys, for its integrated management (IPM) in agricultural ecosystems''
My research projects focused on enhancing sustainable pest management strategies of the target insect through studying its behavioral ecology, morphology and communication.
- Worked with various setups: electron and fluorescent microscopes, flight mills, harmonic radar, olfactometer, EthoVision, intracellular recordings, electrophoretic staining technique, marking insects, testing insecticide exposure responses
- 5 months collaboration with the National Institute of Biology in Ljubljana, Slovenia
- 6 months collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture in West Virginia, USA
- 5 scientific publications in international journals and 1 book chapter
- Participated in several national and international meetings and conferences
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MEDITERRANEAN ORGANIC AGRICULTURE
Thesis title: “Valorisation of the predator Green Lacewing, Chysoperla carnea s.l., in organic vineyards” (supervisors: Dr. Ferdinando Baldacchino
The aim of my research was to study the behavior of the target predator in an Apulian organic vineyard through:
- Evaluating the efficiency of a “Lacewing Egg Concentrator” (Csalomon®) on the oviposition performance and its effect on the control of the Grapevine Mealybug, Planococcus ficus
- Assessing the entomofauna diversity inside and nearby the vineyard agroecosystem to verify the incidence of C. carnea’s potential preys
Visiting researcher: Agenzia nazionale per le nuove tecnologie, l'energia e lo sviluppo economico sostenibile (ENEA),
Trisaia Research Centre, Italy/ 1 month
MASTER IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES (PLANT PRODUCTION)
Thesis title: “Valorisation of the predator green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea s.l., in organic vineyards”. (In equivalence to IAMB’s master’s degree, according to a Memorandum signed between Ministry of Agriculture of Lebanon and CIHEAM)
Title of review: “Seed Germination of Wild Medicinal Plants: The Case of Matricaria genus”
