
2025 Plants, Insects and Microbes Symposium
MAY 20, 2025
7:45AM-8:00PM
Academic Classroom and Laboratory Complex (ACLC) 012, 102 & 108
Presented by Auburn University College of Agriculture ENTOMOLOGY & PLANT PATHOLOGY DEPARTMENT
SPEAKERS
Dr. Clare Casteel
Dr. Casteel is an Associate Professor at Cornell University, specializing in plant-insect and plant-microbe interactions. Her research integrates chemical ecology and molecular biology to understand the mechanisms driving these interactions and to develop sustainable pest control strategies. Currently, Dr. Casteel’s research program focuses on two areas: 1) understanding the function of beneficial soil microbes and their impact on crop resilience to hemipteran insects and 2) deciphering the role of plant individual viral proteins and their plant targets in facilitating insect transmission of plant viruses and changes in plant chemistry.
Dr. Brock Harpur
Brock Harpur is an Associate Professor in the Entomology Department of Purdue. Brock arrived at Purdue after completing a National Science and Engineering Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow at the Donnelley Centre, the University of Toronto with Ben Blencowe. His work explores the evolution and genetics of honey bees. Brock completed his Ph.D. on population genomics of honey bees at York University with Amro Zayed as an Elia Research Scholar. He’s been a beekeeper for over 15 years.
Feature
ENPP Faculty
ENPP Staff
Affiliates, Emeriti & Visiting Guests
Graduate Students
ENPP Research
Contact
Entomology & Plant Pathology Dept.
301 Funchess Hall
Auburn Univ, AL 36849
(334) 844-5006
The Seminar Committee
Leonardo De La Fuente (lzd0005@auburn.edu)
Kathleen Martin (kmm0173@auburn.edu)
Clint Penick (czp0134@auburn.edu)
Neha Potnis (nzp0024@auburn.edu)