Post-Doctoral Researcher Druciarek to Speak in Entomology and Plant Pathology Virtual Seminar

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Tobiasz Druciarek is a trained acarologist and has worked on several aspects of plant virus epidemiology and control for the past seven years.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences is hosting post-doctoral researcher and acarologist Tobiasz Druciarek in a virtual seminar today.

Druciarek is with the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at the University of Arkansas. He is a trained acarologist and has worked on several aspects of plant virus epidemiology and control for the past seven years. He is primarily interested in eriophyoid-transmitted plant viruses.

The seminar takes place from 3:30-5:20 p.m. via Zoom link:

• https://bit.ly/3sv3Gft
• Meeting ID: 810 5065 7798
• Passcode: Spring2021

Originally from Poland, he received his Ph.D. from Warsaw University of Life Sciences, where he studied taxonomy and biology of eriophyoid mites inhabiting roses. While completing his Ph.D., he described two new eriophyoid species, important pests for the cut flower rose industry.

He studied the reproductive potential of rose mites and provided evidence for interspecific hybridization among eriophyoid mites. His postdoctoral work includes the development of a protocol able to barcode mites and insect species independent of their life stage as well as to detect and quantify virus RNA, all in a single assay using individual specimens.

His current research is focused on virus-mite vector interactions, and replication of emaraviruses in mites and the identification of fungal and mite biological control agents against the vector of rose rosette disease.

The seminar is open to everyone.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among fewer than 3% of colleges and universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.