Either we leave our descendants an endowment of zero poverty, zero fossil-fuel use, and zero biodiversity loss, or we leave them facing a tax bill from Earth that could wipe them out. – Johan Rockstrom
Biography
PhD Fellow with interest in plant biology and the physiological basis of plant-invertebrate interactions to develop holistic integrated pest management (IPM) strategies for use in agriculture. My area of focus is particularly Lepidopteran pests and other Agricultural entomology applications in crop protection encompassing biocontrol of invasive weeds & pests, sustainable agro-productions systems, environment conservation/management. My research targets IPM in crop and animal systems, quarantine protocols, development and efficacy studies of biological control agents towards reduced use of synthetic insecticides.
Medical Entomology experience in malaria epidemiology and entomology, vector biology and ecology, dynamics of vector occurrence and efficacy of vector control interventions i.e next generation nets, IRS, Larviciding
Background
Phd Fellow: Applied Entomology and Crop protection – Newcastle University, United Kingdom
Efficacy of Fungal Entomopathogenic Biopesticides in Management of Insecticide Resistance on the Tomato Leaf Moth (Tuta absoluta – Meyrick)
Msc Agriculture and Environmental science – Newcastle University, United Kingdom
Factors for Invasion and Distribution of Himalayan balsam (Impatiens Glandulifera) from riparian sites to woodlands: Case of Thornley Woodlandss, Dwernt Valley, North East England
Bsc Applied biology and Biotechnology – Technical University of Kenya
Project Title
Combating Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), on Solanaceous Vegetables Using Fungal Entomopathogens: An Integrated Pest Management Strategy
Project Summary
| The Tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta) (Meyrick, 1917), (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is a major devastating pest in tomatoes, estimated to cause 80% – 100% yield losses in both open field and green house tomato production. The pest’s feeding nature and quick development of resistance to most insecticides enables them to escape direct pesticide contact, and substantially limit chemical control efficacy. Biological control using Entomopathogenic Fungi (EPFs) based biopesticides is suggested as a potential winning strategy against the insect’s defences, due to its diverse modes of action with the advantage of host specificity. My research seeks to understand the factors limiting efficacy of chemical insecticides in Tuta absoluta, explore currently used IPM strategies, and determine synergetic/antagonistic interrelationships with natural host plant resistance and endophytic EPFs in an Integrated Pest Management strategy. |
Professional Experience
April 2019 – Sept 2021: Research Assistant (Mosquito vector biology and Entomology) at International Centre for Excellence in Malaria Research – Homabay, Kenya
Jan 2018 – April 2019: Associate Lecturer at Lukenya University, Makueni-Kenya – sustainable crop and animal production systems, Plant physiology and ecology, Crop pest-protection and IPM, Environment and Land Resource Management
Jan 2015 – Sept 2016: Intern then invasive species consultant at Centre for Agriculture Biosciences International (CABI), Nairobi Centre, Kenya
Awards
Commonwealth Split Scholarship Award for developing Countries: pursue PhD research at Newcastle University United Kingdom
Chevening scholarship Study Award for Commonwealth Countries: Masters Degree at Newcastle University
Publications
Ochwedo, K.O., Omondi, C.J., Magomere, E.O., Olumeh, J.O., Debrah, I., Onyango, S.A., Orondo, P.W., Ondeto, B.M., Atieli, H.E., Ogolla, S.O. and Githure, J., 2021. Hyper-prevalence of submicroscopic Plasmodium falciparum infections in a rural area of western Kenya with declining malaria cases. Malaria journal, 20(1), pp.1-8. Hyper-prevalence of submicroscopic Plasmodium falciparum infections in a rural area of western Kenya with declining malaria cases | SpringerLink
Rempelos, L., Baranski, M., Wang, J., Adams, T.N., Adebusuyi, K., Beckman, J.J., Brockbank, C.J., Douglas, B.S., Feng, T. and Greenway, J.D., 2021. Integrated Soil and Crop Management in Organic Agriculture: A Logical Framework to Ensure Food Quality and Human Health? Agronomy 2021, 11, 2494. Integrated Soil and Crop Management in Organic Agriculture: A Logical Framework to Ensure Food Quality and Human Health? (ncl.ac.uk)
Supervised By
Dr. Dave George: Email: david.george1@ncl.ac.uk, Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 5377 Staff Profile – School of Natural and Environmental Sciences – Newcastle University (ncl.ac.uk)
Dr. kirsty Mclnnes: Staff Profile – School of Natural and Environmental Sciences – Newcastle University (ncl.ac.uk)
Contact details
Email. j.o.olumeh2@newcastle.ac.uk or olumehjulius@gmail.com