We’re excited to welcome two new PhD students to the lab, strengthening our work across ecological and molecular dimensions of plant–virus–vector systems.
Richard Smith joined the lab in August 2025 as a part-time PhD student in the Department of Plant, Soil, and Environmental Sciences at West Texas A&M University. Richard also serves as Assistant Vice President for Risk and Compliance at WTAMU. His doctoral research focuses on developing ecology-based integrated pest management (IPM) strategies for thrips and tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV).
Rohith Sasi, an Erasmus Mundus Scholar, began his PhD in Spring 2026 in the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University. His research focuses on molecular interactions within the TSWV–tomato–thrips pathosystem, with particular emphasis on the mechanisms governing virus transmission and host manipulation.
Welcome to the lab, Richard and Rohith—we’re excited to have you both on board.