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Home -> Department Directory ->Staff -> Kris A.G. Wyckhuys

Kris A.G. Wyckhuys

Mailing address:

University of Minnesota
Department of Entomology
219 Hodson Hall, 1980 Folwell Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108
Phone: 612-625-7055; Fax: 612-625-5299
E-mail: wyckh001@umn.edu

Curriculum Vitae (PDF format) Updated December, 2006

Education:

Doctor of Philosophy, Entomology, August 2005

Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, US

GPA: 3.79/4.0

Advisor: Dr. Robert J. O’Neil

Master of Science, Agricultural Engineering, July 2000

Faculty of Bioscience Engineering (FBE), University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium

High distinction, upper 5% graduating class (GPA: 3.81/4.0)

Advisor: Dr. Patrick De Clercq

Bachelor of Science, Bioscience Engineering, July 1997

Faculty of Bioscience Engineering (FBE), University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium

High distinction

Research interests:

Biological control, insect mass rearing, IPM in (sub-)tropical production systems, sustainable agriculture, landscape ecology, international agricultural development, ethno-entomology and traditional pest management

Employment History

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota (July 2005 – present)

• Host-specificity screening of parasitoids for release against the soybean aphid (Aphis glycines), an exotic pest affecting US soybean production
• Determination of abundance, life history and population dynamics of aphid species in native habitats, in order to predict possible non-target impacts of classical biological control efforts
• Evaluation of the importance of host- and plant-related semio-chemicals in triggering parasitism amongst candidate parasitoids
• Development of an ecologically-appropriate economic threshold for soybean aphid by incorporating levels of parasitism and predation as observed in field conditions

Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Entomology, Purdue University (2001-2005)

• Intensive fieldwork to determine the role of indigenous natural enemies in suppressing fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) pest outbreaks in Honduran small-scale maize production systems
• Quantification of the contribution of crop management activities to diversity and abundance of natural control agents within fields
• Use of spatial imagery analysis & vegetation classification to measure the contribution of agro-landscape composition to natural control in farmers’ fields
• Survey work in rural communities to assess farmers’ traditional knowledge and their agro-ecological understanding
• Social network analysis to quantify the diffusion of agro-ecological and pest management-related information on a community level
• Measurement of linkage between availability of appropriate ‘ecological tools’ in the farming environment and farmers’ technology adoption in pest management
• Additional study of the economic threshold level for soybean aphid in US soybean production

Environmental Consultant, Belconsulting, Belgium/Hungary (2001)

• Environmental consultant and auditor
• Development of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) for private and government services
• Project assistant, Technical assistance in the frame of the implementation of a waste management plan for Pest and Szolnok counties (Hungary), Flemish collaboration in European Community project

Graduate Research Assistant, FBE, Ghent University (1999-2000)

• Predation & parasitism trials to illuminate different facets of tri-trophic interactions between the egg parasitoid Trissolcus basalis, the predatory stinkbug Podisus maculiventris,  and the southern green stinkbug Nezara viridula
• Quality control associated with the screening of P. maculiventris  as an alternative host for T. basalis
• Research on the T. basalis host-location & acceptance process

Other Relevant Experience

Research Assistant, Entomology R&D Facility, Koppert BV, The Netherlands (1999)

• Use of synthetic P. maculiventris pheromones to guide/stimulate pest suppression in greenhouse conditions
• Optimization of commercial P. maculiventris and T. basalis rearing methods

Field Technician, Cattle Breeders’ Association, Veracruz (Mexico) (2000)

International Association of Agricultural Students (IAAS) exchange project

• Technical backstopping in pasture weed and pest management

Summer Intern, Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Farm, WV, US (1998)

• Field assistance in organic production of vegetables
• Assistance in research on ecology and medicinal use of Sweet Flag (Acorus americanus)

Summer Intern, Various production systems: wheat, grapes, leek, strawberry, greenhouse crops (tomato, cucumber) in Western Europe (1993-1997)

Professional Affiliation/Membership

• Royal Flemish Engineering Society (KVIV): 2000-present
• Entomological Society of America (ESA): 2001-present
• International Organization of Biological Control (IOBC/NRS): 2001-present
• Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development (AIARD), 2004-present
• Association for International Agricultural Extension and Education (AIAEE), 2004-present
• International Association for the Plant Protection Sciences, (IAPPS), 2005-present

Honors & Awards

• Robert A. Oakes/B & D. A. Weisburger Memorial Scholarship, January 2005
• Purdue Research Foundation (PRF) Fellowship, 2003-2005
• Indiana Pest Control Association Memorial Scholarship, January 2003
• Belgian American Educational Foundation Honorary Fellowship, June 2002
• Ross Fellowship, August 2001

Teaching Activities

University-level courses

Promoting IPM in subsistence agriculture: experiences from Honduras (Taught in Spanish)
Student Modules, Zamorano College of Agriculture (Honduras), Fall 2003

Undergraduate-level teaching

Promotion of IPM in subsistence agriculture: an overview of extension models and approaches.
Invited lecturer for ENTM 555 Biological Control, Purdue University, Spring 2004

Cuban Alternative Agriculture: a Latin American perspective.
Half-day workshop as part of Purdue University’s Maymester ‘Experiencing Cuba’ study-abroad program, Summer 2004 (Invited session)

Extension/Outreach

Participatory workshop on sound pest management in small-scale agriculture (in Spanish)
Yeguare Valley, Honduras, Fall 2003
4 rural communities covered, attendance of approx. 30-40 farmers

Publications

Refereed publications:

Wyckhuys, K. and O’Neil, R.J. Arthropod natural enemies in Honduran subsistence maize and their effects on the population dynamics of Spodoptera frugiperda Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). In review.

Wyckhuys, K. and O’Neil, R.J. Extra-field contribution to biological control of Spodoptera frugiperda Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Central American subsistence maize production. In review.

Wyckhuys, K. and O’Neil, R.J. Environmental context of local agro-ecological knowledge and its relationship to farmers’ pest decision making in rural Honduras. In review.

De Clercq, P., Wyckhuys, K, De Oliveira, H.N. and Klapwijk, J. 2002. Predation by Podisus maculiventris on different life stages of Nezara viridula. Fla. Entomol. 85(1): 197-202.

Wyckhuys, K. and O’Neil, R.J. Role of pesticide information sources and social connectedness in the diffusion of IPM in Honduran subsistence maize agriculture. In preparation

Wyckhuys, K. and O’Neil, R.J. Multivariate approaches to quantify the effects of assemblages of arthropod predators on infestation levels of Spodoptera frugiperda Smith (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) in Honduran subsistence maize. In preparation

Non-refereed publications:

Wyckhuys, K. 2005. Evaluating the relative contribution of training and ecological factors in the adoption of insect pest management technologies in Honduran smallholder communitiers. PhD Thesis. Purdue University.

Wyckhuys, K. and R.J. O’Neil. 2005. IPM in Honduran subsistence agriculture: a multi-focal perspective. CABI Biocontrol News and Information, 26(1).

Wyckhuys, K. 2000. Interaction between the egg parasitoid Trissolcus basalis  (Woll.) and the predatory stinkbug Podisus maculiventris (Say), two natural enemies of the phytophagous stinkbug Nezara viridula (L.). MSc Thesis. FBE, Ghent University.

Poster/oral presentations:

Wyckhuys, K. 2005. Social and ecological factors affecting the adoption of IPM and biological in Honduran smallholder communities. North Central Branch meeting, Entomological Society of America, West Lafayette, IN

Wyckhuys, K., O’Neil, R.J., Doyle, P. and Rueda, A. 2004. Within-field and landscape factors setting opportunities for conservation biological control in Honduran subsistence maize production systems. 52nd Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Salt Lake City, UT

Wyckhuys, K., O’Neil, R.J., Doyle, P. and Rueda, A. 2004. Pest management in Honduran subsistence maize production: contribution of IPM training and agro-ecological factors (in Spanish). 9th International Congress of Integrated Pest Management, San Salvador, El Salvador

Wyckhuys, K., O’Neil, R.J., Doyle, P. and Rueda, A. 2004. Pest management in Honduran subsistence maize production: contribution of training, agro-landscape composition and region-specific pest pressure. 22th International Conference of Entomology, Brisbane, Australia.

Wyckhuys, K., O’Neil, R.J., Doyle, P. and Rueda, A. 2004. Contribution of training and ecological factors on IPM adoption rates in Honduran small-scale agriculture. Sigma Xi Graduate Student Poster Competition, Purdue University.

Wyckhuys, K. 2004. Cuban Alternative Agriculture: a Latin American perspective. Cuba Colloquium, Purdue University. (Invited Talk)

Wyckhuys, K., O’Neil, R.J., Doyle, P. and Rueda, A. 2003. Contribution of training and ecological factors on IPM adoption rates in Honduran small-scale agriculture. 4th National IPM Symposium, Indianapolis, IN

Extension manuals:

Wyckhuys, K. 2003. Manual for pest control in Honduran subsistence farming systems (in Spanish). Extension manual developed for use in Honduran subsistence agriculture. 9 p.

Other professional activities

Symposium Coordinator, ‘Social and ecological contribution to the promotion of IPM and biological control’. ESA-NCB meeting, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, March 2005.

Training/workshops

June 2004: Insect Pathology. Midwest Institute for Biological Control. Urbana-Champaign, Illinois.

University Service

• Departmental Seminar Co-chair, Department of Entomology, Purdue University (2004-2005)
• Active member of Entomology Graduate Student Association, Purdue University (2001-2005)
• Proxy for Entomology Senator at Purdue Graduate Student Government (Spring 2004)
• Active participant at departmental activities, including annual Bug Bowl and Insectaganza (Purdue Entomology outreach events)

Community Service

• Certified nature guide (CVN, Belgium) (1995)
• Active member of local environmental organization and youth leader (Tielt, Belgium) (1985-2001)
• Active member of local youth environmental research team (1993-1997)

Special Skills

Language skills:

Fluent in Dutch, French, English & Spanish

Basic knowledge of German

Computer skills:

GIS software: Erdas Imagine, ArcView, FragStats

Vegetation classification software: TurboVeg

Additional Experience

• Assisted in region-wide project on distribution and habitat choice of Little Owl (Athena noctua) in Western Flanders (Belgium) under guidance of Dr. Friedel Nollet.
• Assisted in region-wide project on ecology and conservation of Red-Backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) in southern Belgium under guidance of Dries Van Nieuwenhuyse.
• Initiated efforts to explore the role of Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus) and Great Tit (Parus major) populations in biological control within European orchard settings.
• Active collaborator in a conservation project of Montagu’s Harrier (Circus pygargus) in wheat fields through southern Belgium and northern France.