May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. In the past year, numerous Asian American and Pacific Islander entomologists have earned ESA awards, been featured in ESA publications, or served in key volunteer roles.

May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, and the Entomological Society of America recognizes the important contributions to entomology made every day by scientists of Asian and Pacific Island heritage.

In the past year, numerous Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) entomologists have earned ESA awards, been featured in ESA publications, or served in key volunteer roles. Get to know these members and their accomplishments below:

Awards

Sajjan Grover, Ph.D., postdoctoral research associate, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, recipient of 2021 ESA Student Activity Award and selected for Rising Stars Symposium at Entomology 2021

Ashfaq A. Sial, Ph.D., associate professor and IPM coordinator, University of Georgia, selected to 2021 Class of ESA Science Policy Fellows

Caixing Xiong, Ph.D., postdoctoral researcher, Texas A&M University, recipient of 2021 ESA John Henry Comstock Award

Judy Wu-Smart, Ph.D., assistant professor and extension specialist, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, selected to 2021 Class of ESA Science Policy Fellows

Yan Yan, Ph.D., research/postdoctoral fellow, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, recipient of 2021 ESA John Henry Comstock Award and selected for Rising Stars Symposium at Entomology 2021

Volunteer Leaders

Hongmei Li-Byarlay, Ph.D., research assistant professor of entomology, Central State University, chair of ESA Diversity & Inclusion Committee and co-edited special collection on “The Road to Sociality: Integrated Concepts of Social Behavior in Insects” in Annals of the Entomological Society of America

Faith Oi, Ph.D., extension associate professor, University of Florida, ESA treasurer

Ramandeep Kaur Sandhi, Ph.D., global R&D scientist and principal investigator, insecticides, FMC Corporation, chair of the ESA Student Affairs Committee and recipient of 2021 ESA John Henry Comstock Award

Hojun Song, Ph.D., associate professor, Fulbright Scholar, Texas A&M University, selected as new co-editor-in-chief of Insect Systematics and Diversity

Work Showcased

Lieutenant Commander Hanayo Arimoto, Ph.D., medical entomologist and department head of vector control, U.S. Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit 5, featured in “Navy Entomologists: Protecting Sailors and Marines Around the World” and “How Five Entomologists Advanced Their Careers at an ESA Annual Meeting” on Entomology Today

Saumik Basu, Ph.D., postdoctoral research associate, Washington State University, authored “Complexity Untangled: For Plant Defenses, Pest Attack Order Matters” on Entomology Today

Priyadarshini Chakrabarti Basu, Ph.D., assistant professor, Mississippi State University, featured in Standout Early Career Professionals (ECP) series on Entomology Today, selected for ECP Recognition Symposium at Entomology 2021, authored “Fire and Insects: Similarities and Intersections Between Mother Nature’s Most Impressive Forces” in American Entomologist, Fall 2021

Rupesh Kariyat, Ph.D., associate professor, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, co-created new “Entomology for All” column in American Entomologist

Navneet Kaur, Ph.D., assistant professor and extension entomologist, Oregon State University, featured in “Profiles of ESA Member Diversity” in American Entomologist, Fall 2021

Fawad Z.A. Khan, Ph.D., assistant professor, Institute of Plant Protection, MNS University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan, and Shimat V. Joseph, Ph.D., associate professor, University of Georgia, research featured in “Clues in the Clay: Decoy Insect Larvae Reveal Predator Presence in Turfgrass” on Entomology Today

Manpreet Kohli, Ph.D., postdoctoral researcher, American Museum of Natural History,  featured in Standout Early Career Professionals (ECP) series on Entomology Today

Chow-Yang Lee, Ph.D., BCE, professor and endowed presidential chair in urban entomology, University of California, Riverside, research featured in “California Study Warns of Growing Insecticide Resistance in Cockroaches” on Entomology Today

Sangmi Lee, Ph.D., insect and mollusc collection manager and research specialist senior, Arizona State University, featured in “Profiles of ESA Member Diversity” in American Entomologist, Winter 2021

Anamika Sharma, Ph.D., assistant professor, Florida A & M University, authored “IPM Packages Streamline Crop-Pest Solutions in Developing Countries” and “Why Augmentative Biological Control Holds Promise for Advancing Agriculture in Developing Countries” on Entomology Today

Nan-Yao Su, Ph.D., distinguished professor of entomology, University of Florida, authored “Insects in Japanese Culture, and One That Saved the Country” in American Entomologist, Spring 2022

Qian “Karen” Sun, Ph.D., assistant professor, Louisiana State University, co-edited special collection on “The Road to Sociality: Integrated Concepts of Social Behavior in Insects” in Annals of the Entomological Society of America

Changlu Wang, Ph.D., extension specialist in Entomology, Rutgers University, research featured in “In Search for Effective Cockroach Lures, Apple and Blueberry Come Out on Top” on Entomology Today