Bayer ES, NPMA Announce Winner and Finalists of 'Young Scientist of the Year' Contest

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — Bayer Environmental Science, along with the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), at NPMA PestWorld announced the finalists and winner of the third Bayer Environmental Science “Young Scientist of the Year” contest. A panel of university and industry professionals determined the final awards.

• The “Young Scientist of the Year” is Ricky Vazquez, from the University of Florida, whose research focuses on how the nesting and foraging behaviors of Bigheaded Ants and Caribbean Crazy Ants affect the development of super colonies. Vazquez will receive a $2,500 scholarship and a $10,000 grant to further support his research.
• Finalist Dong-Hwan Choe, from the University of California-Riverside, is researching the necrophoric behavior of the Argentine ant and it implication on the horizontal transfer of slow-acting insecticides. Choe will receive a $1,500 scholarship.
• Finalist Nicola Gallagher, from Ohio State University, is conducting research to understand termite-mediated alteration to food items by the Eastern Subterranean Termite. Gallagher will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

One thousand dollars will also be donated to the general scholarship funds at these three universities. “We are thrilled to present these individuals, our future colleagues and the next generation of research talent, to the professional pest management industry,” said Gordon Morrison, contest director and Maxforce Insecticides market manager at Bayer ES. “As part of the ‘Backed by Bayer’ promise, we’re commitmed to dedicating resources to the academic community in support of these researchers, whose work will help shape the pest management industry’s future.”

The Bayer Environmental Science “Young Scientist of the Year” contest is a scholarship and grant program for graduate students to acknowledge and financially support exceptional research that advances the pest management industry.

Judges for this year’s contest were:

Dr. Roger Gold, professor of entomology, Texas A&M University

Dr. Philip G. Koehler, professor of entomology, University of Florida

Dr. Ed Vargo, professor of entomology, North Carolina State University

Dr. James Sargent, director of technical support and regulatory compliance, Copesan Services

Joey Harris, vice-president of sales and service, Cook’s Pest Control

Dave Taylor, technical director, Antimite Termite and Pest Control

Dr. Nick Hamon, director of development and technical services, Bayer Environmental Science