PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Ana María Vélez Arango | Assistant Professor

Ph.D., Entomology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2013)

M.S., Entomology, Universidad Nacional de Colombia (2009)

B.S., Biology, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia (2006)

Phone: (402) 472-2152

Email: avelezarango2@unl.edu

Click here for Dr. Vélez Departmental Page

VISITING SCHOLARS AND POSTDOCS

Arnubio Valencia Jimenez | Visiting Scholar

Ph.D., Biological Sciences, Universidade de Brasilia UNB, Brasilia, Brazil (2009) 

B.S., Agronomy, Universidad de Caldas, Manizales, Colombia (1989) 

Email: avalenciajimenez2@unl.edu

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Molly Darlington | Ph.D. Student

B.S., Biological Sciences with minors in Plant Biology and Art History & Criticism, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2017)

Molly is studying the RNAi mode of action, with a focus on dsRNA uptake, in the western corn rootworm. Aside from her PhD research, she is interested in how RNAi and epigenetic mechanisms intersect and affect adaptation to stressors. In her free time, Molly enjoys gardening, specifically for the benefit of Nebraska’s beneficial insects, cycling on the MoPac Trail, and listening to podcasts discussing niche music subculture.

Email: mndarlington@gmail.com

Matthew Greiner | M.S. Student

B.S., Environmental Restoration Science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2019)

B.S., Water Science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2019)

Matthew is interested in understanding where monarch habitat can safely be created in Nebraska by studying the effects of pesticide exposure from Nebraska agricultural ecosystems on monarchs. In his free time Matthew likes to rock climb, play tennis, ski, backpack, and do stuff outside when he can.

Email: matthew.a.m.greiner@gmail.com

TECHNICIANS

Terence Spencer

B.S., Plant Protection, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

M.S., Entomology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Email: tspencer1@unl.edu

ALUMNI

Mariana Sanchez Londoño | M.S.

M.S., Entomology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2019)

B.S., Biology, Universidad de Caldas, Manizales, Colombia (2015)

Mariana is originally from Manizales, Colombia and earned her M.S. in Entomology from the University of Nebraska-LincoIn in 2019. She earned her B.S. in Biology from Universidad de Caldas, Colombia in 2015. Mariana's research focused on chemoreceptor genes, in particular gustatory receptors, in the western corn rootworm as potential targets for pest management. Mariana is currently a PhD student at the International Max Plank Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology in Marburg, Germany.

Matthew Welter | M.S.

M.S. Entomology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2019)

B.S., Agricultural  Biochemistry, Iowa State University (2016)

Matt’s project focused on western corn rootworm baseline susceptibility and adult response to dvSnf7 dsRNA, the first commercially available RNAi trait expressed in corn.  His research interests include insect resistance management and risk assessment of emerging and current insect management strategies.