Ms. Joanna Joy Fisher is well on her way to achieving her goals of becoming a top-notch research entomologist working to develop cost-effective biological alternatives to pesticides for controlling agricultural insect pests. Cheerfully Joanna adds, "I've had great opportunities here at OSU, including specialized entomology courses and access to terrific faculty mentors!" Arriving on the OSU campus fall 2008, as a transfer student from Portland Community College and prior high school home-schooling, Joanna was ready to make the most of her time here at OSU. Over the past two years, Joanna has worked with two Ph.D. research entomologists, Denny Bruck and Jana Lee at the nearby USDA Agricultural Research Service. Joanna's research culminates in receiving her Honors BS -- Bioresearch Research Interdisciplinary sciences program -- option specialization Pest Biology and Management and final thesis and seminar entitled: Survey of entomopathogenic fungi colonizing the rhizophere of small fruits and Christmas trees in the Willamette Valley, OR. "The results of Joanna's research will be of great value to growers interested in utilizing microbial control strategies for managing soil-dwelling arthropod pests in the Pacific Northwest and around the world," stated Dr. Bruck.
In April 2010, Joanna's presentation won first place in the undergraduate oral competition at the Entomological Society of America - Pacific Branch Meeting held in Boise, Idaho. Led by OSU Field Crop Entomologist and BugZoo Club Advisor, Dr. Sujaya Rao, Joanna joined several outstanding OSU students on the forefront of today's important entomological concerns. Joanna shares her passion for insects through active participation in OSU's BugZoo which maintains live arthropod collection and provides educational outreach programs for all. Joanna has maintained a 3.94 GPA and was recognized by the Oregon Seed Trade Association as a scholarship recipient and invited guest speaker at their annual meeting. She will be attending Cornell University pursuing Entomology PhD this fall.