Representing AWE

The Women in Entomology Board are involved in organizing meetings,  events, seminars, professional development workshops, and coordinate mentoring opportunities for women pursuing a career in STEM fields.   

ALEX PAYNE

President

Alexandria (Alex) Payne is a PhD student in the lab of Dr. Juliana Rangel within the Department of Entomology. She is a part of the Fightin Texas Aggie Class of 2016 with a B.S. double major in
Bioenvironmental Sciences and Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. Her current research looks at how honey bee colonies can be impacted by invasive ant species. Alex wants to help more undergraduate women get involved in STEM research by providing mentorship and advice based on her previous experiences as an undergrad researcher at TAMU.​​

jaclyn martin

Vice President

Jaclyn Martin is a PhD student working with Drs. Ismael Badillo-Vargas and Keyan Zhu-Salzman in the Department of Entomology. Jaclyn received her M.S. in entomology and plant pathology and her B.S. in entomology from Oklahoma State University (Go Pokes!). Her project is over the biology of the insect vector Tagasodes orizicolus which causes direct damage to rice and transmits Rice hoja blanca virus to rice. A main passion of Jaclyn’s is to work with secondary students and their teachers to spark an interest of science in young women. In her free time, Jaclyn hangs out with her two cats, solves mysteries, and trains to be a contestant on Survivor. ​

Tara-kay jones

Director of finance 

​Tara-Kay Jones is a second year PhD student in the Vector Biology lab (advised by Ismael E. Badillo) and the Raul F. Medina lab. She studies insect-pathogen-plant interactions with the aim of further understanding how pathogens enhance their insect vectors fitness while maximizing spread. The Long-term goal of her research is to elucidate key mechanisms and molecular candidates that will be vital for application in genetic pest control, the current direction towards protecting the world’s plant resources. To fulfill her research goal, she is currently assessing the corn leafhopper’s fitness on corn lines in the presence and absence of Spiroplasma kunkelii (pathogen) infection to capture mechanisms that mediate active pest status and disease spread. Next, she plans to analyze genetic responses of the corn leafhopper to the invasion of the S. kunkelii then evaluate an RNA-mediated genetic control strategy on the same insect. Tara-Kay want to help local farmers by finding solutions to the problems they face with pest in the field. Outside of the science world, she enjoys a peaceful day on the beach relaxing in the sunshine or cooking and feeding the people around her.  

Leah buchman

Director of communication

Leah Buchman​ is a PhD student in the Department of Entomology. She graduated from Cornell University in 2016 with a B.S. in Entomology. She currently researches microbial biology and fungal endophyte-plant interactions associated with abiotic and biotic stresses on sorghum and soybean. Leah is a member of the Entomology Graduate Student Organization and a role model and mentor for other women. Leah is an avid reader, runner, and a big baseball fan!

Loren Rivera Vega

POST DOCTORAL Representitive 

Loren Rivera Vega is a postdoc in the Sword lab. She obtained her PhD in Entomology with a dual degree in International Agriculture and Development from the Pennsylvania State University. She is originally from Honduras and obtained her bachelor’s degree in agriculture at the Escuela Agrícola Panamericana (Zamorano). In 2011, she completed her master’s program at The Ohio State University, working on the comparative transcriptomics of North American and Asian ash (Fraxinus spp.) trees for identification of potential resistance to emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis). During her PhD she focused on understanding the effect of host plants on the composition of saliva in the cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni) and its impact on plant defenses. Now as a postdoc she is focusing on understanding the role of soil microbes in cotton interaction with biotic and abiotic stress, as well as the potential use of RNAi technology as a sustainable tool for pest management. Her research interests focus on understanding the factors that affect plant defenses against insect herbivores both above and belowground as well as the social impact of scientific advancement in developing countries. 

cecilia tamborindeguy

FACULTY advisor

Cecilia Tamborindeguy is an Associate Professor in the Department of Entomology. Her research interests lie in the field of, insect physiology and pathogen-insect-plant interactions from the molecular and mechanistic perspectives. Currently, she works on psyllids as vector of Liberibacter bacteria, and recently her research interests expanded to fire ants. She obtained her Agronomy Engineering, MS and PhD diplomas from the Ecole Nationale Superieure Agronomique de Toulouse in France. After her PhD, Cecilia received postdoctoral training under Dr. Stewart Gray in the Department of Plant Pathology at Cornell University studying virus transmission by aphids. Cecilia wants to support and mentor women and other underrepresented minorities in science. Although Cecilia truly enjoys reading, movies and traveling, for now she spends the majority of her free time helping her kids with homework.