Statement of Research Interests Barbara AMOAH - Research, Extensi… · Statement of Research...

Statement of Research Interests– Barbara AMOAH

In the hush forest farming community I grew up, I saw the beauty of many insects and the

troubles they brought like sickness to people and devastation of crops in farms and barns. I was

just curious and conflicted. When I finally figured out a path in Entomology research, I have felt

at home since. My vision and dedication have gone beyond a decade, research work pursuing

more options of safe, sustainable and environmentally friendly pest control methods for

Integrated Pest Management. My research activities have been about non-chemical control

alternatives. Through my research, I challenge myself to answer questions and provide solutions

for related industries in meeting the needs of communities.

My most recent research work, 2016–2019, at South Carolina State University, is a

USDA-funded program researching the use of ozone and mating disruption techniques as

effective potential alternative pest control methods to manage stored product insect pests. I have

been evaluating the susceptibility of the life stages of the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae, the

merchant grain beetle, Oryzaephilus mercator, and the cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne,

to various doses and exposure times of ozone to establish dose-time mortality relationships. With

the mating disruption studies, our findings have established that a disruption event in the

cigarette beetle, which results in females going unmated, reduces egg-laying and ultimately the

overall population is reduced or goes extinct. We have 7 publications regarding the findings of

our work. Through the program, I recruited, mentored and trained 15 undergraduate students, 5

of which have gone into graduate studies and the rest soon to graduate.

Between 2012 and 2016, during my Ph.D. program at Kansas State University, I was

involved in a USDA grant program, to determine and establish one or more effective alternatives

to methyl bromide fumigation to prevent and control infestations of the ham mite, Tyrophagus

putrescentiae, in commercial dry-cured ham facilities and in other high-value food processing

industries. I was responsible for the research on monitoring populations of the ham mite, traps

for the mites, orientation behavior of the mites, and sampling techniques toward developing IPM

programs for the mite. I developed a trap to effectively detect and monitor mites’ populations in

commercial ham facilities. I investigated factors influencing mites’ orientation and I developed

sampling plans for the mites. My monitoring-based studies is helping ham facilities managers

make decisions as to where to deploy traps and when to implement a management method based

on the trap capture and sampling outcomes. I studied the efficacy of some GRAS compounds as

alternatives to protect country hams from mites. Combined with results from other collaborators,

a special fabric netting to hang and protect hams from mites during the aging process was created

with patent pending.

I also investigated biological control as a method to control the two-spotted spider mite,

Tetranychus urticae on lima bean plants using the predatory mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis. We

determined the effect of plant spacing and predator-prey ratio on dispersal and foraging

efficiency of the predatory mite on the two-spotted spider mite. Our findings suggested that point

releases of the predatory mite at the standard 1:10 predator–prey ratio should be effective where

pots with plants are touching. However, if gaps in plant rows exist, even large numbers of

predators may not be sufficient to protect parts of the crop unless predators are released at shorter

fixed points within the crop.

At the Natural Resources Institute of the University of Greenwich, United Kingdom

between 2009 and 2010, I researched the effect of selected pesticidal plants: Tephrosia vogelii,

Tephrosia candida, Tithonia diversifolia, and Vernonia amygdalina on two major pests of

cowpea: the legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata and the cowpea bruchid, Callosobruchus

maculatus. The identification of some of the plants I evaluated as being effective on the cowpea

pests will account for a reduction in the use of synthetic chemicals on cowpea and many other

crops and the associated negative environmental impacts especially where pesticide pollution is

on the increase. The results of our research which was published in the Journal of Agricultural

and Food Chemistry have influenced many scientific researches considering the number of times

our findings have been cited, 55 times.

From 2006–2009 during my graduate studies for my Masters, at University of Science

and Technology, I investigated the insecticidal activity of a local plant, Thevetia peruviana, on

the major insects of cowpea. My research was the first to investigate T. peruviana on cowpea

insect pests: aphids, Aphis craccivora, Flower thrips, Megalurothrips sjostedti, legume pod

borer, M. vitrata, pod sucking bugs including the coreid bugs, Anoplocnemis curvipes and the

spiny brown bug, Clavigralla spp, and the cowpea bruchid, C. maculatus. Our findings

indicated that T. peruviana extracts could replace synthetic chemicals used in managing insect

pests of cowpea.

During my undergraduate studies, I investigated the generic status of the stored product

insect pest, C. maculatus. My task was to find out whether space (distance) had caused any form

of generic variation, resulting in the development of ecotypes within the cowpea seed beetle.

Though I have not written grant applications for research and programs funding, my

qualifications, experiences, and achievements over the years, alongside my associate degrees in

Financial Management and Human Resource Management, have all together positioned me to be

a strong candidate for research grants if I am offered a position that qualifies me to write for

grants. I must add that I have written and won some grants for some charity programs I advance.

I have had training and worked in research institutions reputable in Africa, Europe and

here in the United States. I am strongly positioned to build new global research collaborations

and partnerships for my department. My track record, relationship with the researchers in these

institutions, and the kind of researchers who have been citing my co-authored publications are

strong evidence to this.

With pests responding to environmental changes, an expert has to continuously study

their pests of interests, and I aim to continuously develop my knowledge and skills to respond to

new challenges, research discoveries, ideas and technologies. I approach work with new

questions. I have a curious and open mind, with an interest to explore new frontiers utilizing my

passion, skills and knowledge, in line with my vision. I desire to recruit, mentor, and train

students. I desire to make research understandable to diverse audience, and to improve the

movement of successful research from lab to field.

Statement of Extension Interests– Barbara AMOAH

I have spent most of my academic training and career in research. I have had minimal

experiences in extension, but I have a very strong interest in extension because I desire to be

actively involved and to witness the side that deals with “sales” and application of research

findings, which will effectively help me improve as a researcher.

As a researcher, who is an active journal reviewer, who has presented several research

findings and information at conferences and to students, I am already well positioned to

effectively recommend or sell products and solutions coming from scientific research work to

industries and communities.

I have a passion for experiencing new frontiers, so I am lased up for travels to different

fields or markets to get research outcomes working for communities and industries.

From 2012–2016, during my Ph.D. studies, I travelled to commercial facilities in

different towns to sell our lab studies outcome to them, not for commercial benefits, but to

enable us gain their cooperation to conduct effective research in real-time environment. I

developed a prototype trap and sampling plans for monitoring populations of arthropod pests in

commercial cured-ham, grocery and pet food facilities. Together with my supervisor, we

managed to sign up some commercial facilities. This enabled us to transfer this knowledge and

research findings to industry. They and additional ones have subsequently happily adopted and

implemented some of my research findings. An example is the use of the prototype trap I

invented that maximizes the capture of ham mite, which eventually has resulted in a commercial

trap provider adapting it for commercial production. Another example is the sampling plans for

monitoring populations of ham mite which I invented. This is helping facilities managers to

fumigate when needed instead of on scheduled time.

From 2005–2009, I was involved in farmers education in Ghana, Africa. My work took

me to the farms, where I persuaded farmers to adopt methods identified out of research, in their

farms. Over 90% of the farmers I dealt with were illiterates, but I was able to effectively gain

their trust, got them to change their ways and go with what I have come to promote, and take

them through the process of implementation. Farmers saw higher yields and lesser damage

during storage. Some of the new methods I promoted to them were new methods of fertilizer

applications, crop spacing, and new methods of pest control.

I am motivated and committed to making research findings more accessible,

understandable and adopted by industry and communities. My ultimate goal in extension is to

communicate research of mine and others to stake-holders and policy-makers to provide the most

benefit to those that need it.

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY AND STATEMENT – BARBARA AMOAH

If I have any established philosophies of teaching, it is that I must treat each of my class

as a wholesome unit yet personalize teaching to suit each student. Thus, I must enter into a new

class with an open mind, and a genuine interest to first know who my students are and what they

know directly or remotely about what I am going to be teaching them. And to consistently make

them understand that the end goal in learning what I teach them is not just to make them experts

in knowing it, but also for them to become problem solvers using their expertise. The latter, I

derive from my experience as a researcher who has notable success considering my publications

and the citations they have attracted from other scientists.

It is my personal belief that every student enters a class with the objective to learn

something new, to understand better what they have encountered and with the expectation that

the teacher is the best helper. But I have been a student before, and with these same objectives

and expectations, I will walk out of a class disappointed and my interest reduced to how to pass

the exams. And there are classes I will walk out so eager to return, an interest beyond passing an

exam. I have strived to be a teacher whose presentation enables the students feel and connect the

relevance of what is taught to their current and future interests. One way I approach this is by

building a conversation that starts from something they are very familiar with, leading it into the

reason why learning what they have to learn with me is relevant. For instance, in introducing

students to the stored product insect pest, the rice weevil, I start off by asking them their favorite

cereals for breakfast, track back to what it is made from through discussions, and challenge them

to imagine if the grain is infested by a pest, what kind of cereal it will be, and how they can only

get a better cereal if they know the pest so well, for instance its lifecycle, so they can figure out

how to keep it out of their favorite cereal.

It is important for me to make my students know I am keen to learn about what they

know, I value their knowledge and I am there to work with them to enrich it. Sometimes, it is by

asking basic questions and building my introduction on their answers. Sometimes it is by

introducing the subject in a way to spark their curiosity and build the lectures through their

curious questions. It is about creating an interactive learning environment where they are

encouraged to be inquisitorial, to question everything and to attempt to answer their own

questions and that of others.

I believe effective communication is an utmost asset as a teacher. I also believe that

effective communication is not only about how you learn to present a course, but more

importantly, how you foremost learn who your audience is, and out of that determine the most

effective communication method. I strive consistently to be faster and wittier when it comes to

learning who my students are. So, I keep an open mind and plan different delivery methods for

different possible audience. This helps me individualize the approach to learning for different

group of students of my class.

I started my classroom experience as a teacher very early in my life. After high school, I

was recruited and trained for a teaching job in an elementary school. After my undergraduate

degree, I was recruited as a Teaching and Research Assistant in the same University. When I

went to the United Kingdom for a postgraduate degree, I had a teaching job at a high school.

During my Ph.D. degree at Kansas State University, I taught graduate and undergraduate classes.

As a Postdoctoral Research Associate at South Carolina State University, I have been teaching

undergraduate classes. There are challenges in effort to engage students but one thing that helps

is the relationship you build with your students, one that makes them feel respected and attracts

their respect, one that projects discipline and sense of purpose but in an atmosphere where the

students enjoy the teaching and value its importance simultaneously.

I have made it a point to consistently improve myself and my teaching skills. Guest

lecturers and field trips are some of the opportunities for me to observe how my students respond

to different methods and environments. Sitting in lectures of other teachers, attending various

conference presentations, are additional opportunities I utilize. Questions my students ask shape

my approach to the next lecture. With a comments box in my class, I encourage my students to

evaluate me and comment on my teaching methods. I invite my peers to sit in my class when

they can, and give me their criticism, not the praise. At the beginning of the semester, I have my

students fill out a pre-evaluation form as a starting point for me to know their expectations and

learning styles. I ask for evaluation at the end of the semester.

In my class, I have included the use of a combination of hands-on learning, group

assignments, guest lecturers, field trips, take-home assignments, reading assignments, class

presentations, and announced and unannounced tests and quiz. I am always happy and curious to

discover new approaches I can add on. The end goal is to be a teacher who raises the curiosity

and solidifies the passion of her students to produce out of them future scientists who impact our

world.

STATEMENT OF TEACHING INTERESTS – BARBARA AMOAH

I mentioned in my Teaching Philosophy and Statement document attached to this one that

I utilize a combination of the following in my class; hands-on learning, group assignments, guest

lecturers, field trips, take-home assignments, reading assignments, class presentations, and

announced and unannounced tests and quiz.

I will be grateful if given the opportunity to teach courses that will spark and build the

interests and curiosity of students on the need for responsible pest management, preparing them

for scientific research or the job market. I come with an open mind and a passion to contribute to

enrich what students get from the courses I will be assigned to teach. Knowing the module of

each course I am assigned to teach, I shall offer suggestions if need be and whole-heartedly serve

the students and the department following approved module.

I have experience teaching postgraduate classes at Kansas State University. The courses I

taught are Biological control and Insects of Stored Products.

The Biological Control course that I taught went into the theory and practice of biological

control with an emphasis on natural enemies of insect pests. The course also discussed the

relationship and importance of insect ecology and integrated pest management to biological

control. It prepared the students for practical hands-on experience in managing pests with

biological agents such as predators, parasitoids, and pathogens. Specific activities I undertook

with students during this course were group discussions of various topics and carrying out

biological control experiments in the greenhouse. Findings of the experiments were published in

the Journal of Biocontrol Science and Technology.

The Insects of Stored Products course I taught dealt with the biology, ecology, and

behavior of stored product insects and current practices involved in their control in stored grains

and other commodities, and best practices to prevent pest infestations. Students were equipped

with knowledge of various pests of stored products and the control methods that are effective for

these pests. Some activities I undertook with students during the course were identification of

common stored product pests, discussing the life cycles and subsequent damage caused by these

pests. Students also got to lead discussion sessions on topic(s) assigned to them.

I have taught undergraduate classes in South Carolina State University, Kansas State

University and the University of Science and Technology in Ghana. I have taught the following

courses: Plant Physiology, Botany, Agricultural Entomology, Insect Pest Management, Insect

Ecology, Plant Pathology, General Entomology, and Economic Entomology.

In Plant Physiology and Botany, students familiarized themselves with interactions

involved in photosynthesis, plant structure, growth and development, plant movement, responses

of plants to environmental factors, plant taxonomy and other aspects of plant biology. Other

courses I taught discussed concepts in Entomology including but are not limited to economic

thresholds, sampling plans, plant resistance to insects, pest control methods, and pesticide and

resistance management.

If the department has interest and the need arises, there are other courses I believe I am

competent and prepared to teach students.

At the post-graduate level at Kansas State University, I was prepared to also handle the

following courses I took: Advanced Integrative Behavioral Ecology, Insect Taxonomy, Insect

Ecology, Insect Physiology, Molecular Entomology, and Insect Pest Management.

At the post-graduate level, I took the following courses at the University of Greenwich in

England which I believe I am well prepared to teach if need be: Conservation Ecology, GIS and

Remote Sensing for Natural Resources, Tools for Sustainability, Climate Change and Ecological

Foot printing, and Environmental Impact Assessment.

From the University of Science and Technology in Ghana, I took the following courses

which I also can teach if need be: Soil Science, Crop Production, Weed Science, Plant Disease

Control, and Animal Production (poultry, swine, cattle, sheep and goats).

As I have already demonstrated in my Teaching Philosophy and Statement document, I

have strived to be a teacher whose presentation enables the students feel and connect the

relevance of what is taught to their current and future interests.

DIVERSITY STATEMENT – BARBARA AMOAH

I am uniquely qualified to encourage, promote and present diversity for this noble

institution. Firstly, I am a woman, secondly, I am a black race, thirdly, I am an immigrant,

fourthly, I was born and raised in a poor rural community, fifthly, I have studied in universities

and worked in three different continents, sixthly, I have held jobs from the least servant to a

manager and lastly I have broken the barriers to be a globally known scientist with contributions

valued by the scientific community of entomologists. I am very passionate and committed to the

promotion of diversity partly because of who I am and partly because of experiences.

A popular native food called fufu is dipped in soup and swallowed. To us, the natives, it

tastes so good, but trying the same soup with different servings that we can chew and experience

the taste better, it does not taste as good as the fufu which is swallowed. People from my

community, couldn’t really tell why. It took someone who is not from the country nor the race, to

taste and offer the most persuasive reason that still exists today, “I think it is because fufu does

not interfere with the taste of the soup!”, she stated after trying variety of dishes.

I share this story because it is one of the magics diversity brings. The same kind of people

most of the time have the same viewpoint or oversight, so ideas are not robustly challenged for

the very best idea to emerge. Worst-of, sometimes the wrongs remain unknown. So as scientists

and institutions solving problems and training generational problem solvers, diversity is an

indispensable weapon and we must be interested in promoting and improving diversity.

I have been promoting literacy in some rural communities in Africa, including the

community in which I was born and raised. I was awarded a Phi Kappa Phi Literacy Project

grant to support my initiative. In middle schools where a great percentage of girls drop out, my

project was able to promote retention and encourage better academic results for the girls. In these

communities, poor already, they say the place for a girl is at the kitchen, I am inspiring the girls

and young women with my own story, mentoring some, providing study, career, feminine health

advice, guidance and materials to help them achieve academic excellence and break the barriers.

Between 2012 – 2016 when I was a student at Kansas State University, KSU, I got deeply

involved in activities and programs that gave me the opportunity to speak to people of lesser

representation, provide guidance, encouragement and sometimes support. Some programs are,

Open House and Family Day events where I talked to prospective students, parents and children

from all backgrounds about the prospects in KSU in general and Entomology in particular.

In my years at Kansas State University, I joined the American Association of University

Women, AAUW, and served as the Newsletter Coordinator. Through newsletters, we provide

women inspiration news, advice and information to empower, support and encourage female

university students and staff, and also attract more women to join the university community.

In my years of service to the Historically Black, Predominantly Undergraduate South

Carolina State University, I have served as a Freshman Care Center Advisor. I took a role in

student retention, encouraging students and providing necessary assistance to reduce the dropout

rates. Working with mostly First-Generation College students, I employed and mentored some of

them in my lab. I am proud to say some of my mentees and student employees have gone on to

pursue graduate studies in other institutions. I have worked with students under the Minorities in

Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences, MANNRS.

It is my passion and part of my conviction, so, I will continue serving in any identifiable

area in the academic community, to promote diversity, using my personal experiences to

encourage those challenged, and my knowledge to influence the creation of a fair and equitable

system that attracts people from diverse backgrounds and identities, including least represented

groups. I will work to pursue funds and programs to actively recruit, train and mentor women

and minority-race students. I am also interested in building research collaboration with

institutions in other places different from the environment and community my research team and

students are familiar with.

In conclusion, to me, diversity is not an act of kindness to give underrepresented people a

chance. Diversity is an indispensable weapon needed to robustly enrich the solutions and ideas

we create, by training and including the skills, knowledge and perspectives of underrepresented

people.

Curriculum vitae - Barbara A. Amoah April 2019 Page 1 of 10

Curriculum Vitae

Barbara A. Amoah, Ph. D.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 785-320-0697

EDUCATION

Ph.D. in Entomology, 2016

• Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA

• Dissertation: Monitoring populations of the ham mite, Tyrophagus putrescentiae

(Schrank) (Acari: Acaridae): research on traps, orientation behavior, and sampling

techniques. GPA 4.0

M.S. in Crop Protection, 2011

• Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana

• Thesis: Efficacy of ethanolic extract of Thevetia peruviana (pers.) K. Schum. root in the

control of major insect pests of cowpea, Vigna unguiculata

M.S. in Natural Resources, 2010

• The University of Greenwich, Chatham, England

• Thesis: Efficacy of some selected pesticidal plants on Maruca vitrata (Lepidoptera:

Pyralidae) and Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) of cowpea, Vigna

unguiculata

Diploma (Associate Degree) in Financial Management, 2009

• Institute of Commercial Management, Bournemouth, England (Distinction)

Diploma (Associate Degree) in Human Resource Management, 2009

• Institute of Commercial Management, Bournemouth, England (Credit)

B.S. in Agriculture (Honors Degree), 2006

• Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.

• Thesis: The generic status of Callosobruchus maculatus (F) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

from two agro-ecological zones of Ghana

mailto:[email protected]


RESEARCH WORK

Postdoctoral Research Associate, April 2016–March 2019

Department of Biological and Physical Sciences, South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC

I managed the lab, prepared lab sessions, and graded lab and lecture assignments. I

investigated the use of ozone and mating disruption techniques as potential alternative

methods to manage stored product insect pests. The focus was on the rice weevil,

Sitophilus oryzae, the cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne, and the merchant grain

beetle, Oryzaephilus mercator, because they are increasingly becoming more difficult to

control. This is partly because of the ban of methyl bromide, and partly the development

of resistance. These pests are major pests of whole grains such as wheat, corn, barley,

oats, rice and legumes, processed foods, grain-based products, and dried fruits and nuts.

Graduate Research Assistant, January 2012–April 2016

Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS

Collaborations with other entomologists, food scientists and agricultural economists at

Kansas State University, Mississippi State University and Oklahoma State University.

The long-term goal of the project was to work with the food industry to determine and

establish one or more effective alternatives to methyl bromide fumigation to prevent and

control infestations of the ham mite, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, in commercial dry-cured

ham facilities and in other high-value food processing industries.

Graduate Student, September 2009–September 2010

Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham, U.K.

In Africa, the harsh economic realities, caused by low productivity and the removal of

government subsidies on agricultural goods including importation of pesticides, and the

dangers associated with the use of these pesticides, have increased the need to explore

and develop new sources of chemical compounds from plants which are non-toxic,

biodegradable, and environmentally benign. With the Natural Resources Institute (NRI),

of the University of Greenwich, United Kingdom, my task was to study the effects of

selected pesticidal plants on cowpea pests. In Africa, it is estimated that approximately

200 million people consume cowpea.

Teaching and Research Assistant, October 2006–September 2009

Faculty of Agriculture, University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

Because of the many insect pests that attack and damage the cowpea crop on the field and

in store, the growers in Africa misuse and abuse many synthetic insecticides in the

attempt to control the devastation of the pests. This has yielded problems including

resistance. These problems necessitated the search for safer effective alternatives.

Undergraduate Student (Final Year), 2006

Faculty of Agriculture, University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

During my undergraduate studies, I investigated the generic status of the stored product

insect pest, Callosobruchus maculatus. This was necessary to guide plant breeders and

crop protectionists in Ghana to develop zone specific varieties and control measures for

the pest.


TEACHING WORK

Postdoctoral Research Associate, April 2016–March 2019

South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC

I gave lectures and lab on Plant Physiology to undergraduate students.

Research Assistant, January 2012–April 2016

Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS

I gave lectures and lab in Biological Control and Insects of Stored Products to graduate

students. And for the undergraduate, I handled Economic Entomology and General

Entomology.

Instructor, October 2006–September 2009

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana

I gave lectures and labs in Botany, Plant Physiology, Agricultural Entomology, Insect

Pest Management, Insect Ecology, Nematology, and Plant Pathology to undergraduate

students. I assisted senior year students in their projects and dissertations/theses

EXTENSION WORK

Research Assistant, January 2012–April 2016

Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS

I travelled to commercial facilities in different towns to promote our lab research findings

to facilities managers, to gain their corporation to implement and evaluate our research in

their facilities. I subsequently travelled to collect data and do assessments.

Student and later Research Assistant, July 2005– September 2009

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana

I was involved in farmers’ education in Ghana, Africa. My work took me to the farms,

where I persuaded farmers to adopt methods identified out of research, in their farms.

COMMUNITY SERVICE AND OUTREACH

Journal Peer Reviewer

1. Biological Control

2. Crossing Borders

3. Journal of Economic Entomology

4. Journal of Medical Entomology

5. Journal of Stored Product Research

Service to Professional Associations

1. Secretary and Treasurer, International Association of Black Entomologists, 2017 to date

2. Volunteer, Entomological Society of America National Meeting, Minneapolis, MN,

USA, 2015


3. Volunteer, Entomological Society of America Branch Meeting, Manhattan, KS, USA,

2015

4. Volunteer, Entomological Society of America National Meeting, Knoxville, TN, USA,

2012

Service to Universities

1. Freshman Care Center Advisor, South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC, USA,

2017–2019

2. Member, Insect Zoo Committee, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA, 2015–

2016

3. Treasurer, Popenoe Entomology Club, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA

2014–2015

4. Member, Department of Entomology Awards Committee, Kansas State University,

Manhattan, KS, USA, 2013–2014

5. Secretary, Popenoe Entomology Club, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA

2013–2014

6. Department of Entomology Representative, Graduate Student Council, Kansas State

University, Manhattan, KS, USA, 2013–2014

Service to other Associations

1. Board Chair, Sem Fronteiras Charity Organization, Ghana, 2015 to date

2. Newsletter Coordinator, American Association of University Women, Manhattan Branch,

Manhattan, KS, USA, 2013–2016

ACADEMIC, PROFESSIONAL AND SCHOLARLY SOCIETIES

1. Entomological Society of America

2. International Association of Black Entomologists

3. American Association of University Women

4. The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi

5. American Association for the Advancement of Science

SCHOLARSHIPS, AWARDS, AND HONORS

1. Outstanding Journal Reviewer for the Journal of Stored Product Research, 2018

2. President Prize, Second Place for Poster Presentation at the 25th International Congress of

Entomology, Orlando, FL, USA, September 2016

3. Recognized Journal Reviewer for Biological Control, 2016

4. Graduate Professional Development, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA,

2016

5. Fellow, United States Borlaug Summer Institute on Global Food Security, Purdue

University, West Lafayette, IN, USA, June 2015


6. Fred Clute Scholarship for Research in Integrated Pest Management, Kansas State

University, Manhattan, KS, USA, 2015

7. International Coordinating Council Scholarship for Underrepresented Populations,

Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA, 2015

8. The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi Literacy Grant, 2015

9. Graduate Teaching Assistant Achievement in Professional Development, Kansas State

University, Manhattan, KS, USA, 2015

10. Graduate Professional Development, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA,

2015

11. PepsiCo/New York Academy of Sciences “Journey through Science” Event, NYC, NY,

USA, December 2014

12. Floyd Holmes Scholarship for Applied Research Addressing Practical Problems. Kansas

State University, Manhattan, KS, USA, 2014

13. President’s Prize, Second Place for Poster Presentation, Entomological Society of

America National Meeting, Portland, OR, USA, 2014

14. Graduate Student Council Travel Awards for Professional Development Events, Kansas

State University, Manhattan, KS, USA, Fall 2012, Summer 2014, and Fall 2014.

15. The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi Love of Learning Award, 2013

16. President’s Prize, Third Place for Oral Presentation, Entomological Society of America

Branch Meeting, Rapid City, SD, USA, 2013

17. United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), Commonwealth

Shared Scholarship for M.S. Degree, through the University of Greenwich, England

(2009–2010)

PUBLICATIONS

Articles in Refereed Journals

1. Amoah, B., and R. Mahroof. 2019. Ozone as a potential fumigant for the control of

Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in wheat. Journal of Economic

Entomology , toz071, https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toz071

2. Amoah, B. A., R. M. Mahroof, A. R. Gerken, and J. F. Campbell. 2019. Effect of

delayed mating on longevity and reproductive performance of Lasioderma serricorne

(Coleoptera: Anobiidae). Journal of Economic Entomology, 112: 475–484

3. Amoah, B., and R. Mahroof. 2018. Susceptibility of the life stages of cigarette beetle,

Lasioderma serricorne (F.) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae) to ozone. Journal of Stored Product

Research, 78:11–17

4. Mahroof, R., B. Amoah, and J. Wrighton. 2018. Efficacy of ozone against the life

stages of Oryzaephilus mercator (Coleoptera: Silvanidae). Journal of Economic

Entomology 111: 470–481

5. Amoah, B., D. Hagstrum, B. Subramanyam, J. Campbell, M. W. Schilling, and T.

W. Phillips. 2017. Sampling methods to detect and estimate populations of Tyrophagus

https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toz071


putrescentiae (Schrank) (Sarcoptiformes: Acaridae) infesting dry-cured hams. Journal of

Stored Product Research 73: 98–108

6. Amoah, B., M. W. Schilling, and T. W. Phillips. 2017. Physical factors influencing

capture of Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acari: Acaridae) with food-baited traps.

Journal of Insect Behavior 30: 544–562

7. Amoah, B., M. W. Schilling, and T. W. Phillips. 2016. Monitoring Tyrophagus

putrescentiae (Acari: Acaridae) with traps in dry-cured ham aging rooms. Environmental

Entomology 45: 1029–1039

8. Abbar, S., B. Amoah, M. W. Schilling, and T. W. Phillips. 2016. Efficacy of selected

food-safe compounds to prevent infestation of the ham mite, Tyrophagus putrescentiae

(Schrank) (Acarina: Acaridae), on southern dry cured hams. Pest Management Science

72: 1604–1612

9. Amoah, B., J. Anderson, D. Erram, J. Gomez, A. Harris, J. Kivett, K. Ruang-Rit, Y.

Wang, L. Murray, and J. Nechols. 2016. Plant spatial distribution and predator-prey

ratio affect biological control of the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae (Acari:

Tetranychidae) by the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Biocontrol Science and Technology 26: 548–561

10. Zhao, Y., S. Abbar, B. Amoah, T. W. Phillips, and M. W. Schilling. 2016. Controlling

pests in dry-cured ham: A review. Meat Science 111: 183–191

11. Belmain, S. R., B. A. Amoah, S. P. Nyirenda, J. Kamanula, and P. C.

Stevenson. 2012. Highly variable insect control efficacy of Tephrosia vogelii

chemotypes. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 60: 10055–10063

Non-refereed Publications, Proceeding Papers, Patent Applications

1. Mahroof, R., and B. Amoah. 2018. Toxic effects of ozone on selected stored product

insects and germ quality of germinating seeds. pp. 591–595. Proceedings of the 12th

International Working Conference on Stored Product Protection Berlin, Germany.

October 7–11, 2018

2. Mahroof, R., B. Amoah, A. Gerken, and J. Campbell. 2018. Effect of delayed mating

on reproductive performance of Lasioderma serricorne (F.) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae). pp.

117–122. Proceedings of the 12th International Working Conference on Stored Product

Protection Berlin, Germany. October 7–11, 2018

3. Schilling, M. W, B. Amoah, S. Abbar, T. Phillips, Y. Zhao, and Y. Campbell. 2018.

Compositions of food grade coatings to control pest infestations and methods of

applications. Attorney Docket No. 2015.0953 US Patent in Submission

4. Mahroof, R., B. Amoah, and J. Wrighton. 2018. Acute and delayed toxicity effects of

ozone on the internal and external feeders of stored products. pp. 147–156. Proceedings

of the Conference of the International Organization for Biological Control, Working

Group on Integrated Protection of Stored Products Ljubljana, Slovenia. July 3–5, 2017


5. Phillips, T. W., S. Abbar, B. Amoah, J. Maille, Y. L. Campbell, Y. Zhao, X. Zhang,

and M. W. Schilling. 2017. Status of IPM for ham mites: prevention, monitoring,

decision-making, and control. pp. 62-1 – 62-3. Annual International Research Conference

on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reductions. November 13-15, 2017

6. Schilling, M. W., Y. Zhao, Y. Campbell, T. W. Phillips, S. Abbar, and B. Amoah.

2015. Infusion of food-grade coatings with propylene glycol into ham nets to control pest

infestations. Attorney Docket No. 2015.0953 PROV. US Patent in Submission

7. Abbar, S., B. Amoah, Y. Zhao, Y. Campbell, M. W. Schilling, and T, Phillips. 2015.

Food-safe coatings to prevent infestations of the ham mite on dry cured hams. pp. 41-1 to

41-2. Annual International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and

Emissions Reductions, San Diego, CA, November 8–10, 2015

8. Amoah, B., S. Abbar, M. Wes Schilling, and T. Phillips. 2015. Ham mite IPM:

monitoring, prevention, and mitigation as methyl bromide alternatives. pp. 42-1 to 42-2.

Annual International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and

Emissions Reductions, San Diego, CA, November 8–10, 2015

9. Amoah, B., M. W. Schilling, and T. W. Phillips. 2013. Trapping the ham mite,

Tyrophagus putrescentiae, with a food bait: Toward a monitoring tool for IPM. pp. 4–6.

Proceedings of the international research conference on methyl bromide alternatives and

emissions reductions. San Diego, California, November 4–6, 2013.

10. Amoah, B., M. W. Schilling, and T.W. Phillips. 2012. IPM as an alternative for the

ham mite, Tyrophagus putrescentiae: monitoring with traps. pp 45-1. Annual

International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions

Reductions. November, Orlando, FL, November 6–8, 2012

11. Zhao, Y., T. W. Phillips, M. J. Aikins, S. Abbar, B. Amoah, W. B. Mikel, and M. W.

Schilling. 2012. Sensory evaluation and pest mortality of dry cured ham fumigation with

phosphine in a simulated aging house. pp 6–8. Annual International Research Conference

on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reductions. November, Orlando, FL,

November 6–8, 2012

12. Phillips, T. W, M. Hasan, M. J. Aikins, S. Abbar, and B. Amoah. 2012. Non-chemical

treatments for potential disinfestation of two major arthropod pests of southern dry-cured

hams. pp. 542. In: Navarro S, Banks H. J., Jayas D. S., Bell C. H., Noyes R. T., Ferizli A.

G., Emekci M., Isikber A. A., Alagusundaram K., [Eds.] Proceedings of the 9th

International Conference on Controlled Atmosphere and Fumigation in Stored Products,

Antalya, Turkey, October 15–19, 2012, ARBER Professional Congress Services, Turkey

Presentations

Invited Presentations

1. Amoah, B. and R. Mahroof. 2018. Effects of ozone on stored product insects on various

commodities. Oral presentation at the Stored Products Entomology Member Symposium:

Sharing ideas and food: stored product pest control across interdisciplinary and


geographic borders. Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America,

Vancouver, BC, Canada, November 11–14, 2018

2. Amoah, B., J. Wrighton, K. Kern, V. Fernandez-Davila, and R. M. Mahroof. 2017.

Ozone as a potential alternative for management of stored product insect pests. Member

Symposium: Stored Products Entomology: Innovative approaches for integrated insect

pest management, Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Denver,

CO, November 4–9, 2017

3. Amoah, B. 2017. Monitoring and management of stored product insect and mite pests.

Seminar Series, Department of Biology, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC, February 1,

2017

Other Presentations

Oral Presentations

1. Mahroof, R., and B. Amoah. 2018. Toxic effects of ozone on selected stored product

insects and germ quality of germinating seeds. 12th International Working Conference

on Stored Product Protection. Berlin, Germany. October 7–11, 2018

2. Amoah, B. and R. Mahroof. 2018. Susceptibility of Sitophilus oryzae to different

durations of ozone exposure. 2018 Joint meeting of the South Carolina Entomological

Society and the Georgia Entomological Society, Unicoi State Park, Helen, GA, April 4–

6, 2018

3. Glover, C., B. Amoah, and R. Mahroof. 2018. Ozone as a potential fumigant for the

control of Lasioderma serricorne (F.). Oral presentation at the 2018 Joint meeting of the

South Carolina Entomological Society and the Georgia Entomological Society, Unicoi

State Park, Helen, GA, April 4–6, 2018

4. Mahroof, R. and B. Amoah. 2018. Detrimental Effect of Ozone Gas on Insects

Occurring in Durable Stored Commodities. Annual meeting of the Southeastern Branch

of the Entomological Society of America, Orlando, FL. March 4–7, 2018

5. Phillips, T. W., S. Abbar, B. Amoah, M. W. Schilling, X. Zhang, Y. Zhao and Y.

Campbell. 2017. Nothin’ but Net….and Some Other Stuff: Pest Management

Innovations for Tyrophagus putrescentiae. Member Symposium: Stored Products

Entomology: Innovative approaches for integrated insect pest management, Annual

Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Denver, CO, November 4–9, 2017

6. Amoah, B. and R. M. Mahroof. 2017. Ozone as a potential fumigant to control of

Sitophilus oryzae in wheat. Sixty-third Annual Meeting of the South Carolina

Entomological Society, Hobcaw Barony, Georgetown, SC, October 5–6, 2017

7. Mahroof, R., B. Amoah, and J. Wrighton. 2017. Acute and delayed toxicity effects of

ozone on the internal and external feeders of stored products. Proceedings of the

Conference of the International Organization for Biological Control, Working Group on

Integrated Protection of Stored Products Ljubljana, Slovenia, July 3–5, 2017


8. Amoah, B. and R. M. Mahroof. 2017. Ozone as a potential fumigant to control various

life stages of stored product insects. Association of 1890 Research Directors, Inc.

Research Symposium, Atlanta, GA, April 1–4, 2017

9. Kern, K., B. Amoah, and R. Mahroof. 2017. Ozone as a potential disinfectant for

Oryzaephilus mercator. Association of 1890 Research Directors, Inc. Research

Symposium, Atlanta, GA, April 1–4, 2017

10. Kern, K., J. Wrighton, B. Amoah, and R. M. Mahroof. 2016. Ozone disinfestation

stored product insects: Concentration-time mortality evaluation. Thirteenth Annual

Student Competition, Professional Agricultural Workers Conference and Gamma Sigma

Delta, Tuskegee, AL, December 6, 2016

11. Amoah, B. and R. Mahroof. 2016. Ozone as a potential fumigant to control cigarette

beetle and rice weevil. Oral presentation at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the South

Carolina Entomological Society, McCormick, SC, October 27–28, 2016

12. Kern, K. J. Wrighton, B. Amoah, and R. Mahroof. 2016. Ozone fumigation of

merchant grain beetle adults. 1890 Research Symposium, South Carolina State

University, July 27, 2016

13. Amoah, B., M. W. Schilling, and T. W. Phillips. 2015. Physical factors influencing trap

capture of the ham mite, Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acari: Acaridae). Oral

presentation at the Entomological Society of America National Meeting, Minneapolis,

MN, November 15–18, 2015

14. Phillips, T. W., S. Abbar, and B. Amoah. 2014. Research toward developing IPM

systems for the ham mite, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, following the phase-out of methyl

bromide. 11th International Working Conference on Stored Product Protection. Thailand.

November 24–28, 2014

15. Amoah, B., J. Campbell, T. W. Phillips. 2013. The mold mite, Tyrophagus

putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acari: Acaridae), in ham facilities: Population dynamics and

response to temperature and fumigation treatments. Oral Presentation at the

Entomological Society of America National Meeting, Austin, TX, November 11–13,

2013

16. Amoah, B. and T. W. Phillips. 2013. Towards IPM of the mold mite, Tyrophagus

putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acari: Acaridae): Trapping and monitoring mite populations in

ham processing facilities. Oral presentation at Entomological Society of America Branch

Meeting, Rapid City, SD June 16–19, 2013

17. Amoah, B., T.W. Phillips, and M. W. Schilling. 2012. IPM as an alternative for the

ham mite, Tyrophagus putrescentiae: Monitoring with traps. Oral Presentation - 2012

Annual International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and

Emissions Reductions. Orlando, FL, November 6–8, 2012


Poster Presentations

1. Udonsi, E., B. Amoah, and R. Mahroof. 2018. Time-concentration-mortality

relationships for Oryzaephilus mercator life stages to ozone fumigation. Poster

Presentation at the Association of 1890 Research Directors and USDA-Agricultural

Research Service Joint Food Safety Symposium. Beltsville Agricultural Research Center,

Beltsville, MD. April 23–25, 2018

2. Glover, C., D. Hook, B. Amoah, and R. M. Mahroof. 2017. Efficacy of ozone

fumigation against Lasioderma serricorne (F.) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae). Poster

Presentation at the Sixty-third Annual Meeting of the South Carolina Entomological

Society, Hobcaw Barony, Georgetown, SC, October 5–6, 2017

3. Jackson, M., B. Amoah, and R. Mahroof. 2017. Effect of sub-lethal doses of ozone on

the reproduction of rice weevil. Poster presentation at the 2017 South Carolina IDeA

Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence, South Carolina State University,

Orangeburg, SC, July 27, 2017

4. Amoah, B., B. Subramanyam, D. Hagstrum, M. W. Schilling, and T. W. Phillips.

2016. Development and validation of sequential sampling plans for the ham mite on dry-

cured ham. Poster presentation at the International Congress of Entomology, Orlando,

FL, September 25–30, 2016

5. Amoah, B. and T. W. Phillips. 2015. Trapping and monitoring the mold mite in

commercial facilities for management decisions. Poster presentation - U.S. Borlaug

Summer Institute on Global Food Security. Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, June

7–20, 2015

6. Amoah, B. and T. W. Phillips. 2015. Effect of different light wavelengths on trap

capture of the mold mite for management decisions. Poster presentation at the

Entomological Society of America Branch Meeting, Manhattan, KS, May 31–June 3,

2015

7. Amoah, B. and T. W. Phillips. 2014. Towards the Integrated Pest Management of the

mold mite: Trapping and monitoring mite populations in ham processing facilities. Poster

presentation - 2014 PepsiCo/New York Academy of Sciences “Journey through Science

Day” Event. New York City, NY, December 8, 2014

8. Amoah, B. and T. W. Phillips. 2014. Trapping mold mites for IPM decisions in country

ham facilities: effects of trap placement and trap design. Poster presentation at the

Entomological Society of America National Meeting, Portland, OR, November 16–19,

2014

9. Amoah, B. M. J. Aikins, S. Abbar, and T.W. Phillips 2012. Orientation behavior of the

stored-product mite, Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Shrank), towards meat products with

various treatments. Poster presentation at the Entomological Society of America Branch

Meeting, Lincoln, NE, June 3–6, 2012

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