Scott Salom

We work on forest insect and weed pests. The research questions we ask are driven by the nature of the pest problems that require us to study their biology and interactions with hosts and habitat.  The goal is to develop tools and strategies to improve management for those pests.  Recently our work has emphasized the biological control of the following:

·      THE HEMLOCK WOOLLY ADELGID (HWA), a devastating insect pest of eastern and Carolina hemlocks;

·      TREE OF HEAVEN (TOH), a noxious weed that displaces native vegetation in disturbed settings;

·      EMERALD ASH BORER (EAB), a killer of all native ash trees.

Currently Funded Project Titles:

Hemlock woolly adelgid

o   Collection and Mass Rearing of the interior strain of Laricobius nigrinus and Laricobius osakensis, specialist predators of hemlock woolly adelgid (Salom – PI).  Funding Source: USDA Forest Service and APHIS PPQ

o   Release and establishment of Laricobius osakensis, a new predator of hemlock woolly adelgid from Japan (Salom - PI). Funding Source: USDA Forest Service

o   Impact Assessment of the coastal strain of Laricobius nigrinus on HWA density and hemlock health (Salom, Joe Elkinton, Jerome Grant, Bud Mayfield – co-PIs).  Funding Source: USDA Forest Service

o   Information systems in the hemlock woolly adelgid predator release and monitoring program and the development of an HWA online portal (Andy Roberts, Mannin Dodd, Noel Schneeberger, and Salom co-PIs). Funding Source: USDA Forest Service

Tree of Heaven

o   Biological control of tree of heaven: large scale deployment and enhanced formulation of the regionally successful Verticillium biocontrol of the invasive Ailanthus altissima (Matt Kasson and Scott Salom – co-PIs). Funding Source: USDA Forest Service

Emerald Ash Borer

o   Assessing the potential of two parasitoids of emerald ash borer, Spathius galinae and Testrastichus planipennisi in Virginia forests. (Salom – PI).  Funding Source: USDA ARS 

Spotted Lanternfly

o   Assessing the potential for the spotted lanternfly to transmit Verticillium nonalfalfae  from infected to uninfected tree of heaven, Ailanthus altissima, in a laboratory setting. (Salom – PI).  Funding Source: VA. Dept of Forestry

Staff

Ryan Mays (rymays@vt.edu)

Holly Gatton (hgatton@vt.edu)

Aryanna James (aryannaj@vt.edu)

Students

Carrie Preston – Ph.D. student since spring 2020 (cep19@vt.edu)

Ashleigh Hillen – MSLFS student since fall 2020 (ashieghh@vt.edu)

Olivia Andrews -MSLFS student since fall 2021 (okandrews21@vt.edu)

Timothy Shively – Ph.D. student in SPES since fall 2021 co-advised with Dr. Jacob Barney (tshively@vt.edu)

Courses Taught

• ENT 5264 Biological Control of Arthropod Pests and Weeds  (odd years –spring semester)
• FOR 4514 Forest and Tree Pest Management (fall semester every year) Co-Instructor is Rachel Brooks (SPES)
• GRAD 6984 Advocacy, Science, and Policy of Invasive Species (Offered spring, 2019) Co-instructors:  Drs. Jacob Barney (SPES), David Haak (SPES) Todd Schenk  (SPIA)

Current Positions of Past Students and Research Faculty (Including Honors and Awards They Received While Affiliated With Virginia Tech)

Chris Fettig (M.S. 1996) - Research Entomologist and Team Leader, USDA Forest Service, Pacific  S.W. Res. Sta., Davis, CA (email: cfettig@usda.gov Website: http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/programs/snrc/staff/cfettig/)

Don Grosman (Ph.D. 1996) - Technology Advancement Manager, Arborjet, Inc.  99 Blueberry Hill Rd., Woburn, MA (e-mail: dgrosman@arborjet.com)

Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid Research Award (1993); VT Grad Res. Assoc. Res. Grant (1994); James Grayson Scholarship for Outstanding Ph.D. student in Department of Entomology (1996)

Quintin McClellan (Res. Associate 1993-2000)  - Owner, Total Tree Health Care (https://www.totaltreehealthcare.com), Radford, VA. (e-mail: VAarborist@gmail.com)

Gabriella Zilahi-Balogh (Ph.D. 2001 and (Res Scientist - 2001-03) – Retired Entomologist, Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Kelowna, BC. Canada (email: gzilahib@gmail.com)

James Grayson Scholarship for Outstanding Ph.D. Student in Department of Entomology (2000); Honorable mention student paper competition Joint Ent. Soc of Canada/Ent. Soc of America Annual Meeting (2000); Ph.D. Research Award, VT Chapter of Sigma Xi (2002); J. H. Comstock Award for Eastern Branch - Entomological Society of America (2002); Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, Dept. of Entomology, VT (2009)

Corey Broeckling (M.S. 2002) - Director, Proteomics and Metabolomics Facility, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO.  (e-mail: cbroeckl@lamar.colostate.edu)

President's Prize for Student Paper Competition in the Ecology/Behavior Section at the National Meeting of the Entomological Society of America (2001)

Holly Gatton (M.S. 2005) – Lab & Research Specialist, Back home in the Forest Entomology Lab @ Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA  (e-mail: hgatton@vt.edu)

Ashley Lamb Galloway (Ph.D. 2005) and (Post-doctoral Associate - 2005-10) Assistant Professor of Biology, Dept. of Mathematics and Sciences, Roane State Community College, Harriman, TN (e-mail: gallowayab@roanestate.edu)

Honorable Mention for Student Paper Competition in the Biological Control Section of the National Meeting of the Entomol. Soc. of Amer. (2001); Asa Fitch Award (Outstanding M.S. student) Annual Eastern Branch - Entomological Society of America (2002); Served two consecutive terms as President of the Virginia Tech Entomology Graduate Student Alwood Society (2002-04); Awarded the Gene A. and Ina Mae James graduate student tuition scholarship (2003); James Grayson Scholarship Award for Outstanding Ph.D. Student, Dept. of Entomology (2005)

Jeffrey Fidgen (Res. Associate: 2000-2006) – Forest Health Biologist, Canadian Forest Service, Atlantic Forestry Centre, Fredericton, N.B. (e-mail: jeff.fidgen@canada.ca)

Robbie Flowers (Ph.D. 2006) - Forest Health Program Manager / Entomologist, USDA Forest Service, FHP, PNW Region, Bend OR (e-mail: robbie.flowers@usda.gov)

2nd Place in Student Poster Competition at the Annual Meeting of the Eastern Branch - Entomological Society of America (2005); Served as President of the Virginia Tech Entomology Graduate Student Alwood Society (2005-06); James Grayson Scholarship Award for Outstanding Ph.D. Student, Dept. of Entomology (2006); Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, Dept. of Entomology (2008)

Grace Lim (Ph.D. 2007) – Part-time science writer and editor for Forest Research Institute of Malaysia. (e-mail: gracetabithalim@gmail.com)

Kozstarab Award for Systematics, Dept. of Entomology (2007); 2nd place Award in College and Life Sciences Category.  Virginia Tech Graduate Student Assembly Research Symposium (2007)

David Mausel (Ph.D. 2007) – Regional Entomologist, S&P Forestry, Forest Health and Economics, Eastern Region – USDA Forest Service,  Milwaukee, WI, (e-mail: david.mausel@usda.gov)

James Grayson Scholarship Award for Outstanding Ph.D. Student, Dept. of Entomology (2007); Ph.D. Research Award, Virginia Tech Chapter – Sigma Xi (2008); Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, Dept. of Entomology (2018)

Brian Eisenback (Ph.D. 2008) - Associate Professor of Biology, Chair of the Area of Scientific Learning, Milligan College, TN 37682  (e-mail: BMEisenback@milligan.edu)

1st place award for Poster Presentation at the Annual Meeting of Eastern Branch - Entomological Society of America (2006); James Grayson Scholarship Award for Outstanding Ph.D. Student, Dept. of Entomology (2008); Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, Dept. of Entomology (2016)

Heather Story (M.S. 2010) - Technician, Baton Rouge Pest Control, Inc., Baton Rouge, LA. (e-mail: derodontidae22@gmail.com)

Theresa Dellinger (Res. Associate: 2006-2009) - Lab Technician for Insect I.D. Lab, Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech (e-mail: tdelling@vt.edu)

Nathan Herrick (Ph.D. 2011) – Research  Associate, Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS (e-mail: nherrick@ksu.edu ) 

Cunningham University Fellowship (2006-08)

Gina Davis (Ph.D. 2011) - Coeur d'Alene Office Group Leader, Forest Health Protection, USDA Forest Service, Coeur d'Alene, ID (e-mail: gina.davis@usda.gov)

President's Prize for 1st place oral presentation in the Systematics, Evolution, and Biodiversity Section at Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America (2009); Watkins Family Scholarship (2010); Co-recipient of Kozstarab Award for Systematics, Dept. of Entomology (2011)

Amy Kelley (Snyder) (M.S. 2011) - Project Manager for the Plant-Microbe Interfaces Scientific Focus Area for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory; a member of the Biosciences Division and the Molecular and Cellular Imaging Group., City of Oak Ridge, TN (e-mail: amys186@gmail.com)

2nd Place in M.S. poster competition at 5th North American Forest Insect Work Conference (2011)

Ligia Cota Vieira (Ph.D. 2013) - Research Scientist, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, NYU Abu Dhabi, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology.(e-mail: lcotavieira@gmail.com)

Ph.D. Research Award, VT Chapter of Sigma Xi (2012); James Grayson Scholarship Award for Outstanding Ph.D. Student, Dept. of Entomology, VT (2013); Outstanding Doctoral Student, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, VT (2013); Roger F. Anderson Award for Outstanding Graduate Student in Southern Forest Entomology - Sponsored by the Southern Forest Insect Work Conference (2013)

Melissa Fischer (Ph.D. 2013) - Forest Health Specialist, NE Region, Washington State Department of Natural Resources (e-mail: Melissa.Fischer@dnr.wa.gov)

NSF Scholarship in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (S-STEM) (2010-2013); David R. Spence Tuition Scholarship (2011-2012); GSA Graduate Research Development Program Grant (2012); Glady and Clarence Hill Travel Scholarship (2013)

Anne Jones (M.S. 2013) - Post-doctoral Researcher, Dept of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech (e-mail: annej@vt.edu)

Hill Travel Scholarship (2013); James Grayson Scholarship Award for Outstanding M.S. Student, Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech  2013); Asa Fitch Award for Outstanding M.S. student for the Entomological Society of America – Eastern Branch (2014)

Katlin Mooneyham Dewitt (M.S. 2015) - Forest Health Specialist, VA Dept. of Forestry, Charlottesville, VA (e-mail: Katlin.mooneyham@dof.virginia.gov)

Cyrus H. McCormick Graduate Scholarship; James Grayson Scholarship 1^st place award for outstanding M.S. student in the Department of Entomology (2016).

Kenton Sumpter (M.S. 2016) – Entomologist I,  MD Dept of Agriculture (e-mail: kenton.sumpter@maryland.gov) 

President’s Prize (1^st place) for Graduate Student 10-minute paper competition, 2016 Joint Meeting of the International Congress of Entomology and Entomological Society of America. 

Ariel Heminger (M.S. 2017) – Ph.D. student, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA (e-mail: arielh@vt.edu) 

Alwood Extension Award at the M.S. Level (2017)

Molly Darr (Ph.D. 2017) - Assistant Professor and Extension Forester, Washington State University NWREC (email: molly.darr@wsu.edu)

The Gladys and Clarence Hill Travel Scholarship (2014); GSA Travel Fund (2014); GSA Graduate Research Development Program Grant (2014 and 2015); Co-recipient of the Entomology Department’s Alwood Extension Award (2016); First Place Oral Presentation Award -  7^th Annual Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation Graduate Research Symposium at Virginia Tech (2015); President’s Prize (1^st place) for Graduate Student 10-minute paper competition for the Annual Entomological Society of America Meeting (2015); James Grayson Scholarship Award for Outstanding Ph.D. Student (3^rd place), Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech  (2017); Roger F. Anderson Award for Outstanding Graduate Student in Southern Forest Entomology - Sponsored by the Southern Forest Insect Work Conference (2017)

Holly Wantuch (Ph.D. 2017) - Entomologist/Eugene Field Office Coordinator Oregon Dept of Agriculture, Plant Protection & Conservation Programs (email: hawantuch@oda.state.or.us) 

William T. Steel, Jr. Tuition Scholarship, Fall, 2016

Ashley Toland (M.S. 2018) - Eradication Entomologist, Integrated Pest Prevention and Management Program, Oregon Department of Agriculture. (e-mail: atoland@oda.state.or.us) 

Watkins Family Tuition Scholarship  2017

Carrie Jubb (Lab Specialist - Mass Rearing Supervisor from 2006 - 2021 and M.S. 2019) – Quarantine Officer, Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech (email: cjubb@vt.edu). 

2^nd place student presentation at 2019 Southern Forest Insect Work Conference.

Max Ragozzino (Ph.D. 2020) – Biocontrol Entomologist, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Salem Office, Salem, OR.  (e-mail: Mragozzino@oda.state.or.us)

Interfaces of Global Change - IGEP Fellow (2015-2020); CALS Dean Scholar Award (2015); Robert Bruce Massey Scholarship and the Celeste W. Reynolds Graduate Tuition Scholarships (2016-2017);  1^st place honors (3-way tie) at the First Annual Nutshell Games hosted by Virginia Tech’s Center for Communicating Science; 1^st Place President’s Prize for Section P-IE, Forests at the  Entomological Society of America National Meeting (2019).

Rachel Brooks (Ph.D. in SPES 2020) – Forest Health Scientist, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Forest Health and Resiliency Division, Olympia, WA.  (e-mail: Rachel.Brooks@dnr.wa.gov) 

Interfaces of Global Change - IGEP Fellow (2016-2020); CALS Dean Scholar Award (2016); William T. Steele Jr., Gene and Ina Mae James, and Horace E. & Elizabeth Alphin Tuition Scholarships (2017-2018); 2nd place in the School of Plant & Environmental Sciences Graduate Research Symposium. (2018); 1^st place in the Graduate Student Paper Competition at the Potomac Division of the American Phytopathological Society of America (2019).

Brandon Turner (Online MS -OMALS 2020). VDACS-STS Survey Coordinator.  VA. Dept. of Ag. & Consumer Services. Christiansburg, VA. (email: brandon.turner@vdacs.virginia.gov)

Jeremiah Foley IV (Ph.D. 2021).  Post-Doc, Invasive Plant Research Lab, USDA, ARS, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. (e-mail: Jeremiah.foley@usda.gov)

Loke and Vicki Kok Graduate Fellowship; Second place (2017); PhD student competition, ESA National Meetings Section: Medical, Urban, & Vet. Ento. (MUVE) (2017); 2nd place, PhD student competition, ESA National Meetings Section: Biocontrol, Predators (2018); William T. Steele, Jr. Graduate Scholarship (2020); David R. Spence Scholarship (2020); Robert O’Neil Outstanding Ph.D. Student in Biological Control, ISBC Nearctic Division (2020); James M. Grayson Outstanding Ph.D. Student Runner-up, Virginia Tech Department of Entomology (2021); Roger F. Anderson Outstanding Student in Forest Entomology, SFIWC (2021).

A full list of Dr. Salom's publications can be found here.

Additional link to Scopus provides access to full pdf versions of most pubs found here.  This does require a sign in to Elsevier. 

Awards

• 2023 Outstanding Graduate Student Mentor - College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech
• 2022 Co-recipient of Team Award (Invasive Species Working Group) - College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech
• 2010 Distinguished Alumni Award, Department of Entomology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
• 2009 A. D. Hopkins Award (presented to an individual with an outstanding record of service to Southern Forest Entomology) - Southern Forest Insect Work Conference
• 2008 Award for Excellence in Applied Research - College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech
• 2008 Award for Excellence in Integrated Pest Management - Eastern Branch, Entomological Society of America
• 2004 Research Award of Merit – Virginia Tech Chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta