Professor
Dr. Alvaro Romero
(575)-646-5550; aromero2@nmsu.edu
DVM: National University, Colombia
MsC Veterinary Entomology, Kansas State University
Ph.D. in Urban Entomology, University of Kentucky
Post-Doc: Urban Entomology, North Carolina State University
I am primarily interested in basic and applied research on blood feeding insects. Bed bugs have re-surged as the most recent pressing issue in urban entomology, reducing the quality of life of affected individuals. This sudden resurgence and limited knowledge of their biology presents many challenges for the management of bed bugs in today's society. Thus, my research objectives are designed to provide not only practical information for the pest control industry and its stakeholders, but to also begin to resolve the knowledge vacuum that surrounds this pest. My program also conducts applied research on other regional urban pests such as kissing bugs and Turkestan cockroaches.
Lab Manager
Brittny Blakely
Laboratory Manager/Masters Student
B.S. at New Mexico State University
I am currently working on rearing fleas in vitro and conducting industry sponsored insecticide studies. I also perform general lab maintenance and assist the other graduate and undergraduate students.
Graduate Students
Nisael J. Nieves-Lopez
Masters Student
B.S. at University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
I am evaluating the effects of human disturbance on the abundance and diversity of pest ants in southern New Mexico. I am also examining factors that may affect ant communities.
Mostafa Dehghanizadeh
Ph.D. Student
B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Iran
M.S. in Chemical Engineering, Iran
Mostafa is a PhD student in the Department of Chemical Engineering at New Mexico State University. His research focuses on extraction and separation of guayule resin for value-added chemicals, including a) fractionating guayule resin using green solvents like supercritical CO2, b) Identifying the most efficient separation method(s) for each group of compounds, c) finding commercially viable application(s) for each group of compounds, d) confirming experimentally the performance of resin fraction applications, e) modeling proposed separation process(es).
Lab Technicians
John Agnew
Lab Technician
B.S. at New Mexico State University
In the lab I conduct general lab maintenance, website management and I sort and feed bed bugs. I also help Dr. Romero and the other graduate students with their experimental design and use of the video tracking system to study responses of insects to semi-chemicals.
Undergraduate Students
Patrick Tuton
Undergraduate Student
I am currently seeking a degree in plant pathology along with a minor in entomology at NMSU. I primarily maintain the cockroach colonies within the lab as well as sort and feed bed bugs. I also perform lab maintenance tasks as well as assist the graduate students with their projects.
Ashton Gorzelski
Undergraduate Student
I am currently seeking a degree in biology with a minor in biochemistry. I research the effects of botanical compounds on a variety of arthropods including the Turkestan Cockroach, Kissing Bugs and the Arizona Bark Scorpion. My goal is to test the repellency of these compounds for use against these arthropods and many others.