Travis "TJ" Prochaska has joined NDSU's North Central Research Extension Center near Minot, North Dakota, as an Extension Service area crop protection specialist.
His role includes developing innovative Extension programing to serve a diverse clientele of producers, advisory groups, local Extension agents and industry. Overall, his programming will focus on crop protection management and education.
"I am excited about the opportunity to work with area growers to show them the realm of entomology and that there are plenty of beneficial insects important to their cropping systems," Prochaska said. "Additionally, I am excited to learn about the different cropping systems North Dakota has to offer."
Prochaska earned his bachelor’s degree in organismal biology from Concordia University Nebraska, and his master's degree and doctorate in entomology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He also has served in a variety of service positions in the Entomological Society of America.
His master's degree work focused on soybean host plant resistance to the soybean aphid, and he discovered one of the first known tolerant varieties of soybean. His doctoral research was in switchgrass biotechnology, with a focus on host plant resistance to cereal aphids, specifically greenbugs and yellow sugarcane aphids.
"We are excited to have Dr. Prochaska join our team at the center," said director Shana Forster. "His enthusiasm for entomology will be a great asset to NDSU Extension and the producers of North Dakota."
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