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Think and Do The Extraordinary
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Allen Cohen

Research Professor

Insect Rearing Education and Research

840 Method Road, Unit 2 Raleigh, NC 27607 Campus Box 7634

919.513.0576

http://werearinsects.com/

The Insect Rearing Education and Research Program is dedicated to educating the entomology community about science-based rearing and developing rearing systems for various insect species. We have offered four on-site courses and a continuing education and professional development course in the fundamentals of science-based rearing serving more than 200 students and rearing professionals. We conduct cutting-edge research on diets and rearing systems for predators of hemlock woolly adelgids, emerald ash borers, and spotted lanternflies. We study nutrition of diet components, microbial interactions with diets (such as bioprocessing of diet components), diet texture, and statistically-based process and quality control in rearing systems.

Teaching Responsibilities: Graduate Seminar in Insect Rearing (ENT 601/801) Insect Rearing Science and Technology (ENT 591, ENT 791) ENT 503 (Part of teaching team)

We do research on insect rearing systems. Our basic premise is that successful rearing systems depend on our understanding and providing all the physical, nutritional, and biological needs of the target insect. Our first premise is, therefore, “know your insect.”  Therefore, our research includes studies of feeding biology (nutrition, mouthpart and digestive system structure and function), reproductive biology, metabolism, ecology, genetics, and microbial interactions.  We also recognize the importance of integrating our knowledge of rearing system components in a multidisciplinary approach, so we conduct interdisciplinary projects in food science, analytical biochemistry, molecular genetics, engineering, microbiology, bio-manufacturing, plant pathology, and other disciplines related to rearing science and technology. The Insect Rearing Education and Research Program includes: Courses and degree specialization in rearing Research on development and improvement of rearing Forest Entomology(Hain) Development of diagnostic strategies for problem-solving in genetics, dietetics, pathology, environments, & other    potential aspects of rearing system failure.

Education

BA, English, California State University, Fullerton (CSUF
MA, English, CSUF
MA, Biology, CSUF
Ph.D, Entomology, University of California, Riverside (1978)
Post Doc, University of Arizona (1980)