Meet The UPMC Team
Dr. Vernard Lewis - Team Leader
Vernard Lewis is a Cooperative Extension Specialist in Insect Biology at UC Berkeley,
where he received his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Entomology. He joined the
UC Berkeley faculty in 1990 and specializes in structural insect pests and outreach
to the public including k-12 students. He has authored and co-authored more than
100 scientific publications and trade magazine articles and given hundreds of
professional and educational presentations.
His current research interests involve developing improved methods of termite
detection and nonchemical methods of control. Dr. Lewis has membership in
numerous professional societies, including being the acting chair for the United
Nations expert termite group.
Robin Tabuchi - Lab Manager
Robin graduated with a B.S. in Entomology from UC Davis. After graduating,
she worked for Dr. Michael Haverty at the USDA Forest Service. In 2006, she started working for UC Berkeley
as lab manager for Dr. Vernard Lewis.
Robin studies a wide array of insect pests including subterranean termites, drywood termites, bed bugs,
and argentine ants. Robin supervises
student workers, maintains computer and lab equipment, and provides
training to both staff and pest management professionals.
Contact Robin: rtabuchi@berkeley.edu
Sara Moore - Research Assistant
Sara graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Molecular
Environmental Biology, emphasizing in biodiversity. She studied molecular
approaches to environmental problem solving. She began working
in the Lewis Lab in June of 2006 as a student, and now works as a research assistant.
Sara's duties in the lab are varied. She evaluates
x-ray, microwave, and infrared technologies for termite detection. She is
in charge of executing protocol objectives: installing and checking protocols,
data collection and maintenance, and preliminary data and statistical analysis.
Contact Sara: saramoore@berkeley.edu
Lori Nelson - Biological Science Technician
Lori is a technician for the USDA Forest Service, researching
the chemical ecology of forest insects. She graduated from
UC Berkeley with a BS in Bioresource Sciences. She has worked
with Dr. Michael Haverty for many years, studying chemotaxonomy and
ecology of termites, bark beetles and other forest and urban
insect pests. She conducts chemical analysis of insect and
plant-produced compounds using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry,
providing insight into the interrelationships of forest ecosystems.
Contact Lori: lnelson@fs.fed.us
Dr. Michael Haverty - Visiting Researcher
Dr. Haverty serves the UC Berkeley UPMC as a resident mentor and editor to the
laboratory staff. He and Dr. Lewis have
collaborated on nine grants and cooperative agreements
generating over $650,000 over nearly 20 years. They have co-authored 19 publications thus far.
Dr. Haverty received his B.S. in Zoology from UC Davis and his M.S. and
Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Arizona. From 1975 until 2005
he was a research entomologist and project leader with the USDA Forest Service.
After his retirement he continued working as an emeritus scientist with the
USDA Forest Service. In addition,
he holds a courtesy position of Visiting Researcher
at UC Berkeley. Recently he was appointed as an
Adjunct Scientist in the Department of Entomology at the University of Arizona.
His specialty is the biology, ecology, behavior, chemical taxonomy, and control of
termites. He has authored over 140 scientific papers on termites and forest
insects and given over 150 presentations at scientific meetings, as well as
professional training sessions.
His current research interests involve the diversity of termites in North America
and Hawaii, biology and ecology of subterranean termites, and evaluation of bait
technology as a means of controlling subterranean termites and protecting wooden
structures. Dr. Haverty served as the instructor for a structural pest control
course for UC Extension from
1981-1995. He was the organizer of the William L. and Ruth D. Nutting
Graduate Research Award for Basic Research in Termite Biology under the auspices
of the North American Section of the International Union for the Study of Social
Insects, and chairs the selection committee. He is one of the founding members of
the United Nations-sponsored Global Termite Expert Group. He is using his 40 years
of post-graduate experience as a consultant and expert witness for issues involving
wood-destroying insects, especially termites, in the Pacific Southwest region of
North America.
Contact Mike: mhaverty@berkeley.edu, or visit his
consulting website
