David Kerns

Areas of Expertise

• Integrated Pest Management
• Bt and Insecticide Resistance

Professional Summary

David Kerns, Ph.D. is a Professor, Extension Specialist, State IPM Coordinator, and Associate Department Head for the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University. His current research and outreach emphasis is in pest management and developing IPM programs for cotton, corn, sorghum and soybean, and insecticide and Bt resistance in Helicoverpa zea and Spodoptera frugiperda. Over the past five years, he has contributed to the publication of 37 refereed journal articles and 14 Extension publications, and has been invited to present research results and insect management recommendations at 61 conferences including scientific, consultant, grower, and ag-industry venues. Within the past five years he has received over $6.3 million in research and Extension support. He leads the Extension Entomology Program for the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University, and is the IPM Coordinator for Texas. Within his administrative duties, he supervises 6 Extension Specialist faculty, 5 Extension Program Specialists, and 10 Extension IPM Agents. Duties, among others are to promote IPM practices, coordinate stakeholder directives, organize and direct Extension personnel to address stakeholder directives.