Graduate assistantships are available in Fruit Entomology lab in Department of Entomology at the University of Georgia for students to pursue a Ph.D. degree in Entomology starting Summer/Fall 2024. The primary goal of the research projects is to investigate biology and ecology of economically important insect pests of blueberries including spotted-wing drosophila (SWD) and use that information to develop sustainable monitoring and management programs.  The research will include both laboratory and field studies to: 1) investigate pest phenology and its interaction with host plants, 2) assess effectiveness of monitoring and management technologies, and 3) evaluate potential risks associated with management strategies. This research is part of a multi-regional project which wi