Joanna Carlson, a graduate student in the Department of Entomology, is the first recipient of the David Nimocks Jr. Fellowship. The award was funded by an endowment created by David Nimocks III of Fayetteville, president of Terminix Management Services Inc., in honor of his father, David Nimocks Jr.

“Both David Nimocks and his father have been strong supporters of our structural pest management program for many years,” said Dr. James Harper, Entomology Department head. Nimocks initially became involved with the department through the efforts of Dr. Charles Wright, who, before his retirement from the department, sought endowment funding that could perpetually support research in the area of urban and structural pest management. Contacted during that fund-raising process, Nimocks expressed a desire to fund a separate endowment to be named in honor of his father and made a pledge for that purpose. Harper said that Nimocks’ fulfilled pledge, along with ongoing support from the N.C. Pest Control Association and many individual pest control operators and companies, had enabled the department to award the fellowship to Carlson this past October.

Carlson, who grew up in Rockville, Md., received her bachelor’s degree from Indiana University in Pennsylvania, graduating summa cum laude with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. In pursuit of her master’s degree, she is working with her adviser Dr. Ed Vargo, assistant professor of entomology, researching the social and spatial organization of termite colonies, to strengthen effectiveness of colony elimination systems. “Because termites live underground, there is still a lot about their biology we do not know,” Carlson explained. “I am using several techniques similar to DNA fingerprinting to determine how closely related individuals are within a colony and between colonies.” All of this information, she said, can help pest management professionals devise better plans for the application of termiticide.

“I look at the insect’s genetics to answer questions about its behavior. This work can then be used to devise better control methods of this pest,” she said. “I would like to pursue a career in industry, working with molecular markers and other molecular techniques.”

In attaining those goals, Carlson said, “The fellowship will help me in several ways. First of all, the honor of being awarded a merit scholarship will help me in pursuing a career. Also, it provides funding. Since I do not have to find a job to supplement the stipend I receive from the department, I am therefore able to focus more time on my research.”

Carlson thanked her benefactor, David Nimocks III, “for beginning the fellowship in urban entomology, which will generate a drive for high quality work in the urban sector. This fellowship promotes excellence in research conducted in urban entomology, and I am proud to be the first recipient.”