Welcome, let’s explore the beauty of arthropods.
Hello! I'm Alfred Daniel J
Pursuing the incredible beauty of arthropod biodiversity is where my passion lies. In unraveling their mystery, I see teaching, concurrently with arthropod identification role, as my future.
Click the icons below to travel to a world of wonder & beauty!
EXPERIENCE
2023 June - till date
Post Doctoral Fellow
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences,
Otis L. Floyd Nursery Research Center,Tennessee State University
Project I: Ecology and Biological Management of Flat Headed Borers in Nursery trees
2020 October - 2023 May
Post Doctoral Fellow
Department of Desert Ecology & National Natural History Collection, Jerusalem
Ben Gurion University of the Negev & Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Project I : Foraging ecology of potter wasps
Project II: Invasive Brown widow spider - Parasitoid interaction
Project III: Evaluation arthropod diversity from Avrona Nature Reserve
2020 January -October
Research Associate
Centre for Ecological Sciences,
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
Project: Nesting behavior of mud wasps.
2017 December-2019 December
Senior Research Fellow
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India
Involves collection and identification of insects all over the country
Project: Establishment of Insect Museum
2024- Highlights
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Papers Published
Presentations
1- Authored a paper on first report of three parasitoids from Tennessee (Journal of Insect Science)
2- Published a fact sheet on the Putnam Scale (TSU Extension)
3- Published an extension article on Biocontrol in Nursery Systems (Tennessee Green Times)
4- Published an extension fact sheet on Biological control of JMS in nursery systems (TSU Extension)
1-Presented in ARD Conference 2024, Nashville, TN (Three Tiny Specks of Hope for Scale Management)
2-Presented in South-Eastern Branch Meeting, ESA (Irrigation-Cover Crop interactions on borer attacks)
3-Presented in AB-FB Conference 2024 (Parasitoids of Flat Headed Borers)
Trainings
Photo Recognition
4H Activities & other services
1- Participated in 5 different 4H activities to teach about insects to kids in Tennessee
Grants and Awards
3- Awaiting Results of USDA grant on Museum Establishment
Organized Training Workshop
1- Attended Workshop on the identification of Chyrsobothris spp.
An overview of the year -2023 (Jan - May) in Israel
Papers Published
1- Co authored a paper on potter wasps (published in “Animal Behaviour”)
2- Authored a paper on Widow spiders- parasitoid interaction (published in "Biological Invasions")
3- Authored a paper on potter wasp's parasitoids (published in "Journal of Hymenoptera Research")
4- Co authored a paper on fauna in wheat plantations (published in “Current Science”)
Project collaborations with my role of insect identification
1- Role of wild flower patches in biological control in Judean foot hills (Michal Segoli+Lital Orzi+Yaron Ziv)
3- Impact of solar panels in biodiversity disturbances if any? (Michal Segoli+Yaron Ziv+Shahar Goefer)
4- Studying the role of detritivores across Israel (Efrat Gavish Regev+ Nevo Sagi+ Dror Hawlena)
Presentations
1-Presented a paper in Israel Entomological Society Conference, HUJI, Rehovot
2- Presented a paper in Int. Soc. for Behavioral Ecology, 2022 Stockholm, Sweden
1- Attended spider taxonomy training in Greece, DEST, CETAF- sponsored
Grants
1- Received from Israeli Academy of Sciences from National Natural History Collections, HUJ
2- Received from Entomological Society of American for Collection Management.
Photo Recognition
1- Journal Cover Photo- Behavioral Ecology
2- Journal Cover Photo- Ethology
3- Entomological Society of America- World of Insects Calendar Photo
4- Two Photos in a spider book for kids
5- Journal Cover Photo- Trends in Ecology and Evolution
Trainings
EDUCATION
2014-2018
Doctoral Degree(Ph.D.In Entomology)
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Completed in 2018 securing an OGPA of 9.45/10
Executed dissertation entitled, “DIVERSITY OF PARASITIC HYMENOPTERANS OF RICE”. I was awarded with National Fellowship for meritorious students from University Grants Commission to pursue my Doctoral Research. In my research, I collected 270 parasitoid species of which 43 were reported for the first time from Tamil Nadu state of India. As of date I have published more than 13 research articles in peer reviewed national journals from my doctoral research work. My dissertation earned me (2 gold medals) best Ph.D. thesis and Best Ph.D. research scholar. This research also earned me three best presentation awards in international conferences.
2012-2014
Masters's Degree (M.Sc in Entomology)
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Completed in 2014 securing an OGPA of 9.40/10
Dissertation entitled, “EVALUATION OF PROFENOFOS AND HEXYTHIAZOX AGAINST MAJOR PESTS OF TEA”. I have published 6 articles in peer reviewed journals and have received two best presentation awards in international conference based on my dissertation. In addition to gaining the gold medal for highest mark in Insect Taxonomy, I was awarded with Junior Research Fellowship to pursue my M.Sc. Education
2008-2012
Bachelor's Degree(B.Sc in Agriculture)
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
Completed by securing an OGPA of 8.90/10
I am the top scorer in B.Sc. (Agri) and was awarded with a gold medal.
I was also awarded with Periyar Endowment Fellowship to pursue my B.Sc.
AWARDS
EXPERTISE & RECOGNITION
Field Skills
My childhood expeditions to explore the mystery of nature continue to this day.
From the western ghats, north eastern forests of India, Forests of Taiwan, the Negev desert in Israel and smoky mountains of TN -for the past 13 years. I enjoy collecting insects and observing birds, reptiles and many more!
Workshops & Conferences attended
My Previous Publications
Alfred Daniel J, A. Ramesh kumar and Sarfrazul Islam Kazmi
Books Published
A book on dragonflies and damselflies- You can get that book by clicking here
Field Guide to Some Odonates of Tamil Nadu