Jessil Ann Pajar

In natural environments, plants are commonly infested by both above- and belowground pests. The indirect interaction between these spatially separated species sharing the same host, as in the case of aphids and nematodes feeding on a single Brassica plant have been observed, yet the mechanisms behind their seemingly complex relationship has not yet been fully described. For my research project I will be looking into the possible nematode-induced phloem-based signals that may be influencing the perceived changes in aphid feeding performance and population growth. Using Brassica nigra as the common host, I will perform the EPG (electrical penetration graph) technique to assess the performance and feeding behavior of aphids on plants previously infected with migratory or sedentary nematodes. This will precede biochemical and transcriptomic analyses as well as further set-up for specific performance assays.

January 2020 - now

PhD fellow
International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS), Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena.

Molecular Interaction Ecology, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig.

Project title: “Tapping into signaling interactions between nematodes and aphids”.
Supervisors:Prof. Nicole van Dam & Dr. Grit Kunert (MPI for Chemical Ecology).

September 2017 - September 2019

Master of Science in Agro-and Environmental Nematology at Universiteit Gent, Belgium.

Thesis: “ARMED FOR COMBAT: Possible interaction between miRNAs and chemical priming agents in inducing rice resistance against Meloidogyne graminicola”. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Tina Kyndt.

January 2016 - May 2017

Associate Lecturer at the Department of Biological Sciences, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology, Iligan City, Philippines.

November 2014 - December 2014

Affiliate MSc Research Scholar at the department of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology Division, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines.

October 2011 - April 2015

Master of Science in Biology at MSU –Iligan Institute of Technology, Iligan City, Philippines.

Thesis: “Intraguild interaction among enemies of Brontispa longissima (Gestro): Evaluation of Constructive Implications on Biocontrol Strategies”

Part 1:WINNING THE ENDGAME: Within-host Interaction among three fungal parasites of Brontispa longissima

Part 2:Effects of Metarhizium anisopliae var. F52 and Aspergillus spp. on the emergence and survival of Brontispa longissima parasitoid, Tetrastichus brontispae

Supervisor: Dr. Franco Teves

June 2006 - March 2010

Bachelor of Science in Biology at MSU –Iligan Institute of Technology, Iligan City, Philippines.

Thesis: “Effect of locally isolated Bacillus thuringiensis on Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus larvae”. Supervisor: Dr. Franco Teves.