Dr Laura Martinez Chavez

Dr Laura Martinez-Chavez is an applied entomologist with a PhD in biological control from Harper Adams University (UK), an MSc in genetics and cell biology from Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (Spain) and a BSc (Hons) in biology with an emphasis in entomology from Universidad del Valle (Colombia). Her expertise sits at the intersection of  biology, genetics, behaviour, biodiversity and agriculture. 

She studies multitrophic interactions from an ecologically applied perpsective to enhance pest management, as well as biodiveristy in an a global agricultural context. 

Her PhD was funded by a BBSRC CTP-FCR program in partnership with NIAB at East Malling and the James Hutton Institute, and it investigated the role of potato aphid clonal diversity on its interactions with parasitoids used in biological control programmes in strawberry crops.

Dr Martinez-Chavez postdoctoral research experience has involved projects on RNAi techniques to control problematic invertebrates, insecticide resistance testing and genomic characterisation of relevant agricultural pests. She is also the current Research Trials Technical Scientific Officer for the Agriculture and Environment Department. 

Her main research interests include, but are not limited to, applied entomology, application of molecular techniques, soil quality, food security & sustainable agriculture.

Professional Memberships

• Associate Fellowship (Advance HE)
• Member of the Royal Entomological Society
• Member of the SCI