- Home
- >
- Attend
- >
- Industry Events Calendar
- >
- PestWorld 2025
- >
- Meet the Interns
Meet the Interns
Meet the PestWorld 2025 Interns
The PestWorld education program would not be the success that it is without the energy, dedication, and fresh perspectives of these emerging professionals. Learn more about this year's interns below and hear more about their groundbreaking research at the Intern Showcases.
Kavita Adhikari, University of Florida
Kavita Adhikari is a first-year PhD student in the Department of Entomology and Nematology at the University of Florida (UF). She is currently working with Dr. Ameya Gondhalekar in the Urban Entomology Laboratory. Her PhD research will explore the role of horizontal insecticide transfer on the efficacy of cockroach baits, as well as identify new ways to overcome pyrethroid resistance in bed bugs. In addition, she completed her master’s degree at New Mexico State University, where her research focused on the biological development and management of kissing bugs.
Nikku Bhetwal, University of Hawai’I at Mānoa
My name is Nikku Bhetwal. I completed my bachelor’s degree at Tribhuvan University in Nepal and I am now a second year PhD student in Entomology at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. My research explores the fascinating world of invasive ants studying how different species interact, uncovering the viruses they harbor, and testing whether those viruses can serve as innovative biocontrol tools.
Beyond the lab, I love traveling and meeting new people. For me, science is not only about discovery but also about connection sharing ideas, building collaborations, and learning from diverse perspectives. I’m especially excited to explore Florida and to grow within this vibrant network of researchers, industry, and extension professionals.
Babatunji Daramola, Rutgers University
Babatunji (Tunji) Daramola holds a Bachelor of Technology degree and an MBA from Nigeria. He is currently in the final year of his Master’s program in Entomology at Rutgers University, New Jersey, where he works on the biology, ecology, and management of urban and medically important pests in Dr. Changlu Wang’s Urban Entomology Lab.
With over 7 years of professional and leadership experience prior to graduate school, Tunji is passionate about bridging the gap between research and industry practice. His current thesis focuses on the assessment and prevalence of ectoparasites and ectoparasite-mediated pathogens on New York City brown rats (Rattus norvegicus), with implications for public health and integrated pest management strategies. In his spare time, he enjoys sightseeing, watching comedy shorts and soccer highlights.
Gerardo Guevara Millia, Louisiana State University
Gerardo Guevara is a second-year Graduate Research Assistant in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at Louisiana State University (LSU). He is currently collaborating with Dr. Aaron Ashbrook from LSU’s Entomology Department on a project measuring the economic contribution of the Professional Pest Management Industry in Louisiana, using advanced econometric and input-output modeling techniques. In addition, Gerardo is leading research that evaluates the economic impact of vector-borne disease outbreaks, such as the 2012 West Nile Virus outbreak, on the tourism industry in the New Orleans metropolitan area.
Emily Heiney, University of Georgia
Emily Heiney is a M.S. student in Entomology working out of the University of Georgia, advised by Dr. Dan Suiter. Her research is on the bioavailability and longevity of perimeter treatments with a focus on lasting residuals and their toxicity.
Kuk-Hyun Lim, University of Florida
I am currently in the first year of the Ph.D. program at the Termite Research Lab, University of Florida IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center. My journey in entomology began during my undergraduate studies in South Korea, where I worked in an insect ecology and management laboratory. There, I studied the optimization of mud tube construction in Japanese termite (Reticulitermes speratus), focusing on how termites connect nests to wood blocks. This early experience sparked my fascination with sociobiology and collective behavior, ultimately leading me to pursue graduate education in termite biology.
For my master’s research at the University of Florida, I continued exploring termite mud tubes. I chose to remain focused on this topic for two reasons. First, mud tube construction represents an example of collective behavior—illustrating how termites make decentralized decisions and coordinate as a superorganism, which is aligned with my interest in sociobiological mechanisms. Second, mud tubes have a critical role in allowing termites to invade aboveground wooden structures, posing a significant challenge for urban pest management. By studying this behavior, I aim to contribute to practical solutions that mitigate termite damage in human environments.
My master’s work centered on how wood abundance affects mud tube geometry in Coptotermes gestroi and C. formosanus. Building on these findings, I am now expanding my research during the Ph.D. program to include how factors such as surface texture, wind flow, and wood discovery influence termite behavior. These projects will not only deepen our understanding of termite collective behavior but also inform more effective control strategies.
Fang-Ling (Chloe) Liu, Virginia Tech
Fang-Ling Chloe Liu is a Ph.D. candidate in Entomology at Virginia Tech, advised by Dr. Chin-Cheng Scotty Yang. Her research investigates host-virus interactions in the red imported fire ant, with emphasis on how viral infections alter ant behavior, nutritional ecology, and baiting efficiency to improve management strategies through a deeper understanding of virus-mediated effects on invasive ant populations.
Isha Magar, New Mexico State University
Isha Budha Magar is a graduate research assistant working with Dr. Kristen Bowers in the Urban Entomology lab of New Mexico State University. Her research focuses on the biology and management of the invasive Turkestan cockroaches using Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs)
Ashmita Sapkota, Auburn University
I am Ashmita Sapkota, a second-year master's student in Entomology at Auburn University. I am working on evaluating the impact of competitive food on the toxicity of commercial gel baits against several life stages of American and Turkestan cockroaches. I am passionate about developing effective management strategies for cockroaches and other urban pests that threaten public health, disrupt daily life activities, mental peace, and improve overall quality of life. I look forward to building professional connections, present my work and have fun in Orlando!
Bandana Shrestha, University of Kentucky
Bandana Shrestha is a 1st-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Entomology at the University of Kentucky, specializing in German cockroach management, currently exploring proactive baiting strategies. Her research focuses on evaluating aged gel bait effectiveness under different environmental complexities. She is passionate about developing sustainable and practical pest management approaches that can be applied in real-world urban environments.
She earned her master’s degree in Entomology from Louisiana State University, where her research examined the combined effects of lethal temperature, relative humidity, and various insecticide classes on bed bug (Cimex lectularius) populations.

Event Details
Date: October 21 - 24, 2025
Location: Marriott Orlando World Center Orlando, FL
Topic: Business, Technical