PRINCESS ANNE, MD- (September 24, 2020)-When the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced July 24 its 2020 awardees of the Agriculture Research Service’s 1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical Program, one of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s top researchers, Dr. Simon Zebelo, was among them.
ARS is the USDA’s chief scientific in-house research agency that focuses on solutions to agricultural problems affecting America.
The program, established in 2015 to honor the 125th anniversary of 1890 Land-Grant Universities, gives opportunities for tenure- and research-track faculty at historically black land-grant universities to collaborate with ARS laboratories across the nation.
Zebelo, an associate professor of entomology and plant biology, will collaborate with Dr. Aijun Zhang at the ARS Beltsville (Maryland) Agricultural Research Center. Together, they will “discover, characterize, develop and promote field adoption of pheromones and other behavior-modifying semiochemicals of key vegetable and fruit insect pests,” Zebelo said.
“This is an excellent opportunity to enhance research partnerships with the 1890 Land-Grant Universities,” said ARS Administrator Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young. “I believe that ARS scientists benefit from working with talented partners who can enhance their research programs and bring diverse perspectives to address challenges in the nation’s agricultural system.”
Zebelo joins seven other researchers in the honor representing universities such as Delaware State, Virginia State, Florida A&M, Kentucky State and Alabama State.
Recipients of ARS’ six-to-12 month research sabbatical program receive up to $125,000 to cover supplies, equipment and other related costs, while the summer research sabbatical program funds awardees up to $75,000. Zebelo is the recipient of the summer of 2020-21 award.
Researchers interested in applying for the 2021 program should email: 1890frsp@usda.gov or visit the website for more information.
Gail Stephens, agricultural communications and media associate, School of Agricultural & Natural Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 410-621-3850, gcstephens@umes.edu.
