Skip to Main Content

Jose Pietri appointed O. Wayne Rollins/Orkin Endowed Chair in Urban Entomology

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University’s Department of Entomology has announced the appointment of Jose Pietri as the O. Wayne Rollins/Orkin Endowed Chair in Urban Entomology, funded by the O. Wayne Rollins Foundation. Founded by the late head of Orkin Inc., the foundation seeks to advance research on the medical and public health challenges posed by pest infestations, ultimately working to mitigate the economic losses and health risks associated with insects and other pests.
 
Pietri brings a wealth of expertise to this position from both academic and industry sectors. He earned his bachelor’s degree in microbiology and PhD in vector-borne infectious diseases from the University of California, Davis, where his research focused on mosquito transmission of malaria parasites and mosquito immunology. During his postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Santa Cruz, in the Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, he investigated fruit fly endosymbionts — beneficial bacteria that live within these insects.
 
After completing his academic training, Pietri transitioned to the pest control industry, serving as principal scientist at Apex Bait Technologies, Santa Clara, California. In this role, he spearheaded the development of innovative tools and products for controlling pests like bed bugs and cockroaches. Pietri’s industry experience served as a foundation for his research at the University of South Dakota (USD) School of Medicine. During Pietri’s six-year tenure at USD, he led a microbiology lab dedicated to exploring the intersection of medical and urban entomology, focusing on how urban pests can transmit pathogens harmful to human health. He also explored the potential use of microorganisms for pest control, offering novel solutions for managing common urban pests.
 
Pietri’s groundbreaking research in the pathogen transmission of cockroaches and bed bugs challenges the long-held perceptions of these insects as minor disease vectors, reshaping pest management and public health practices. His work with insect gut microbiota, physiology and health led to innovative biological control tools, including entomopathogenic bacteria and nanoparticles, which could revolutionize urban pest control.  
 
“Jose’s career is a testament to his exceptional contributions to urban entomology,” said Catherine Hill, professor and head of Purdue’s Department of Entomology. “He has authored over 50 scientific publications in journals considered top tier for urban entomology and secured more than $4.8 million in extramural funding. His research achievements and recognitions from prestigious organizations, including the National Institutes of Health, makes us thrilled to welcome him as the O. Wayne Rollins/Orkin Endowed Chair in Urban Entomology.”
 
In additional to his numerous research accolades, Pietri currently serves as a standing member on the National Institutes of Health’s Transmission of Vector-born and Zoonotic Diseases panel, which evaluates grant applications addressing the complex biology of vector-borne pathogens and community-level disease control strategies.
 
“My work has opened up this emerging area of microbial biology, which hasn’t been a major focus of research programs in this discipline,” Pietri said. “I’ve uncovered previously unappreciated aspects of pest biology that have wide scope implications for human health, societal impacts and pest control strategies.”
 
As Purdue’s O. Wayne Rollins/Orkin Endowed Chair in Urban Entomology, Pietri will play a key role in advancing the university’s One Health initiative, leading a lab dedicated to exploring the biology of disease transmission by urban pests, as well as biological control strategies using microbes to target pests and reduce their health impact. His program combines both basic and applied research, focusing on how urban pests transmit the spread of enteric pathogens like salmonella and high-consequence pathogens such as staphylococcus and borrelia to humans, and their impacts on public health and the development of technologies to manage pests in human-built environments.
 
Reflecting on his new role, Pietri said, “Endowed positions like this are really important as they foster the long-term stability needed to pursue cutting-edge research that might be considered too novel for traditional funding agencies. They are essential not only for advancing urban entomology but also for science at large. I thank everyone behind the scenes who supported this endowment and made this opportunity possible.”

About Purdue Agriculture

Purdue University’s College of Agriculture is one of the world’s leading colleges of agricultural, food, life and natural resource sciences. The college is committed to preparing students to make a difference in whatever careers they pursue; stretching the frontiers of science to discover solutions to some of our most pressing global, regional and local challenges; and, through Purdue Extension and other engagement programs, educating the people of Indiana, the nation and the world to improve their lives and livelihoods. To learn more about Purdue Agriculture, visit this site.

About Purdue University  

Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 107,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 58,000 at our main campus in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 13 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its comprehensive urban expansion, the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue Computes and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.

Media contact: Devyn Ashlea Raver, draver@purdue.edu

Sources: Catherine Hill, hillca@purdue.edu

Agricultural Communications: Maureen Manier, mmanier@purdue.edu, 765-494-8415

To Top