My name is Mandeep Tayal and I am currently a Postdoctoral Research Scholar working with Dr. Jim Walgenbach at North Carolina State University's Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center (MHCREC) in Mills River, NC. My current research focuses on investigating insecticide resistance and developing IPM strategies for management of western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) in tomatoes and peppers. I am passionate about collaborating with growers, Extension specialists and fellow scientists to develop data-driven pest management solutions for sustainable agriculture.

I am originally from Punjab, India, where I earned my B.S. in Agricultural Sciences from Punjab Agricultural University in 2018. I received my M.S. in Biology from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley under the mentorship of Dr. Rupesh Kariyat. In 2020, I received prestigious Carl and Ruby Nettles Fellowship to pursue Ph.D. at Clemson University, where I studied the interactions between peach trees, pollen-borne viruses, and pollinators under the mentorship of Dr. Elizabeth Cieniewicz.