Jeffery K. Tomberlin, PhD

Title and Company

Associate professor and AgriLife Research Fellow with the Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, and principle investigator of the Forensic Laboratory for Investigative Entomological Sciences (F.L.I.E.S.)

Roundtable Discussion:

Global perspective on insect production –Research in the F.L.I.E.S. facility examines species interactions on ephemeral resources such as vertebrate carrion, decomposing plant material and animal wastes to better understand the mechanisms regulating arthropod behavior as related to arrival, colonization and succession patterns.

Experience:

In addition to his other roles, Tomberlin serves as director of the Forensic & Investigative Sciences Program at Texas A&M. Since his arrival at Texas A&M University, nine doctoral and 17 master of science students have completed their degrees under his supervision. Tomberlin’s research efforts for the past 19 years have focused on developing methods for the production of alternate protein sources for use as livestock, poultry and aquaculture feed. Predominately, these efforts have been accomplished through his research with the black soldier fly. Among the F.L.I.E.S. program’s numerous goals, a major focus is on waste management in confined animal facilities as well as concerns with food waste being placed in landfills. Because of Tomberlin’s commitment to protecting the environment while helping others, he, along with a group of close friends, also started EVO Conversion Systems LLC, with a mission to protect the environment while producing protein with the black soldier fly.