Nematodes and California Crops
Professor Shahid Siddique to Present Seminar
UC Davis Professor Shahid Siddique, the Howard Ferris Endowed Chair in Plant and Soil Nematodes, will speak on "From Mechanism to Management: Understanding Nematode Parasitism to Protect California Crops" at the next UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology seminar.
The seminar is set for 12:10 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 28 in 122 Briggs Hall. It also will be on Zoom. the Zoom link: https://ucdavis.zoom.us/j/95882849672,
"Plant-parasitic nematodes damage many California crops, and
the options for controlling them are narrowing," Siddique says in his abstract. "In this inaugural lecture as the first holder of Howard Ferris Endowed Chair, I will present our work on how nematodes take control of plant roots, and how understanding this can lead to lasting protection."
Siddique joined the UC Davis faculty in March of 2019 from the University of Bonn, Germany, where he served as a research group leader in nematology from August 2010 to February 2019. Born and raised in Multan, Pakistan, he holds a doctorate in entomology (2009) from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
Siddique, a member of the department's executive committee, is the lead faculty advisor for the undergraduate entomology major. Siddique is known for his innovative teaching, strong communication skills, passion for nematology, and dedication to academic excellence and public engagement.
He received the 2026 Excellence in Teaching Award at the annual meeting of the international Society of Nematologists (SON) held in Baltimore.
Lisa Baik, assistant professor of insect biology, is coordinating the department's seminars for the 2026-27 academic year. For further information on the seminars or for any Zoom technical issues, contact her at [email protected].