Author: Fatma Kaplan

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Beneficial nematodes could be key to plant defenses

Research investigates entomopathogenic nematode-plant relationship

Entomopathogenic nematode - WikipediaPublished June 27, 2022, in Morning Agclips, by Adam Russell, Texas A&M AgriLife Communications

The three-year project is titled “Chemical cues from beneficial nematodes enhance plant resistance and strengthen biological control.” It was funded by U.S. Department of AgricultureNational Institute of Food and Agriculture through the Pests and Beneficial Species in Agricultural Production Systems Program.

The $680,000 grant will expand the work Helms began as a postdoctoral fellowship study in 2017. Helms is collaborating with David Shapiro-Ilan, Ph.D., at the USDA-ARS Southeastern Fruit and Tree Nut Research Station in Byron, Georgia, and Fatma Kaplan, Ph.D., at Pheronym Inc. in Woodland, California. Shapiro-Ilan and Kaplan have extensive experience and expertise focusing on nematodes and nematode pheromones, respectively.

Aside from their knowledge about EPNs, Helms said Shapiro-Ilan and Kaplan also provide expertise regarding potential commercial applications of the research to make EPNs a viable option for various users.

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Beneficial nematodes could be key to plant defenses

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Pheronym is on the AgEmerge Podcast

Thank you Monte Bottens for hosting us on the AgEmerge Podcast and the opportunity to talk about the science behind our nematode pheromone technology and cost-effective environmentally friendly pest control for farmers.

The AgEmerge Podcast features new ideas, grower insights, research, and emerging technology.

To learn more about Pheronym’s technology, follow the link for the EPISODE 084.

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Keynote Speaker at the World BioProtection Summit

Biocontrol on Earth and in Space!

Our CEO, Dr. Fatma Kaplan, is honored to be one of the keynote speakers at the World Bioprotection Forum on 23–24 May 2022 at the NEC in Birmingham, England.

The World BioProtection Forum and its annual meeting, the BioProtection Summit and Awards. #BioSummit22 #BiopesticideRR #biocontrol

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Pheronym is hiring

Industry Postdoc Analytical Chemistry

Create the future of agriculture!

Farmers can lose the majority of their crops without pest control. At the same time, there are concerns about the toxicity and environmental impact of traditional chemical controls. These concerns have led to regulation and outright bans on specific pesticides around the globe. Farmers and society demand eco-friendly alternatives to control pests.

Our company, Pheronym, turned to nature to win the battle against pests. We chose pheromones, communication signals, to protect our crops. Pheronym uses nematode pheromones to control agricultural pests, providing climate-friendly alternatives to soil fumigants and improving soil health. In other words, Pheronym enables farmers to control pests in the soil using eco-friendly solutions.

Industry Postdoc for R&D Analytical Chemistry – The position is funded by USDA AFRI collaborative grant.

You will work primarily with Fatma, our co-founder, and interact with our collaborators at the USDA, TAMU, Berkeley lab’s ABPDU, and JEBI alongside the growing Pheronym team. We are a deeply scientific cross-disciplinary team with a strong passion for innovation.

As an early member, you will have a meaningful influence on the culture and growth of Pheronym. Furthermore, you’ll have incredible opportunities to research new technology and transform concepts and strategies into structured projects and make key technical decisions.

    • Maintain a high standard of lab safety culture and design for safe operations
    • Work closely with our lab fermentation and analytical teams to optimize process conditions and analyze test data
    • Design and conduct analytical chemistry experiments using GC-MS or LC-MS and analyze and interpret test data
    • Review journal articles to improve methods
    • Implement strong communication skills across multi-disciplinary teams
    • Write and maintain data, analysis, and reports of your projects and standard operating procedures

You’ll take leadership in developing technological advancements and the design of the product and process. Take the next step and join us in this innovative, solutions-oriented environment.

This position is based in Berkeley, CA.

Please send a cover letter and resume to careers@pheronym.com with “Pheronym Industry Postdoc Analytical Chemistry” in the subject line