Omar Martinez joins Center for Pollinator Health at DREC

Dr. Omar Martinez has joined the Center for Pollinator Health at Delta Research and Extension Center as a postdoctoral fellow.

A native of Colombia, Dr. Martinez earned his PhD in biological science from the University of São Paulo and has worked with professional beekeepers and queen breeders in Brazil, Colombia, New Zealand, and the United States. This experience will be invaluable as he interacts with Mississippi’s professional beekeepers and queen breeders.

“Omar is a valuable asset who can easily connect with beekeepers in the state and effectively lead collaborative projects to address real-world challenges in the apiculture industry,” said Dr. Esmaeil Amiri, MSU Extension Assistant Professor for the National Pollinator Center.

Dr. Martinez has spent the last 20 years in Brazil studying honey bee queens, and at DREC he is leading two projects focused on investigating the long-term effects of biotic and abiotic stress during queen development.

“The honey bee queen is the only reproductive individual in her colony and her vigor has a great impact on the growth and production of the colony,” Martinez said. “As a result, I am keen on furthering my knowledge in this area and integrating it with my practical expertise by studying queen health and performance.”

Dr. Martineznoted that part of DREC’s mission, to extend to stakeholders knowledge and insights gained through applied research, initially attracted him to the Mississippi Delta. “Delta Research and Extension Center’s focus on simplifying scientific knowledge and translating it into layman’s language through extension activities aligns perfectly with my own interests and aspirations,” he said. “I have always been eager to engage in such activities and I look forward to actively participating in them.”

The landscape of the Delta was also a draw to Martinez, who grew up in a farming family in Colombia. “Being in Delta always reminds me of home,” he said. “The extensive involvement in extension activities and direct interaction with the farming community make DREC a truly exceptional place to work. Working alongside other agricultural research disciplines and having direct contact with professional farmers while being a part of a prestigious university like Mississippi State University offer a unique and unparalleled opportunity that is not easily found in other institutions or universities.”

Delta Research and Extension Center was established in 1904 and encompasses nearly 5,000 acres. DREC seeks to increase the yields of commercial agriculture and aquaculture producers while preserving the Mississippi Delta’s environment and natural resources.