CV
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Education
- PhD student, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada (in progress)
- Research focus: chemical ecology and integrated management of insect pests in forage seed systems
- Vanier Canada Graduate Scholar
- MSc in Plant Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada (subsequently transferred to PhD)
- Thesis focus: economic thresholds, spatial distribution, and sequential sampling plans for Hypera nigrirostris in red clover seed production
- Field- and lab-based applied entomology research in northern agricultural systems
- B.Sc. in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, 2023
- Thesis focus: Aster leafhopper ecology and Aster yellows epidemiology
- Dean’s Honour Roll (all years)
Work Experience
- Research Assistant, Prager Lab, University of Saskatchewan
2021–2026- Conducted field surveys in agroecosystems and native grasslands.
- Identified insect specimens to the lowest taxonomic rank possible.
- Performed Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) and Good Microbiological Techniques (GMT).
- Agronomist / Producer, Irvine Ville Farms Ltd.
2012–Present- Applied Good Agricultural Practices during production of small grains, pulses, and oilseeds.
- Conducted field surveys for pathogens, weeds, and insect pests.
- Designed and evaluated annual strip trials to compare agronomic management practices.
- Production Machinist, Bourgault Industries Ltd.
2017–2020- Manufactured precision agricultural machinery components.
- Conducted safety audits of production facilities to support workplace compliance.
- Performed performance evaluations used in corporate compensation reviews.
Skills
- Entomological & Agronomic Research
- Field sampling (sweep netting, quadrats, sequential sampling)
- Insect identification and developmental assays
- Behavioural bioassays (two-choice, no-choice, Y-maze)
- Data Analysis & Statistical Modelling
- R programming (tidyverse, mixed models, Bayesian analysis)
- Experimental design, threshold estimation (EIL/ET), dispersion analysis
- Data visualization and reproducible workflows
- Technical & Computational Skills
- Website development using Jekyll, GitHub Pages, and version control
- Git/GitHub workflow (branching, pull requests, CI automation)
- HPC usage (SLURM job scheduling, BLAST pipelines)
Publications
Irvine, J. R. (2025). "Challenges in Undergraduate Research: Pathways to Stronger Graduate Programs." American Entomologist, 71(3).
Irvine, J. R., Romero, B., Prager, S. M. (2025). "Effects of Phytoplasma Infection on Aster Leafhopper (Macrosteles quadrilineatus Forbes) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) Settling Behaviour and Development on Brassica napus." Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata.
Irvine, J. R., Prager, S. M. (2025). "Economic Thresholds for Lesser Clover Leaf Weevil in Red Clover Seed Production." Forage Seed News, 30(2).
Irvine, J. R., Prager, S. M. (2025). "Economic Thresholds for Hypera nigrirostris (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Red Clover Seed Production from On-Farm Trials." Journal of Economic Entomology.
Irvine, J. R., Hartl, T., Prager, S. M. (2025). "Climate Change Impact on Agricultural Entomology." Bulletin of the Entomological Society of Canada, 57(1).
Irvine, J. R. (2024). "Complementing the Western Scientific Approach with Indigenous Knowledge." American Entomologist, 70(1).
Talks
November 09, 2025
Conference talk at Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting 2025, Portland, OR, USA
November 09, 2025
Poster at Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting 2025, Portland, OR, USA
October 05, 2025
Conference talk at Entomological Society of Canada Annual Meeting 2025, Calgary, AB, Canada
September 24, 2025
Poster at USask Agriculture Research Day, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
July 25, 2025
Conference talk at 4th Annual Plant Sciences Graduate Student Field Day, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
June 23, 2025
Conference talk at International Chemical Ecology Course (ICE2025), Jena, Germany
March 14, 2025
Conference talk at 40th Plant Science Graduate Student Symposium, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
March 04, 2025
Extension talk at Soils and Crops 2025, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
December 10, 2024
Poster at Saskatchewan Forage Seed Development Commission Meeting 2024, Arborfield, SK, Canada
December 10, 2024
Extension talk at Saskatchewan Forage Seed Development Commission AGM, Arborfield, SK, Canada
December 06, 2024
Conference talk at Entomological Society of Saskatchewan Annual Meeting 2024, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
November 10, 2024
Poster at Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting 2024, Phoenix, AZ, USA
November 10, 2024
Conference talk at Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting 2024, Phoenix, AZ, USA
October 20, 2024
Conference talk at Entomological Society of Canada Annual Meeting 2024, Quebec City, QC, Canada
August 25, 2024
Conference talk at International Congress of Entomology (ICE 2024), Kyoto, Japan
July 19, 2024
Conference talk at 3rd Annual Plant Sciences Graduate Student Field Day, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
July 18, 2024
Extension talk at Speaker Series: Ag in Motion, Langham, SK, Canada
July 17, 2024
Extension talk at Carrot River Organic Field Day, Carrot River, SK, Canada
March 15, 2024
Conference talk at 39th Plant Science Graduate Student Symposium, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
March 05, 2024
Extension talk at Soils and Crops 2024, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
December 14, 2023
Poster at Graduate Student Research Conference, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
December 11, 2023
Poster at Forage Seed Production Forum 2023, White Fox, SK, Canada
December 11, 2023
Extension talk at Saskatchewan Forage Seed Development Commission Annual Meeting, White Fox, SK, Canada
December 08, 2023
Conference talk at Entomological Society of Saskatchewan Annual Meeting 2023, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
November 05, 2023
Poster at Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting 2023, National Harbor, MD, USA
November 05, 2023
Conference talk at Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting 2023, National Harbor, MD, USA
October 15, 2023
Conference talk at Entomological Society of Canada Annual Meeting 2023, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
October 15, 2023
Conference talk at Entomological Society of Canada Annual Meeting 2023, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
January 30, 2023
Conference talk at Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
November 13, 2022
Poster at Entomological Societies of America and Canada Joint Meeting 2022, Vancouver, BC, Canada
September 07, 2022
Poster at AgBio Student Research Day 2022, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
August 22, 2022
Conference talk at Student Undergraduate Research Experience Symposium 2022, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Teaching
Service and leadership
Academic Service
- Council Member, Saskatchewan Post-Secondary Council Student Council — 2025–Present
- Voting Member, CGPS Graduate Faculty Council — 2025–Present
- Member, Graduate & Postdoctoral Council (GPC) — 2025–Present
- Member, Occupational Health and Safety Committee, University of Saskatchewan — 2024–Present
- Departmental Steward, PSAC Local 40004 — 2024–Present
- President, Plant Sciences Graduate Students’ Association — 2024–2025
- Council Member, Graduate Students’ Association — 2024–2025
- Member, Election and Referenda Committee, GSA — Winter 2025
- Judge, Images of Research Competition, University of Saskatchewan — Winter 2025
- Judge, USSU Undergraduate Symposium — Winter 2025
- Industry Liaison, Plant Sciences Graduate Students’ Association — 2023–2024
- Organizing Committee, Plant Science Graduate Student Symposium — 2023–2024
- Computer Systems Specialist, Plant Sciences Graduate Students’ Association — 2023–2024
- Associate Editor, University of Saskatchewan Undergraduate Research Journal — 2022–2023
Professional Service
- President, Entomological Society of Saskatchewan — 2025–Present
- Member-at-Large, Committee on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Entomological Society of America — 2025–Present
- Member, Student and Early Professional Affairs Committee, Entomological Society of Canada — 2025–Present
- Member, Youth & Amateur Encouragement Committee, Entomological Society of Saskatchewan — 2025–Present
- Member, Scholarship Committee, Entomological Society of Saskatchewan — 2025–Present
- Member, Species-at-Risk Committee, Entomological Society of Saskatchewan — 2024–Present
- Vice President, Entomological Society of Saskatchewan — 2024–2025
- Member, Scholarship and Award Committee, Canadian Society of Agronomy — 2025–2025
- Member, Scientific Organizing Committee, CSA–CSHS Joint Meeting — 2024–2025
- Student Director, Canadian Society of Agronomy — 2024–2025
- Member, Social Media Committee, Entomological Society of Saskatchewan — 2023–2025
- External Director, Science FUNdamentals — 2022–2023
Outreach and Extension
- Programming Provider, Montgomery School (Saskatoon) — 2025
- Programming Provider, CanoLAB SK (Canola Council of Canada) — 2025
- Programming Provider, Nawigizigweyas Education Centre — 2023–2025
- Programming Provider, Skype a Scientist — 2023–2025
- Facilitator, Gardenscape (Entomological Society of Saskatchewan) — 2023–2025
- Facilitator, Ag in Motion (University of Saskatchewan) — 2023–2025
- Programming Facilitator, Agriculture in the Classroom — 2022–2025
Volunteer Activities and Community Engagement
- General Volunteer, Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan — 2022–2025
- Registration Volunteer, Entomological Society of Canada AGM — 2025
- General Volunteer, Ag in Motion, University of Saskatchewan — 2025
- General Volunteer, USask Open House — 2024–2025
- General Volunteer, Career Fair, Nawigizigweyas Education Centre — 2023–2024
- Registration Volunteer, Entomological Society of Canada AGM — 2023
- Volunteer, Entomological Society of Canada AGM — 2022
- General Volunteer, Saskatchewan Invasive Species Council — 2022
- Food Centre Volunteer, University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union — 2022
Awards and Honours
Recipient of more than $500,000 in competitive scholarships, awards, and research funding.
2025
- Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship
- Department of Plant Science 75th Anniversary Recruitment Scholarship
- Saskatchewan Innovation & Opportunity Scholarship
- Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS-D) — declined
- Indigenous Graduate Leadership Scholarship — declined
- Justice Favel Outstanding Leadership Award in Community Involvement
- Plant Science Indigenous Student Award
- Mitacs Globalink Research Award
- NSERC – Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement
- USask Student Travel Award
- Bayer Pest Management Award
- Ali Navabi Graduate Student Travel Award — declined
- Education Enhancement Grant
- University of Saskatchewan – Outstanding MSc Student
- Excellence in Community Service (GSA)
2024
- Entomological Activities Award
- BASF Canada Indigenous Student Award
- USask Student Travel Award
- Gopalan Selvaraj Innovation Scholarship in Plant Sciences
- Norman and Kathleen Lean Postgraduate Scholarship in Agriculture
- Rene Vandeveld Post Graduate Award
- Irrigation Saskatchewan Graduate Student Award
- Saskatchewan Lieutenant Governor Scholarship
- Education Enhancement Grant
- Yellow Quill Holdings Inc. Scholarship Program
- Building Brighter Futures Scholarship
- Indigenous Achievement Week Award
2023
- Entomological Activities Award
- Saskatchewan Mentorship Network Award
- USask Student Travel Award
- Education Enhancement Grant
- Entomological Society of America Travel Award — declined
- Graduate Travel Award
- Agriculture Signature Area Award
- CGPS 75th Recruitment Scholarship
- NSERC – Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS-M)
- NSERC – Indigenous Scholars Award (ISA)
- Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan – Volunteer of the Year
- Dean’s Honour Roll
2022
- William G. Ewart and Mary Noreen Ewart Award
- CIBC Student Grant
- Saskatchewan Mentorship Network Award
- Education Enhancement Grant
- Building Brighter Futures Scholarship
- NSERC – Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA)
- Dean’s Honour Roll
2021
- Blaine and Pat Holmund Scholarship
- CIC Indigenous Student Award
- Dean’s Honour Roll
Courses and Certifications
- International Chemical Ecology Course – Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology — 2025
- USask Data Governance — 2025
- Cascade Training and User Guide (USask) — 2025
- Project and Time Management (MITACS) — 2025
- Research and Development Management (MITACS) — 2025
- High Performing Leadership and Teams (MITACS) — 2025
- Responsible Conduct of Research (Life Science, Canada) — 2024
- Good Clinical Practices (GCP), Canada Version 2 — 2024
- TCPS 2: CORE 2022 — 2024
- Biohazardous Waste Management — 2024
- Supervision and Safety — 2024
- Occupational Health Committee Level 2 — 2024
- Occupational Health Committee Level 1 — 2024
- Biosafety Training — 2024
- First Aid Level C — 2024
- WHMIS 2015 — 2024
- Articling Agrologist (AAg) — 2023
- Commercial Driver’s Licence (Class 1A) — 2019
Memberships and Associations
- International Society of Chemical Ecology — 2025–Present
- Canadian Society of Zoology — 2024–Present
- Ecological Society of America — 2024–Present
- Royal Entomological Society — 2024–Present
- American Indian Science and Engineering Society — 2024–Present
- Plant Science Graduate Students’ Association — 2023–Present
- Canadian Society of Soil Science — 2022–Present
- Canadian Society of Horticultural Sciences — 2022–Present
- Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan — 2022–Present
- Canadian Society of Agronomy — 2022–Present
- Entomological Society of Canada — 2021–Present
- Entomological Society of America — 2021–Present
- Entomological Society of Saskatchewan — 2021–Present
- Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists — 2021–Present
- Saskatchewan Invasive Species Council — 2022–2024
- Saskatchewan Indigenous Mentorship Network (SK-IMN) — 2022–2024
- Agricultural Students’ Association — 2021–2023
- Prairie Oat Growers Association — 2017–2023
- Wheat Growers Association — 2017–2023
- Canadian Tooling & Machining Association — 2017–2020