“I feel very lucky to be an OSU student,” Rodrigo Chorbadjian said. “Here, I have found the expertise and a friendly atmosphere to assist my research. My experience at OSU is helping me become a better scientist.”

A native of Chile, Rodrigo Chorbadjian has always been fascinated by the inner workings of the biological world.

Chorbadjian — whose paternal grandfather immigrated from Armenia — came to Ohio State to pursue a Ph.D. in entomology to improve his knowledge about insect-plant interactions. Before that, he earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in agricultural sciences from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and became a professor there, teaching and researching insect-pest management strategies for agricultural and ornamental plants.

On Ohio State’s Wooster campus, Chorbadjian is part of a multidisciplinary project that seeks to understand interactions between an insect (the European pine sawfly), a disease-causing organism (Sphaeropsis sapinea), and a popular ornamental tree (the Austrian pine). He is also involved in the Entomology Graduate Student Association, organizing educational activities for the community.

His advisor, Dan Herms, said Rodrigo is a very creative and highly motivated young scientist who likes to share his culture as well.

“He has conceived some very clever experiments to answer a question that I had told him was probably not feasible to address in a graduate program,” Herms said. “He is also a connoisseur of fine Chilean wines and an expert fisherman. His positive attitude, quick wit and dry sense of humor brightens and lightens the lab.”

Chorbadjian’s future plans point to the South. “Back home, I will be working on agricultural pests, to hopefully make a difference in the world we live in.”