Oct 30, 2024

Kantor appointed to the executive board of the Society of Nematologists

Mihail Kantor, assistant research professor of nematology, has been appointed to the executive board of the Society of Nematologists (SON). A nonprofit, international organization dedicated to advancing the science of nematology in its fundamental and economic aspects, SON is the highest professional organization for nematology and fosters knowledge across all areas of nematology.

Kantor’s research focuses on forest ecology, nematode management, and advanced diagnostic techniques. He currently investigates the spread of the beech leaf nematode, with the aim of managing beech leaf disease and preventing further destruction of beech trees.

In his role as an executive board member of the Society of Nematologists, Kantor hopes to bring awareness to nematology by educating students, stakeholders, and the public about the fundamental role of plant-parasitic nematodes in soil and forest ecosystems.

“My goal is to develop and communicate strategies that not only raise awareness but also highlight the broader implications of nematodes on agricultural and ecological health.” Kantor said. “By fostering greater understanding of nematodes’ impact, I hope to drive more research and investment in this field, ensuring it receives the attention it truly deserves.”

“We are tremendously lucky to have Mihail Kantor in the department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology,” said María del Mar Jiménez Gasco, Head of the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology. “The expertise he brings to Penn State on beech leaf disease, root lesion nematodes, and soybean cyst nematodes is invaluable and very impactful for agricultural and forest ecosystem health in PA. He is a very valued member of the department and a great collaborator that contributes to training Plant Pathology graduate students.”

Kantor also highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in his research. He currently collaborates with associate research professor Camelia Kantor, incorporating geospatial science to explore nematode distribution and migration patterns over large areas. Utilizing geographic information systems and remote sensing tools, the pair have mapped the movements of nematodes to environmental variables such as weather patterns, river flows, temperature, and potential nematode-carrying vectors. The resulting data holds promise for predicting how environmental factors affect the spread of nematodes.

“I collaborate across various fields of expertise, which has resulted in novel approaches to answering fundamental nematology questions,” Kantor said. “Combining these disciplines opened up new possibilities for leveraging non-traditional tools and methodologies in the field of nematology, and more targeted management strategies, which are essential for mitigating nematodes' impact on both agricultural and forest ecosystems.”

“We are delighted that Dr. Kantor’s contributions to the field are being recognized by the Society of Nematologists,” said Patrick Drew, interim director of the Huck Institutes and professor of engineering science and mechanics, of neurosurgery, of biology, and of biomedical engineering. “His research draws from many different disciplines to help improve forest and crop health. This type of research embodies the Huck Institutes’ mission to make an impact on important problems in the life sciences by working across disciplinary boundaries.”

Kantor completed his undergraduate and Ph.D. studies at the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine in Romania, where he earned his doctorate in horticulture. He then conducted metabolomics research at Claflin University. Through an ORISE fellowship at the USDA, ARS, Kantor studied nematode taxonomy, which laid the foundation for his current role at Penn State.