Dr. Rakefet Sharon

Areas of Interests:

Entomology

Dr. Rakafet Sharon is an entomologist whose research focuses on developing ecological solutions for agricultural pest management. Her lab aims to reduce crop damage and limit the spread of plant diseases by harnessing insect behavior and dispersal patterns, offering sustainable alternatives to chemical control. Dr. Sharon’s work centers on key pests including leafhoppers and other Auchenorrhyncha, scale insects and aphids (Sternorrhyncha), and Lepidoptera, across major crops such as vineyards, pomegranate, almonds, and apples.

  • Main crops: vineyards, pomegranate, almonds and apples.
  • Main pests: Auchenorrhyncha (leafhoppers, plant hoppers etc.); Sternorryncha (Coccoidea; Aphidoidea); Lepidoptera

 

CV
Complete CV PDF644.13 KB

Education

  • 1991 - B.Sc. Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, Faculty of Agriculture  Agriculture- Animal Sciences- specialization in ruminants 
  • 1995- M.Sc. Technion- Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. Department of Biology. Supervision by: Prof. M. Warburg and Prof. G. Dgani Ecozoology- The Reproductive system of the female salamander S.S.infraimmaculata  and its Adaptation to Water Availability in Different Habitats.
  • 2001- Ph.D. Technion- Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. Department of Biology Supervision: Prof. M. Warburg, Prof. G. Dgani and Prof. Z. Arad    Ecology- Contribution of Invertebrate Groups to Leaf Litter Decomposition in Oak-Wood Soil.
  • 2004- Postdoctoral Associate ARO, The Volcani Center, Beit Dagan, Israel. Department of Entomology with Dr. Ally Harari Animal behavior- The effect of host plant volatiles on the attractant behavior of Lobesia botrana (Lepidoptera)

 

Work Experience

  • 2016 -to date MIGAL- Galilee Technology Center, Northern R&D Senior Research Scientist
Funding

Current research subjects

  • Development of precise agriculture methods for monitoring the dispersal of pests, including the epidemiology of vector-born plant diseases, in and between crops and the adjacent environment.
  • Manipulations on pest behavior, mainly communication related, using semiochemicals (pheromone and kairomone) as attractants and repellent factors; chemicals, visual and acoustic cues to disrupt mating search.
  • The effects of extreme climate events on pest population dynamics and pests-plant interactions.