Specialty areas: Molecular population genetics and forensic analysis of DNA
Brief Bio
I am a Professor of Genetic in the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. I do research in Insect Molecular Genetics, specifically in Genetic Variation at the DNA level in populations of Insect Pest Species. I also do consulting for forensic investigations involving DNA testing, and I am the DNA consultant for the Hawaii Chapter of the Innocence Project, part of a national program to identify and correct wrongful convictions.
My Research
My work on insect pest species focuses on documenting DNA level genetic variation in insect pest species and populations around the world. I am mostly focused on insects in the family Tephritidae (the true fruit flies), but I have also done similar work on other insects and other species of genetic interest
Recent academic experience
2019 GIAN (Global Initiative for Academic Networks) Scholar, Paul Hebert Centre for DNA Barcoding
Studies, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad, India.
2018 Panelist, IAEA Research Coordination Panel on Insect Colony Management
2013-2016 Education director, Hawaii State INBRE program (NIH)
2013 Coordinator, IAEA Workshop on Resolving Species Complexes of Tephritid Pest Species
2015-2017 Member, Honors Faculty and Honors Council, University of Hawaii
2015-present Editorial Board Member, Naresuan University International Journal of Science, Thailand
2015-2020 Fulbright Specialist Award and Fulbright Grant recipient
Recent grant support
Exoneration of the Innocent in the State of Hawaii through Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence, National Institute of Justice (NIJ), Award #DYBXK002. Oct 1, 2015 – Sept. 30, 2017. Total award: $410,492.
Selected publications from recent years
Ruiz-Montoya, L., Vallejo, R, Haymer, D. and P. Liedo. 2020. Genetic and Ecological Relationships of Anastrepha ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae) Populations in Southern Mexico. Insects 11: 815. doi:10.3390/insects11110815
Khedkar, G; Khedkar, C; Prakash, B; Khedkar, A and D. Haymer. 2019. DNA barcode based
identification of a suspected tiger skin: A case to resolve mimicry Forensic Science International: Reports 1 (2019) 100027 (doi.org/10.1016/j.fsir.2019.100027)
Julsirikul, D., D. Haymer and S. Kitthawee. 2017. Genetic structure and diversity of the
Diachasmimorpha longicaudata species complex in Thailand: SSCP analysis of mitochondrial 16S rDNA and COI DNA sequences. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 71: 59-68. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bse.2017.01.008
Haymer, D. 2016. Genetics and management of insect pests in agriculture. CAB Reviews 10 (49): 1-8
Elfekih, S, Chen C., Hsu, J, Belcaid, M. and D. Haymer. 2015. Identification and preliminary
characterization of chemosensory perception associated protein in the melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae, using RNA-seq. Nature Reports 6: 19112, DOI:10.1038/srep19112.
Hee, A., Wee, SL, Nishida, N., Ono, H, Hendrichs, J., Haymer, D. & KH Tan. 2015. Historical
perspective on the synonymization of the four major pest species belonging to the Bactrocera dorsalis species complex (Diptera: Tephritidae). Zookeys, doi: 10.3897/zookeys.@@.6028.
Haymer, D. 2015. Entomology and Molecular Biology need a shotgun wedding. American
Entomologist DOI:10.1093/ae/tmv043.
M. Schutze et al. (D. Haymer is one of 35 authors) 2015. Synonymization of key pest species within the Bactrocera dorsalis species complex (Diptera: Tephritidae): taxonomic changes based on a review of 20 years of integrative morphological, molecular, cytogenetic, behavioural, and c hemoecological data. Systematic Entomology 40: 456-471. doi: 10.1111/syen.12113.
A. Parubrub, R. Reyes, CJ Smallridge, B. Woods and D. Haymer. 2015. Mitochondrial
single nucleotide polymorphisms in the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, can distinguish sterile, released flies from wild flies in various regions of the world. Journal of EconomicEntomology DOI: 10.1093/jee/tou027.
S. Homchan, D. Haymer and S. Kitthawee, 2014. Microsatellite marker variation in populations of the melon fly parasitoid, Psyttalia fletcheri. ScienceAsia, 40:348-354.
Contact Me
Thanks for your interest in my research. Get in touch with any questions or comments regarding my work and publications. I’d love to hear from you.
808-956-5517