Faith Oi

Dr. Faith Oi is an Extension Professor of urban entomology in the Agricultural and Veterinary Science faculty at the University of Florida's Department of Entomology and Nematology. She earned her Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Florida in 1994, M.S. in Entomology from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in 1990, and B.A. in Zoology from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in 1985. Her professional career began with research associate and graduate assistant roles at the University of Hawaiʻi, followed by a graduate assistantship at the University of Florida from 1990 to 1994. She served as Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist at Auburn University from 1995 to 1998, Research Entomologist at USDA-ARS from 1998 to 2000, and joined the University of Florida as Assistant Extension Scientist in 2000, promoted to Associate Extension Scientist in 2013. As Director of Pest Management University and the Florida School IPM Program, she leads evidence-based training for pest management professionals, industry, academia, and regulatory agencies.

Faith Oi's research focuses on integrated pest management strategies for urban pests, including termites, fire ants, Caribbean crazy ants, bed bugs, cockroaches, and mosquitoes, with emphasis on school environments and reduced-risk methods. Notable publications include 'Social exploitation of hexamerin: RNAi reveals a major caste-regulatory factor in termites' (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2006, with Zhou and Scharf), 'RNA interference in the termite Reticulitermes flavipes through ingestion of double-stranded RNA' (Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2008), and contributions to 'Urban Pest Management: An Environmental Perspective' (2011). She co-holds a utility patent (No. 7,968,525, 2011) for RNA interference applications in termite control. Her influence extends through extensive service to the Entomological Society of America since 1995, including two terms as treasurer, Finance Committee chair, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee chair, and election as Vice President-Elect in 2025. Awards include the ESA Southeastern Branch Distinguished Achievement Award in Extension (2007), ESA-SEB Extension Award, Florida Entomological Society Achievement in Extension and Team Research Achievement Award, Pest Control Technology-Syngenta Crown Leadership Award (2018), and University of Florida 2012 Research Award. Oi has served over 25 years on the National Pest Management Association technical committee and chaired multiple National Conference on Urban Entomology committees.

Professional Email: foi@ufl.edu