Dr. Patrick Moran is a Research Entomologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Invasive Species and Pollinator Health Research Unit (ISPH), in Albany, CA.
He has 23 years of experience working at the USDA-ARS. Patrick holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Environmental Studies from Tufts University and a Ph.D. in Entomology from The Pennsylvania State University. He has published about 90 journal papers and book chapters on biological control of invasive weeds of rangeland, forest, riparian, wetland and aquatic habitats, with a special focus on weeds that threaten water resources. Current and past weed targets include water hyacinth, tamarisk or saltcedar, arundo, Cape-ivy, yellow starthistle, French broom, stinkwort, crystalline ice plant and common crupina. Patrick conducts studies on invasive weed genetic origin and ecology, and on the biology, host range and efficacy of candidate biological control agents in quarantine laboratories and overseas in the weeds’ native range.
He also conducts releases of permitted biological control agents and studies their establishment, dispersal and impact. Patrick also studies integrated weed management combining biocontrol and herbicides or physical removal. He was previously Lead Director of the ARS-funded Delta Region Areawide Aquatic Weed Project (DRAAWP), focused on integrated management of floating and submersed aquatic weeds in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. He served from 2014-2020 as Treasurer of the Plant-Insect Ecosystems of the Entomological Society of America and as a Member and Chair of their Awards Committee, from 2009-2011 as Co-Chair of the Texas-New Mexico-Mexico Saltcedar Biological Control Consortium, and from 2005-2008 as Editor and Program Chair of the Texas Aquatic Plant Management society.
He is currently Lead Scientist on the weed and pest insect biological control project at the USDA-ARS-ISPH. In his spare time Patrick enjoys the great outdoors, plays bridge with friends, and attends live theater as well as heavy metal and goth concerts and dance events.