Clarke’s Field Science Team: Bridging the Gap Between Innovation & Implementation

Clarke’s Field Science team spearheads the fieldwork and trials conducted to assist with developing, and registering new and existing mosquito control products under EPA and Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) regulations, including the launching and post-launch work of new products with customers. 

In conjunction, the team members also facilitate the integration of mosquito control adulticide, larvicides and application equipment with municipalities, abatement districts and research institutions – often helping to troubleshoot and solve unique treatment needs or functions.

Learn more about Clarke’s Field Science team below, including their role at Clarke, areas of research, and in-field specialties.

Yemi Bullen-McClain -Vice President of Research, Development, and Engineering,

Yemi Bullen-McClain is Clarke’s Vice President of Research, Development, and Engineering, effective 2024.

Yemi has led Clarke’s research and development team for over eight years, joining as the Director of Product Innovation and Field Science in 2015 after a lengthy tenure in product chemistry research at SC Johnson, focusing on pest control. Driven by a passion for sustainability, she takes pride in creating and integrating environmentally friendly mosquito control solutions for use in municipal, commercial and residential environments.

Yemi has been integral to developing new products for global public health, stewarding Clarke’s Duet H.D., Cielo, and Merus mosquito adulticides, leading research, managing Clarke’s Good Laboratory Practice program and test facility, and working across departments to ensure timely, adoptable deployments into markets. Yemi holds a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Howard University and primarily operates from Clarke’s headquarters in Illinois when not on site for field work.

Derek Drews – Field Sciences Manager

Derek Drews serves as Clarke’s Field Sciences Manager, backed by over fifteen years of experience within Clarke and the pesticide industry. Derek leads a multifaceted team, with concentrations on conducting fieldwork for the registration and development of new and existing products with the EPA under GLP rules, executing emergency action plans for mosquito-related emergencies, and partnering with and educating organizations on proper mosquito control techniques. His enjoyment of researching and contributing to mosquito control practices supports this work.

Derek studied Biochemistry at Eastern Illinois University and works from Clarke’s headquarters in Illinois. He is a member of the American Mosquito Control Association, where he has presented on numerous emerging topics, such as Optimizing Aerial Granule Applications, The Form and Function of Conducting Caged Trials and Wide-Open Thinking On Wide-Area Applications.

Andrew Rivera – Senior Field Biologist, West

Andrew Rivera serves as Clarke’s Senior Field Biologist, backed by past field experience with the County of San Diego as a Vector Control and Surveillance Technician. Within the Field Science team, Andrew conducts field and laboratory experiments, coordinates adulticide and larvicide field trials for customers and researches and reports on these findings. In addition, he specializes in optimizing product dispersal equipment on customer helicopters, fixed-wing airplanes, trucks and manual backpacks.

Andrew brings a valuable perspective to any mosquito program due to his interest in using technology and equipment within entomology and mosquito control. 

He contributes to ongoing mosquito control research, with talks on Uses of the Buffalo Turbine in Mosquito Control, Making the Most of Your Bioassay, Efficacy of the Organic Adulticide, Merus 3.0, When Applied Aerially, and Sandular: Natular SC Mixed onto Sand as a Single-Brood. In addition to holding certifications in Adult and Larval Mosquito Identification, pesticide regulation, application and control, Andrew is a member of the American Mosquito Control Association, the Entomological Society of America, and the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California. Andrew earned a BS in Biology with an emphasis in Ecology from San Diego State University, where he now guest lectures within their biology department.

Kattie Morris – Regional Field Science Supervisor, FL

Kattie Morris serves as our Regional Field Sciences supervisor for the Florida region, where she leads and supports two associate biologists. In addition to her supervisor role, she also provides technical expertise to our customers in the US’s Florida, East and South regions. When she is not supporting customers, she leads the Field Science team as the Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) study director and Principal investigator for new product GLP studies. 

Kattie has been in the industry for six years and has contributed numerous presentations to regional and national meetings on topics including Keeping Mosquito Control Relevant: Emerging Tools of the Trade, Innovating the Field Trial, and What It Means to Optimize a New Product for Operational Use. Kattie Morris holds a BS in Biology from Elmhurst University and an MS in Biological Sciences from DePaul University and operates out of Clarke’s headquarters in Illinois.

Victoria Hyrczyk – Associate Field Biologist

Victoria earned a BS in Environmental Science and Biology from Bradley University, where she worked as an undergraduate research assistant and conducted independent research in entomology. She now collaborates with customers throughout Clarke’s Florida region on field trials, product adoption, and implementation.

Much of her work focuses on improving field trials, with research including Optimizing Wide Area Applications with Air Blast Equipment and Mobile Insectaries.

Thomas “Tommy” Pemrick – Environmental Scientist

As an Environmental Scientist, Tommy Pemrick assists Clarke’s field science and product development teams in conducting field trials for the screening, efficacy-proving and optimization of formulations. In particular, he tests larvicide prototypes and innovations in field testing techniques, equipment and technology.

Tommy started working at Clarke as a field inspection technician, followed by an internship in Clarke’s surveillance lab, collecting, identifying, and testing mosquito samples for West Nile Virus. Shortly after, he accepted a position as an associate biologist before ultimately progressing to his current role as an environmental scientist. Tommy holds a BS in Environmental Science and Environmental Studies from Iowa State University and operates out of Clarke’s Illinois headquarters.