Subscribe

Pest Science Group

School of Applied
Residential Pest Science

The School of Applied Residential Pest Science was established by Pest Science Group to advance the professional practice of residential pest management through the coordinated study and application of science.

Seal Out Scorpions · PSG Pest Management

A shaded greenbelt path winding between desert homes

Introduction.

Residential pest management is a profession that protects homes, property, health, and quality of life. Every day, practitioners make decisions that influence the safety, comfort, durability, and pest resistance of the homes they serve.

Effective pest management requires more than product knowledge. It requires an understanding of pest biology, building science, environmental conditions, structural systems, healthy housing principles, critical thinking, observation, and professional judgment.

The concept for the School of Applied Residential Pest Science began developing approximately a decade ago, building upon years of specialized residential pest management experience, field observations, structural investigations, building performance evaluations, exclusion projects, and pest management case studies.

A consistent principle emerged from this work: scientific knowledge becomes most valuable when practitioners learn to apply it through observation, diagnosis, practical intervention, and evaluation on actual residential properties.

The School is being developed around an integrated educational model that combines established scientific learning resources, professional education, and supervised field experience. Rather than separating education from daily practice, participants study scientific concepts while applying them to real properties, evaluating conditions, investigating pest activity, and assessing management strategies under experienced professional guidance.

The School distinguishes between established scientific knowledge, documented observations from professional field practice, and findings that require further investigation or independent validation.

During 2026, the School is conducting a Curriculum Development and Field Pilot Program with an initial cohort of nine participants. This pilot provides an opportunity to develop and evaluate instructional methods, practical field exercises, case studies, and professional competency objectives.

Subject to development and evaluation outcomes, a more structured educational program may become available during 2027-2028.

The School is not intended to replace universities, professional associations, manufacturers, licensing agencies, or established continuing education providers. Its objective is to build upon these valuable educational resources and connect them through practical field application, interdisciplinary learning, and professional development specific to Applied Residential Pest Science.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the School of Applied Residential Pest Science is to advance the professional practice of residential pest management by integrating scientific education with supervised, real-world field application.

The School's educational approach emphasizes observation, investigation, diagnosis, intervention, evaluation, and continuous improvement to develop practitioners capable of applying scientific principles to complex residential pest management challenges.

The School is being developed to:

  • Advance residential pest management as an evidence-informed, applied scientific profession.
  • Connect scientific education with field application through supervised investigations, practical experience, and evaluation of actual residential properties.
  • Integrate multiple disciplines, including entomology, building science, healthy housing, structural diagnostics, pest exclusion, integrated pest management, and environmental science.
  • Develop professional judgment through observation, critical thinking, mentorship, practical application, and evaluation of results.
  • Promote evidence-based decision-making by applying established scientific principles while continuously evaluating field observations and outcomes.
  • Develop educational resources and professional competencies through field investigations, documented case studies, curriculum development, and applied research initiatives.

Field Instruction and Professional Mentorship

The School's instructional model draws upon experienced practitioners with specialized professional qualifications, including BPI Certified Building Analysts, Associate Certified Entomologists (ACE), and Certified IPM Technicians (CIT), along with extensive experience in specialized residential pest management.

Instruction emphasizes the relationship between scientific principles and their practical application, helping participants understand not only which methods are used, but why they are selected, how they are implemented, and how their effectiveness can be evaluated.

Program Development | 2026-2028

2026 - Curriculum Development and Field Pilot

An initial cohort of nine participants is contributing to the development and evaluation of an integrated educational approach combining professional study, supervised field experience, property investigations, and practical application.

2027-2028 - Anticipated Program Development

Findings from the pilot will help shape educational content, field training methods, competency expectations, and the structure of future programs. A formalized educational offering may become available during this period, depending on development progress and evaluation outcomes.

The PSG Coordinated Learning Model.

The School follows a coordinated educational model where scientific study and professional practice advance together.

  1. Study

    Scientific principles are learned through universities, professional organizations, technical literature, PSG instruction, research publications, and independent study.

  2. Observe

    Students observe and evaluate conditions in actual residential environments while developing their understanding of pest biology, building performance, and environmental influences.

  3. Diagnose

    Students learn to identify root causes through structured inspections, analysis, critical thinking, and evidence-based decision making.

  4. Intervene

    Students perform appropriate structural, biological, educational, and environmental interventions under established professional practices and supervised field mentorship.

  5. Evaluate

    Students measure outcomes, document observations, discuss findings, analyze results, and continuously improve professional judgment.

This continuous cycle transforms scientific knowledge into professional competence.

Educational Philosophy.

The School believes that professional competence cannot be developed through classroom instruction alone.

Knowledge is acquired through study.

Competence is developed through application.

Professional judgment is developed through experience, observation, reflection, mentorship, and continuous improvement.

A quiet residential street of tile-roofed desert homes under a clear sky

For this reason, practitioners enrolled in the School continue performing their professional responsibilities while simultaneously participating in structured educational programs. Each lesson is intentionally coordinated with field assignments that reinforce classroom concepts through real homes, real pest problems, and real interventions.

Education and professional practice are not separate activities. They become one continuous process of learning, applying, evaluating, and improving.

A southwestern home with desert landscaping under an overcast sky

Professional Philosophy.

The School was established from the belief that residential pest management deserves a structured educational model that reflects the importance and complexity of the profession.

Residential structures are dynamic systems influenced by biology, construction, moisture, airflow, environmental conditions, human behavior, landscaping, and maintenance. Effective pest management requires an understanding of how these systems interact.

The School believes that practitioners should not only understand how to perform pest management services, but why those services are performed, when they are appropriate, how they affect the residential environment, and how they contribute to long-term pest prevention.

Applied Residential Pest Science is therefore not simply the study of pests.
It is the scientific study and professional application of the biological, structural, environmental, and human systems that influence residential pest activity and the interventions used to improve the health, performance, and pest resistance of residential structures.

Instructors.

Mike Golleher

Mike Golleher, B.S., BP-A, BP-T

Cohort Instructor · School of Applied Residential Pest Science

Structural Field Master Specialist · Seal Out Scorpions

Mike Golleher serves as a Cohort Instructor for the School of Applied Residential Pest Science and as the Structural Field Master Specialist for Seal Out Scorpions.

Mike holds a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Grand Canyon University, with academic concentrations in Education, Psychology, and Biology. He is a Building Performance Analyst (BP-A) and Building Performance Technician (BP-T) through the Building Performance Institute (BPI) and is a Certified Applicator licensed through the Arizona Department of Agriculture, Office of Pest Management.

Areas of Instruction

Mike provides instruction and professional mentorship in:

  • Applied Residential Pest Science
  • Building Performance Sealing™
  • Structural Pest Intervention
  • Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
  • Residential Building Science
  • Building Performance Institute educational programs
  • Healthy Housing Principles
  • Residential structural diagnostics
  • Pest Barrier Integrity Systems
  • Residential door performance and diagnostics
  • Building envelope evaluation
  • Air leakage diagnostics
  • Pest entry point identification
  • Structural exclusion systems
  • Field craftsmanship and installation standards
  • Professional documentation
  • Applied field standards
  • Field competency development
Read more about Mike

As one of the Applied Field Developers of Building Performance Sealing™, Mike has helped develop, refine, document, and teach the structural methods, field practices, and applied science that have evolved through Seal Out Scorpions since 1999. His work integrates building science, structural diagnostics, pest management, and professional craftsmanship to improve the performance of residential structures as barriers against pest intrusion.

Within the School, Mike leads study cohorts through the PSG Coordinated Learning Model, where participants integrate scientific study with practical field application. He facilitates discussion, field application, competency development, and professional mentorship while participants progress through educational programs offered by recognized organizations, including the Building Performance Institute (BPI).

As the Structural Field Master Specialist for Seal Out Scorpions, Mike works alongside practitioners in the field, helping develop professional judgment through observation, diagnostics, structural intervention, craftsmanship, documentation, coaching, and continual improvement. His active field leadership allows classroom instruction to remain closely connected to real residential structures and the performance challenges they present.

Educational Leadership

Mike leads study cohorts and facilitates learning through educational programs developed by the Building Performance Institute (BPI) while integrating those concepts with the practical application of Building Performance Sealing™ and Structural Pest Intervention.

Through the PSG Coordinated Learning Model, participants study building science while simultaneously applying those concepts through inspections, diagnostics, Building Performance Sealing™, structural interventions, and residential building performance evaluations.

His instruction emphasizes the relationship between building performance and residential pest prevention, helping practitioners understand not only how structural interventions are performed, but why they improve the long-term performance of the home as a barrier against pest intrusion.

Educational Philosophy

Mike believes that effective structural pest intervention is achieved through the integration of science, observation, diagnostics, craftsmanship, and continual improvement.

His instructional approach emphasizes critical thinking, precision, quality workmanship, and measurable performance. Students are encouraged to understand the relationship between building science, residential construction, and pest management while developing the skills necessary to perform structural interventions to a consistently high professional standard.

Rather than separating education from professional practice, participants immediately apply classroom concepts through their daily work, allowing scientific knowledge to develop into professional judgment through repetition, mentorship, and experience.

His objective is not simply to prepare participants to complete educational programs or earn certificates, but to help develop Applied Pest Science Practitioners capable of improving the performance, durability, and pest resistance of residential structures through scientific understanding, professional craftsmanship, and applied field experience.

Jeremiah Sourp, QP

Cohort Instructor · School of Applied Residential Pest Science

Field Manager · PSG Pest Management

Jeremiah Sourp serves as a Cohort Instructor for the School of Applied Residential Pest Science and as Field Manager for PSG Pest Management.

As a licensed Qualifying Party (QP) through the Arizona Department of Agriculture, Office of Pest Management, Jeremiah combines professional field leadership with scientific education and practitioner development.

Areas of Instruction

Jeremiah provides instruction and professional mentorship in:

  • Applied Residential Pest Science
  • Entomology
  • Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
  • Residential pest inspections
  • Pest identification
  • Pest biology and behavior
  • Residential pest diagnostics
  • Biological pest interventions
  • Pesticide selection and application
  • Monitoring and evaluation
  • Customer communication
  • Professional documentation
  • Case study development
  • Professional field standards
  • Field competency development
Read more about Jeremiah

Within the School, Jeremiah leads study cohorts through the PSG Coordinated Learning Model, where participants integrate scientific study with daily professional practice. He facilitates discussion, field application, competency development, and professional mentorship while participants progress through educational programs offered by recognized organizations including Purdue University and the Entomological Society of America (ESA).

As Field Manager for PSG Pest Management, Jeremiah works alongside practitioners in the field, helping develop professional judgment through observation, diagnostics, intervention, documentation, coaching, and continual improvement. This active field leadership allows classroom instruction to remain closely connected to real residential pest management challenges.

Educational Role

Jeremiah guides participants through structured educational programs developed by organizations such as:

  • Purdue University
  • Entomological Society of America (ESA)

He helps participants understand scientific concepts while applying those concepts during daily residential pest management services through observation, discussion, mentorship, and field evaluation.

Educational Philosophy

Jeremiah believes that professional competence is developed through the coordinated integration of scientific study, professional mentorship, and practical field experience.

His instructional approach emphasizes observation, critical thinking, diagnosis, intervention, evaluation, and continual improvement.

Rather than separating education from professional practice, participants immediately apply classroom concepts through their daily work, allowing scientific knowledge to develop into professional judgment through repetition, mentorship, and experience.

His objective is to help develop Applied Pest Science Practitioners capable of applying scientific principles to real-world residential pest management challenges.

Explore Future Learning Opportunities.

The School of Applied Residential Pest Science is currently in its development and field pilot phase, integrating scientific education with practical experience on actual residential properties.

As the educational model and curriculum evolve, PSG welcomes expressions of interest from pest management professionals, building science practitioners, researchers, educators, and others interested in advancing the science and practice of residential pest management.

Future educational opportunities may include structured field learning, specialized professional development, applied research participation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Interested in being part of what comes next?

Tell us about your professional background, experience, areas of interest, and goals. Your information will help PSG understand the interests and educational needs of potential future participants and collaborators.

EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST

The School is not currently accepting applications or enrollment. Submission of an expression of interest does not constitute an application or guarantee future admission. Program availability and eligibility requirements have not yet been established.

Expression of Interest
What best describes your interest?
Years of relevant professional experience
Areas of interest (select any)

Your details are sent by email to Pest Science Group. Privacy information