Brian Byrd

Dr. Brian Byrd is a Professor in the Environmental Health Sciences program at Western Carolina University's College of Health and Human Sciences. He holds a PhD from Tulane University and has expertise in vector-borne diseases, particularly La Crosse encephalitis, and the ecology of invasive mosquitoes and ticks. His research focuses on molecular identification of arthropod vectors and public health interventions. He teaches courses like Medical Entomology and Epidemiology. His recent work includes studies on climate change impacts on vector-borne diseases and post-disaster mosquito control strategies. Dr. Byrd is affiliated with professional organizations such as the Society for Vector Ecology and serves on the editorial board of the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association.

Education: PhD in Public Health and Tropical Medicine (Tulane University), MSPH in Parasitology (Tulane), BA in Biology (UNC Asheville).

Research Interests: Domestic vector-borne diseases, invasive species ecology, molecular markers for mosquito identification, and disease surveillance.

Recent publications highlight his contributions to understanding mosquito biology, disease transmission dynamics, and public health policy. He has authored multiple peer-reviewed articles and collaborates with agencies like the CDC and FEMA.