معرفی
Holly Gaff is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences within the College of Sciences at Old Dominion University (ODU). Her interdisciplinary work bridges mathematics and biology, focusing on tick-borne diseases and mathematical modeling of infectious disease transmission.
Dr. Gaff earned her Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (1999) and her B.S. in Mathematics and Environmental Science from Taylor University (1993).
Her primary research interests include mathematical biology, tick-borne diseases, mathematical modeling of infectious diseases, epidemiology, GIS, computational modeling, and ecology. She leads the ODU Tick Lab, which conducts extensive research on tick populations and associated pathogens in southeastern Virginia.
Analysis of her most recent publications reveals a strong focus on tick ecology, mathematical modeling of disease transmission, vector-borne pathogen dynamics, and innovative control strategies for ticks and tick-borne diseases. Her work often employs interdisciplinary approaches combining field data with computational models.
- University Women's Caucus Achievement Award, Old Dominion University (2017)
- Shining Star Award for Helping students succeed academically, professionally, or personally (2016, 2015, 2011, 2010)
- Distinguished Teaching Award for Outstanding Tenure-Track Teacher, College of Sciences (2013)
- AWM Service Award, Association for Women in Mathematics (2013)
Dr. Gaff has secured numerous research grants totaling over $3.5 million, primarily focused on tick-borne diseases, spatial epidemiology, and mathematical modeling of infectious diseases. She has developed innovative approaches including the TickBot, a robotic device for tick control in natural environments. Her research group actively collaborates with multiple institutions across the United States and internationally.
She directs the ODU Tick Lab, which conducts extensive field and laboratory research on tick populations, pathogen surveillance, and ecological factors influencing disease transmission in southeastern Virginia.
