Michael Kaufman

Michael Kaufman is an Adjunct Emeritus Associate Professor in the Department of Entomology at Michigan State University (MSU), within the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources. His current role involves 15% teaching and 85% research, focusing on insect nutritional ecology, microbial interactions with mosquitoes, and invasive species. He has contributed extensively to understanding mosquito-microbe dynamics and vector-borne disease control.

Research interests include larval mosquito growth, microbial interactions, invasive species biology (e.g., Ae. japonicus), and surveillance of arboviruses like West Nile and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. His work bridges fundamental ecological questions with applied strategies to reduce disease transmission.

Teaching includes courses such as Biomonitoring of Streams and Rivers, Medical Entomology, and Field Ecology of Arthropod Disease Vectors. He has mentored multiple graduate students and served on numerous thesis committees since 2010.

Key research themes from his publications include detrital resource utilization in mosquitoes, invasion biology of Ae. japonicus, and microbial control agents. His work emphasizes ecological and applied aspects of mosquito biology.

Outreach includes advisory roles with Michigan mosquito control districts, collaboration with state health agencies, and leadership as past president of the Society for Vector Ecology (SOVE). He is part of the Upper Midwestern Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Disease, expanding surveillance in the region.