Monika Gulia-Nuss

Monika Gulia-Nuss serves as Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director in Biochemistry at the University of Nevada, Reno. Her research program centers on vector biology and vector-parasite interactions, with primary focus on the black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) as a vector for Lyme disease and other pathogens.

Her educational background includes:

• B.S. from Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, India (1997)
• M.S. from Maharshi Dayanand University (1999)
• Ph.D. from Maharshi Dayanand University (2006)

Dr. Gulia-Nuss investigates invertebrate reproductive physiology, nutrient allocation mechanisms, vector competence determinants, and population genomics in tick vectors. Her work combines molecular, genomic, and developmental approaches to understand how physiological and genetic factors influence vector-pathogen relationships. Current research emphasizes tick embryogenesis, blood digestion dynamics, and CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing applications for vector control.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a dominant focus on Ixodes scapularis genomics, developmental biology, and vector control technologies. Key themes include embryonic development mechanisms, promoter validation for genetic tools, multi-omics analysis of blood digestion, and computational monitoring via TickTrax. Her work bridges fundamental arthropod biology with translational applications for tick-borne disease prevention.

As Graduate Program Director, Dr. Gulia-Nuss oversees biochemistry graduate training and mentors students. Her research program is supported by grants focused on vector biology, though specific funding details are not provided in available materials.

Her laboratory employs genomic, transcriptomic, and gene editing methodologies to advance tick research, with active projects on CRISPR toolkit development, anti-tick vaccine targets, and evolutionary developmental biology of arthropod structures.