Stephan Karl

Dr. Stephan Karl is a Principal Research Fellow at the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM), James Cook University (JCU), and laboratory head of the entomology section at the PNG Institute of Medical Research. His work focuses on vector-borne diseases, particularly malaria, with over 65 research papers in the field. He holds a M.Sc. in Biological Process Engineering (2007) and a PhD in biophysics from the University of Western Australia (2012). His postdoctoral research spanned vector-borne diseases epidemiology and entomology at institutions including the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and the PNG Institute of Medical Research.

Dr. Karl leads major programs such as the NIH-funded Asia-Pacific Centre of Excellence in Malaria Research (2017–2023) and the Australian DFAT-funded STRIVE PNG initiative (2018–2020). His research emphasizes malaria control strategies, insecticide resistance, and mosquito vector surveillance. Notable projects include studies on long-lasting insecticidal net efficacy, lymphatic filariasis prevalence, and the impact of climate change on disease transmission in small island nations.

His research interests revolve around vector biology, malaria epidemiology, and public health interventions. Key collaborations include work with the Global Fund and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Dr. Karl’s contributions have advanced understanding of malaria transmission dynamics and informed policy for disease elimination in the Asia-Pacific region.