Professor Peter Banks is a prominent academic in Conservation Biology at The University of Sydney's School of Life and Environmental Sciences. His research focuses on developing humane solutions to invasive species impacts, particularly through understanding predator-prey dynamics and behavioral interventions. He has held roles including Treasurer of the Royal Zoological Society of NSW and editorial board memberships at journals like Oecologia. Education: PhD (2004, University of Sydney), BSc (1991, University of Sydney). His career includes positions at UNSW and University of Turku (Finland). Research interests span animal behavior, ecology, and conservation strategies. Research Themes: Animal behavior and ecophysiology, ecology and evolution, wildlife conservation. Collaborations include projects with Finland’s University of Turku on predator-prey deception and New Zealand’s Landcare Research on pest management. Recent publications emphasize olfactory misinformation tactics, urban tick ecology, and predator learning mechanisms. His work bridges behavioral ecology with applied conservation, exploring innovative methods to mitigate wildlife conflicts.
Dr. Manisha Kulkarni is a Professor at the School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, where she holds the University Research Chair in Climate Change and Emerging Diseases. She is also the Director of the INSIGHT (Interdisciplinary Spatial Informatics for Global Health) research lab and serves as Scientific Director of the Canadian Lyme Disease Research Network (TickNet Canada). Her work spans global public health, with a focus on vector-borne and zoonotic diseases. PhD in Medical Entomology, McGill University (2006) BSc in Environmental Biology, McGill University (2001) Dr. Kulkarni's research centers on the socio-ecological determinants of infectious disease emergence, particularly malaria, Lyme disease, and West Nile virus. She applies population surveys, entomological field sampling, molecular diagnostics, and GIS to study spatio-temporal patterns and the impacts of climate change and landscape transformation on disease transmission. Her work emphasizes One Health approaches and capacity building in low-resource settings. Her recent research trends show a strong focus on geospatial modeling of vector-borne diseases, climate change adaptation, urban tick surveillance, and international collaborations in Tanzania, Benin, and Latin America. She leads interdisciplinary projects integrating drone mapping, citizen science (e.g., eTick.ca), and community participation to identify disease risk factors. Scientific awards and recognitions include: University Research Chair in Climate Change and Emerging Diseases Ontario Early Researcher Award Faculty of Medicine Award for Leadership in Global Health (2023) Researcher of the Year, Faculty of Medicine (2019) Member, College of New Scholars, Royal Society of Canada NSERC Discovery Grant and CIHR funding Dr. Kulkarni has successfully advised multiple PhD and Master’s students and leads major funded projects supported by CIHR, PHAC, CFI, IDRC, and NSERC. She has held leadership roles as Associate Dean of Global Health (2021–2024) and currently serves on the CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity advisory board. Her lab, INSIGHT, fosters an interdisciplinary training environment combining field, lab, and analytical methods for global health research. Key research teams and collaborations include: INSIGHT Lab, University of Ottawa Pan-African Malaria Vector Research Consortium (PAMVERC) Canadian Lyme Disease Research Network (TickNet Canada) London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) National Microbiology Lab, PHAC Centre de Recherche Entomologique de Cotonou (CREC), Benin
Cynthia C. Lord is an Associate Professor specializing in population modeling at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), specifically at the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory (FMEL) in Vero Beach, Florida. Her academic appointment is within the Entomology and Nematology Department, where she contributes to research on vector-borne diseases and pathogen transmission dynamics. Dr. Lord's research focuses on medical entomology with particular expertise in vector-borne diseases transmitted by ticks and mosquitoes. Her work encompasses population modeling of disease vectors, analysis of transmission dynamics for pathogens including Rickettsia, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, and Zika virus, and investigation of vector-pathogen-host relationships. Her research has significant implications for public health interventions and vector control strategies. Her recent publications demonstrate expertise in analyzing the epidemiology and transmission patterns of vector-borne diseases. Her work on Rickettsia pathogens provides comprehensive information on disease-causing species in the United States, while her research on Zika virus examines the emergence and spread of this mosquito-borne pathogen in the Americas. Her publications serve as valuable resources for vector control agencies, public health officials, and medical professionals. Dr. Lord's research has contributed to understanding the distribution and transmission of vector-borne diseases in Florida and throughout the United States, with particular attention to the ecological and epidemiological factors that influence disease emergence and spread.
James Meek is the Associate Director of the Yale Emerging Infections Program at the Yale School of Public Health , collaborating with the Connecticut Department of Public Health and CDC. His roles include overseeing population-based surveillance systems for tickborne, foodborne, respiratory, and other emerging infections, and implementing applied public health research to evaluate prevention strategies. Education: Master of Public Health (MPH) from the University of Connecticut (2000) His research spans infectious disease epidemiology , focusing on zoonoses , vector control , and healthcare-associated infections , particularly through the Connecticut Emerging Infections Program . Publications highlight work on COVID-19 hospitalization trends , C. difficile recurrence risks , and tickborne disease prevention . Recent articles emphasize surveillance methodology (Bayesian modeling), vaccine effectiveness (JYNNEOS, SARS-CoV-2), and environmental interventions (4-Poster tick control devices). Collaborations include researchers from CDC, Connecticut DPH, and Yale departments like Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases and Biostatistics . Meek's work trains over 300 MPH and doctoral students through internships and thesis projects, while engaging in public health practice across respiratory viruses , antimicrobial resistance , and epidemiological modeling .
Dr. Anne-Marie Nicol is an Associate Professor of Professional Practice in Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University. Her multidisciplinary research spans health communication, toxicology, social marketing, risk perception, and risk assessment, with emphasis on environmental and occupational health exposures. She leads CAREX Canada, a national carcinogen surveillance program, and has developed public health campaigns including Wash with Care and Tick Talk. Her work focuses on translating scientific information about carcinogens to policymakers and cancer prevention stakeholders. She teaches Human Health Risk Assessment, Toxicology for Public Health, and Health Communication. Her research has been funded by CIHR, Michael Smith Foundation, and Canadian Cancer Society. Current projects include studies on radon exposure, infodemic communication strategies, and community resilience to wildfire smoke. She holds a BA from SFU, MES from York University, and PhD from UBC.
Nyeema Harris is the Knobloch Family Associate Professor of Wildlife and Land Conservation at the Yale School of the Environment (YSE), part of Yale University. She focuses on wildlife conservation, urban ecology, and the socio-ecological dimensions of human-wildlife interactions. Her work examines how urbanization impacts predator behavior, diets, and biodiversity, while advocating for inclusive sustainability approaches that address equity and justice in environmental scholarship. Education includes a PhD from North Carolina State University, an MS from The University of Montana, and a BS from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. These degrees span wildlife science and conservation biology. Her research interests emphasize urban carnivore ecology, community-based conservation strategies, and systemic racism’s ecological consequences. She integrates spatial modeling with social equity frameworks, as seen in her publications on textured species range maps and critiques of environmental landscapes of fear. Publications highlight trends in urban wildlife adaptation, interdisciplinary methods, and ethical considerations in conservation. Key themes include dietary shifts in predators due to environmental changes, the role of historical data in species forecasting, and mitigating health risks linked to urbanization and gentrification. Dr. Harris actively advises doctoral students and is involved in initiatives like SNAPSHOT USA and Michigan ZoomIN, leveraging citizen science for ecological monitoring. She has not been noted for specific scientific awards in the provided texts. Her office is located in Kroon Hall, Room 223, at 195 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT. She contributes to environmental justice discourse and has been featured in news articles discussing her work on African carnivore range loss, urban rodent control, and systemic racism in urban ecosystems.
Andrew Currie is a Professor and Associate Dean (Research & Innovation) at Murdoch University's School of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, within the College of Environmental and Life Sciences. He leads the Sepsis Diagnostics Research Group at the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics and co-heads the Neonatal Infection and Immunity Team with Clinical Professor Tobias Strunk at the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccine & Infectious Diseases at Telethon Kids Institute. His research focuses on immunology and infectious diseases in pediatric populations, particularly sepsis diagnostics and neonatal immunity. Education: PhD (Immunology, University of Western Australia, 2001); BSc (Biotechnology with Honors, Murdoch University, 1997). Research Interests: Sepsis diagnostics, innate immunity mechanisms in neonates, medical biotechnology for diagnostics (e.g., biosensors), and translational research in pediatric infections. Collaborates internationally with institutions in Canada, Denmark, the UK, US, and China. Aims to reduce sepsis burden in vulnerable populations through advanced molecular methods and interdisciplinary partnerships. Key Affiliations: Lead of Sepsis Diagnostics Research Group (Murdoch University), Senior Lecturer in Immunology, Honorary Associate at Kids Research Institute Australia. Past roles include leadership in the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics. Scientific Contributions: Over 100 peer-reviewed articles focusing on sepsis biomarkers, neonatal immunity, tick-borne diseases, and clinical trials for interventions like vitamin C and probiotics in critical illness. Active in developing precision medicine approaches for neonatal sepsis. Grants & Funding: Co-leads major projects on sepsis diagnostics and neonatal infection, supported by national and international grants. Collaborates on multi-institutional initiatives. Labs/Teams: Sepsis Diagnostics Research Group (Murdoch) and Neonatal Infection and Immunity Team (Telethon Kids Institute). Works closely with the Personalised Medicine Centre and Health Futures Institute.
Dr. Martin Lange is part of the Project Group Ecological Epidemiology within the Department of Ecological Modelling at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ). His research focuses on computational epidemiology, particularly in wildlife and livestock systems. Key areas include disease transmission dynamics, surveillance strategies, and the development of predictive models for infectious diseases like African Swine Fever (ASF) and Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV). Affiliations: UFZ, Department of Ecological Modelling; EcoEpi research group. Education: PhD in Veterinary Epidemiology (2013, TU Bergakademie Freiberg). Research interests span ecological epidemiology, wildlife disease control, and the application of agent-based and individual-based models to understand pathogen spread. Notable contributions include modeling ASF in wild boar populations and BVDV eradication strategies in Ireland. Awards: Received the 2018 UFZ-Wissenstransferpreis (shared with H.H. Thulke) and the Konrad-Bögel-Nachwuchsförderpreis for his doctoral work on eco-epidemiology of wild boar diseases. Also recognized at the DACh Epidemiologietagung 2011. Publications: Over 50 peer-reviewed articles since 2006, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to disease modeling and environmental systems. Recent work includes digital twin frameworks for biodiversity monitoring and Python-based model coupling tools like FINAM. Labs/Teams: Active in the EcoEpi group and contributes to projects like BioDT (Biodiversity Digital Twin) and CauSES (Causation in Social-Ecological Systems).
Dr. Heather Campbell is a Senior Lecturer in Entomology at Harper Adams University's Agriculture and Environment Department. Her research focuses on insect biodiversity conservation, community ecology, and social insects, particularly in arid ecosystems of southern Africa. She employs citizen science and explores insect-plant interactions to address ecological challenges. Professional affiliations include Fellowship of the Royal Entomological Society and membership in the British Ecological Society. Education includes a PhD, MSc, and BSc (Hons) in relevant fields. Key research interests span ant ecology, biopesticide development, and sustainable pest control strategies in agricultural systems. Recent work emphasizes integrating citizen science for biodiversity mapping and leveraging technology in ecological research education. Publications highlight innovative approaches to pest control, ant behavior studies, and global entomology priorities. Her work bridges academic research and practical applications, such as developing lure-and-kill systems for thrips and advancing biopesticide solutions for crop pests. Ongoing projects include exploring the impacts of climate change on insect communities in arid regions. Dr. Campbell actively advises on entomology education and outreach, contributing to public understanding of insect conservation through visual guides and media engagement. She leads the Entomology Group at Harper Adams University, fostering collaborative research networks across Africa and the UK.
Associate Professor Jean-Paul Paluzzi is part of the Biology Department at York University's Faculty of Science, serving as Graduate Program Director. His research focuses on neuroendocrine mechanisms in blood-feeding arthropods like mosquitoes and ticks, particularly how hormones regulate physiological processes such as osmoregulation and reproduction. His lab uses multidisciplinary approaches (physiological, genetic, molecular) to study signaling pathways in disease vectors like Aedes aegypti (yellow fever mosquito) and Ixodes scapularis (Lyme disease vector). Key research areas include neurohormonal control of epithelial tissues, stress responses, and the functional roles of proteins involved in neuroendocrine communication. Recent work explores CAPA neuropeptides' anti-diuretic effects, aquaporin regulation, and receptor characterization. His lab's findings aim to advance strategies for controlling disease-transmitting insects. Paluzzi leads the Paluzzi Lab and has contributed to over 50 peer-reviewed articles. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal 'Life on Land' by addressing vector-borne disease challenges.
Jonathan W. Chipman is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Dartmouth College and Director of the Citrin Family GIS/Applied Spatial Analysis Laboratory. He holds an A.B. from Dartmouth College and M.S./Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Specializing in geospatial science, his work integrates remote sensing, GIS, and spatial analysis to study environmental and social systems. Research focuses include lake optical properties via satellite imagery, land-use changes in Egypt/China, vegetation dynamics in southern Africa, and socio-spatial segregation patterns in the US. Education: A.B., Dartmouth College M.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison Research Interests: Chipman applies geospatial tools to environmental challenges, including climate change impacts on glaciers, land-cover transformations, and socio-environmental linkages. His work bridges disciplines like hydrology, ecology, and public health through innovative GIS methods. Recent projects explore tropical glacier dynamics, greenspace health correlations, and malaria endemicity patterns. Key Article Trends: Publications emphasize remote sensing applications in glaciology, environmental toxicology, and socio-environmental systems. Themes include satellite-based monitoring of river systems, glacier classification in High Mountain Asia, and GIS-driven analysis of human health exposures tied to land cover. Lab & Collaborations: Leads the Citrin Lab, focusing on applied spatial analysis. Courses taught include GEOG 54 (Geovisualization) and EARS 77 (Environmental GIS). Active in 3D landscape modeling collaborations via SketchFab and Google Scholar.
John Grieco is a Research Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and a joint faculty member at the Eck Institute for Global Health at the University of Notre Dame. He serves as Associate Director of the Eck Institute and co-director of the Belize Vector and Ecology Center (BVEC), where he leads a multidisciplinary research program focused on the ecology, behavior, and control of vectors of diseases such as malaria, dengue, Chagas, and Japanese encephalitis. University: University of Notre Dame School: College of Science Department: Department of Biological Sciences Position: Research Professor Joint Appointment: Eck Institute for Global Health Leadership Role: Associate Director, Eck Institute for Global Health; Co-Director, BVEC Dr. Grieco completed his Ph.D. at the Uniformed Services University, an M.S. at Texas A&M University, and earned his B.S. from the University of Notre Dame. His research spans vector behavior, spatial repellency, insecticide resistance, and disease risk modeling using GIS and remote sensing. He has led and collaborated on field studies in Belize, Thailand, Nepal, Peru, Mexico, and South Korea, and maintains partnerships with industry leaders such as BASF, SC Johnson, and Olfactor Laboratories. His recent publications highlight innovations in spatial repellent deployment, mosquito trap efficacy, and novel vector control strategies. The research consistently emphasizes translational outcomes for public health, particularly in low-resource settings. His work is supported by major initiatives including the Spatial Repellents Program, IMPACTS, AEGIS, and BRICC, often in collaboration with WHO, PAHO, and the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Grieco actively mentors undergraduate and Master of Science in Global Health students, supervising numerous capstone projects on vector-borne disease interventions. His lab, the Achee/Grieco Lab, is known for its field-based, interdisciplinary approach and commitment to training the next generation of global health scientists. Medical Entomology Vector Ecology and Behavior Vector Control Strategies Spatial Repellents and Irritants Infectious Disease Dynamics Disease Risk Mapping (GIS/Remote Sensing) Arbovirus and Malaria Transmission Scientific awards and honors are not explicitly mentioned in the provided texts. Dr. Grieco advises numerous students at both undergraduate and graduate levels, particularly through the Master of Science in Global Health program. His lab supports student research on topics including insecticide resistance, community perceptions of vector control, disease surveillance, and behavioral effects of repellents. He also leads the High-Throughput Screening System (HITSS) for evaluating vector behavioral responses. The Achee/Grieco Lab operates the Belize Vector and Ecology Center (BVEC), which conducts extensive field research, community outreach, and surveillance in Belize. BVEC collaborates with the Ministry of Health, University of Belize, and international partners. The lab also participates in global networks such as the Worldwide Insecticide Resistance Network (WIN) and the Remote Emerging Disease Intelligence NETwork (REDI-NET).
Kostas Magoutis is Professor and Chair of the Computer Science Department at the University of Crete , and a collaborating researcher at FORTH-ICS . His research focuses on scalable distributed systems, cloud computing, IoT, and quantum-enhanced control. Education and Career: Ph.D. in Computer Science, Harvard University (2003) Research Staff Member, IBM T. J. Watson Research Center (2003-2009) Assistant Professor (2014-2019, tenured 2017) and Associate Professor (2020-2024), University of Crete Professor and Chair, University of Crete (2024-present) Research Interests: His work spans distributed computer systems , cloud computing , scalable data stores and stream-processing engines , Internet of Things , and the emerging area of quantum-enhanced control . Representative projects include the H.F.R.I.-funded QUADS (2025-2028) on quantum-enhanced adaptive systems, STREAMSTORE (2020-2023) on elastic stream processing, SmartCityBus on IoT-driven public transport, and the EU FP7 PaaSage project on model-based cloud lifecycle management. Awards and Honors: Best Paper Awards: USENIX ATC 2002, USENIX BSDCon 2002, IEEE SRDS 2014 (Best Student Paper), IoT 2024 (Runner-up) Grand Challenge Audience Award, ACM DEBS 2022 Best Poster Award, ACM EuroSys 2022 EU Marie Curie IEF Fellow (2009-2011) Alexander S. Onassis Fellow (1994-1995) and J. William Fulbright Scholar (1993-1994) Students and Mentoring: He has supervised or co-supervised more than 30 Ph.D., M.Sc. and undergraduate students, including Antonis Papaioannou (Ph.D. 2021), Efthimios Papageorgiou (current Ph.D.), and numerous M.Sc. graduates now in industry and academia. Labs and Teams: At FORTH-ICS he leads activities within the Distributed Systems and Storage Laboratory, coordinating research on scalable storage, stream processing, and IoT data management. The lab collaborates closely with European and national initiatives, hosting visiting researchers and industry partners.
Dr. Jennifer M. Mullinax is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Science & Technology at the University of Maryland, College Park, within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. She leads the Applied Spatial Wildlife Ecology Lab (ASWEL), focusing on understanding wildlife movement dynamics and their interactions with zoonotic disease transmission in human-wildlife interfaces. Her research integrates spatial ecology, epidemiology, and conservation biology to address critical issues such as avian influenza surveillance, habitat modeling for black bears, and urban wildlife management. Her expertise spans Wildlife Ecology , Habitat Modeling , and Zoonotic Disease Dynamics . Recent projects include assessing SARS-CoV-2 in wild cervidae, analyzing avian influenza spillover risks, and modeling deer movement in suburban environments. She emphasizes practical decision tools for wildlife disease management and habitat conservation, particularly in fragmented and urbanized landscapes. Dr. Mullinax’s work often addresses spatial epidemiology, such as studying tick-borne pathogens in white-tailed deer and evaluating historical park designs’ impacts on urban bird diversity. Her lab collaborates on conservation challenges like Louisiana black bear habitat prioritization and elk population viability analyses in Tennessee. Her research outputs highlight interdisciplinary approaches to biodiversity conservation, integrating ecological, social, and technological factors. Despite no listed awards, her contributions to wildlife health and spatial modeling are notable in environmental science circles.
Joshua Benoit is a Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Cincinnati, specializing in insect physiology and stress biology. His research focuses on mechanisms of insect stress tolerance, hormonal regulation of metabolism, and reproductive physiology, with applications to vector biology and pest control. He holds a B.S. in Biochemistry from Wittenberg University (2005) and a Ph.D. in Entomology and Physiology from Ohio State University (2009). His work integrates molecular, organismal, and population-based approaches to study medically important insects such as mosquitoes, tsetse flies, and ticks. Key research areas include insect lactation, dehydration tolerance, and the role of insulin in nutrient regulation. He leads the Benoit Lab , which emphasizes training biologists in diverse techniques (bioinformatics, field research, lab methods). Dr. Benoit has secured over $4.5M in federal grants, including NIH and USDA funding for projects on mosquito hydration, tick biology, and parasite resistance. Recent studies explore how environmental stress impacts vector-borne disease transmission and insect reproductive bottlenecks. His work bridges fundamental biology and applied pest management strategies.
