Our research scope

Global change is transforming the landscape of infectious diseases, from the poleward expansion of vector-borne disease to the spillover of novel human pathogens from animal reservoirs. Our group studies the ecological and evolutionary responses of infectious disease systems to global change, with a primary focus on vector-borne and environmentally-mediated pathogens. We use a combination of lab experiments, field surveys, and genomics. By disentangling linkages between global change and infectious disease, our overarching aim is to advance strategies to protect both human and planetary health.

Quantifying impacts

The transmission of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases is fundamentally linked to environmental conditions. We leverage analytical approaches for causal inference in complex systems, often borrowing approaches from econometrics and epidemiology, to isolate and quantify the impact of specific global change drivers of transmission.

Emergence

Aided by rapid global changes, diseases such as dengue and Valley fever have emerged in recent decades.

Dispersal and invasion

Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus are two of the most globally important invasive mosquito vectors. We study the processes underlying their dispersal and expansion across complex environmental and human landscapes.

Eco-evolutionary responses

Climate change is poised to cause massive changes in vector-borne disease distributions. We use field surveys, experimentation, and genomic analysis to investigate the potential for vectors and pathogens to adapt to environmental change.

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