NEVBD Program News & Updates
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Research & Collaborations
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NEVBD Research Publications
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Vector Competence of Two Mosquito Species for Jamestown Canyon Virus in the Northeast USA
NEVBD researchers from the Wadsworth Center Arbovirus Laboratory evaluated the vector competence of Anopheles quadrimaculatus and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes for five Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV) strains belonging to the two lineages circulating in the Northeast. Vector competence of both mosquito species was evaluated at 7- and 14-days post-feeding on infected bloodmeals by testing for virus presence in bodies, legs, and saliva. Results demonstrated that Ae. albopictus mosquitoes are a competent vector for both lineages, with similar transmission levels for all strains tested. While An. quadrimaculatus had variable levels of infection measured, no transmission was detected for the five JCV strains evaluated. These results demonstrate that establishment of Ae. albopictus in the Northeast could increase the risk of JCV. Read the full report in Parasites & Vectors.
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Phylogeographic Dynamics of the Blacklegged Tick
NEVBD researchers from the New York State Department of Health explored the evolutionary history and population dynamics of I. scapularis in New York State. They sequenced the mitochondrial genomes of 277 ticks to characterize their current and historical spatial genetic structure and population growth, during a time frame in which tick-borne diseases were increasing in range and incidence. The data indicate that both short- and long-range migration events shape the population dynamics of blacklegged ticks in New York. Past and current tick population dynamics have implications for further range expansion as habitat suitability for ticks changes due to global climate change. These data provide a foundation on which to generate testable hypotheses on the drivers of tick population dynamics occurring at finer scales. Read the full report in Parasites & Vectors.
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You can access publications from NEVBD-supported applied research by visiting the Research and Publications pages on our website!
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Collaboration Opportunities
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2022 CDC West Nile Virus Forecasting Challenge
Announcing the 2022 CDC West Nile virus (WNV) Forecasting Challenge is open for participation. This is an open forecasting challenge to predict the total number of WNV neuroinvasive disease cases in U.S. counties during the 2022 calendar year. Next optional forecast due July 31, 2022. Email vbd-predict@cdc.org for more information and to register a modeling team. Learn more.
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CDC Published Updates County-Level Distribution Maps of Pathogens Detected in Host-Seeking Ixodes
Researchers from the CDC Division of Vector-Borne Diseases mapped the county-level distribution of Borrelia miyamotoi (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae), Ehrlichia muris eauclairensis (Rickettsiales: Ehrlichiaceae), Babesia microti (Piroplasmida: Babesiidae), and Powassan virus (Flaviviridae) reported in host-seeking I. scapularis or I. pacificus in the contiguous United States. They also updated recently published maps of the distributions of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and Borrelia mayonii. Read the full report and access the updated maps in the Journal of Medical Entomology.
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Vector-Borne Disease in the News
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Rutgers Launches Citizen-Led Project to Combat Tick-Borne Diseases
The Center for Vector Biology (CVB), part of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, launched New Jersey Ticks 4 Science!, a citizen-led science project supported by the state that asks New Jerseyans to submit tick specimens they find to help track tick populations and help prevent tick-borne illness. The goal is to understand the changing distribution of ticks and tick-borne pathogens across NJ.
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Community engaged tick surveillance and tickMAP from SUNY Upstate Medical University
The Thangamani Lab at SUNY Upstate Medical University recently published outcomes of their passive tick surveillance program and tickMAP platform. Their passive tick surveillance program in New York enabled the construction of a powerful visual analytical mapping tool, tickMAP to track the emergence of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in real-time. The public can use this tool to identify hot-spots of disease emergence, clinicians for supportive evidence during differential diagnosis, and researchers to better understand factors influencing the emergence of ticks and tick-borne diseases in New York. Read the full report in PLOS Global Public Health.
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The TickApp
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Join our efforts to make your neighborhood a safer place for you, your family, and your pets! Download the TickApp today
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Employment Opportunities in VBD
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Public / Private Sector Opportunities
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Associate Public Health Biologist, California Department of Public Health
The Vector-Borne Disease Section of the California Department of Public Health is recruiting for a Public Health Biologist at the Associate level. Public Health Biologists conduct activities relating to the prevention, surveillance, epidemiology, and control of vector-borne diseases in an assigned region of California. This position is located in Elk Grove, California (approx. 15 miles south of Sacramento). Applications must be submitted by July 5, 2022. Please also indicate your interest in the position by emailing your CV or resume to Mark Novak at Mark.Novak@cdph.ca.gov. Learn more.
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Green Shield Certified® Evaluator, IPM Institute of North America
The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Institute of North America seeks an evaluator to audit Green Shield Certified® pest control companies. If you are familiar with regulations and policies impacting pest management and are able to identify common structural pest problems, we’d love to hear from you. Your role will allow you to visit Green Shield Certified® pest control companies in the New York metro area. Bachelor’s degree in entomology, biology, natural resources, wildlife ecology or related field required, plus at least five years’ experience in practicing IPM for structural pest management. Learn more.
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Biologist Trainee, Monmouth County Mosquito Control Division, NJ
Organize and lead a robust public education program focused on ticks, mosquitoes and spotted lantern flies. Assist Research Scientist with Tick Identification program, including handling of specimens, inquiries from the public, writing reports, and communicating results. Assist mosquito entomologists with vector surveillance and insect resistance monitoring. Assist Research Scientist with laboratory work such as DNA extraction and testing of ticks. Bachelor’s degree in Entomology, Public Health, Science Education, Biology, Ecology or related field. Complete application to County of Monmouth listing title as Biologist Trainee. Learn more.
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Senior Program Director, Kern Mosquito & Vector Control District
The Scientific Program Director (SPD) oversees laboratory operations to ensure accurate and consistent surveillance and testing procedures. The incumbent trains, mentors, and evaluates laboratory staff to ensure quality control, safety, and record maintenance. SPD organizes and conducts high standard research projects independently or in collaboration with external institutions, prepares reports, and presents results at the annual Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California (MVCAC) conference. Position open until filled. Learn more.
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Multiple Tenure-Track Positions, Department of Epidemiology, UNC Chapel Hill
The Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is recruiting for multiple full-time tenure-track positions in the rank of Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor (open rank). At least one position will be in social epidemiology and at least one in environmental epidemiology. Proposed start date is August 1, 2022. Learn more.
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Associate/Assistant Professor of Arthropod Vector Biology and/or Ecology, PennState
The Department of Entomology at Penn State invites applications in the area of Arthropod Vector Biology and/or Ecology for a tenure line, faculty position with a focus on the ecology of vectors and their role in disease transmission. A successful candidate will have expertise that will complement existing University strengths in epidemiology, IPM, chemical ecology, vector biology, genomics, and/or applied evolution/resistance management. This is a 9- month, Tenure Line, 75% Research, 25% Teaching appointment. Learn more.
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Assistant Professor Positions (2) in Vector Disease & Ecology, University of Georgia
The Department of Infectious Diseases in the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL) at the University of Georgia invite applications for a joint appointment, tenure-track Assistant Professor in the area of vector ecology. Two positions are available. Two positions are available. One will be located in Athens, GA in the College of Veterinary Medicine and a second position will be located at the SREL. Areas of research might include, but are not limited to: arbovirus-vector interactions, pathogen and vector responses to climate change or land use, emerging vector-borne diseases, evolutionary strategies for limiting the spread of insecticide and drug resistance in pathogens and vectors, determinants of host shifts within and between ecosystems, behavioral influences of infectious disease dynamics, and terrestrial-aquatic linkages. Candidates should have a strong question-driven research program, which incorporates experimental (i.e., field, lab, molecular) approaches, to address the most challenging problems in one or more of these areas.
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Postdoctoral / Fellowship Opportunities
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NEW: ORISE Fellowship, Vectors & Vector-Borne Disease Molecular Inventory, US Air Force
Seeking a one year ORISE Fellow to generate and analyze nucleotide sequence data for vectors and vector-borne disease pathogens sampled from US Air Force Bases. Data will be used to evaluate the taxonomic identity and relatedness of our samples to other taxa within their groups, infer the geographic origin of introduced arthropods, and/or attempt to resolve cryptic species diversity. PhD or MS in vector biology, molecular biology, ecology, genetics, evolutionary biology, wildlife biology or a related discipline that includes courses in genetics/phylogenetics, population genetics, biodiversity informatics and/or molecular systematics of eukaryotic and/or prokaryotic organisms. Specific experience in nucleotide sequence analyses for phylogenies, inference of geographical origin or similar investigations is highly desirable. Position will be posted to Zintellect.com in the coming weeks. Learn more.
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NEW: ORISE Fellowship, Arbovirus Researcher, CDC-DVBD
This fellowship offers the selected participant an opportunity to gain hands-on laboratory experience in the research of arboviruses, including flaviviruses, alphaviruses, and bunyaviruses. The project focuses on understanding the early events in viral infection and the humoral immune response to develop new reagents and assays for serological diagnosis. The experiments performed in the project include molecular cloning, recombinant antigen and cell-line development, hybridoma cell-line development, immunoassays, virus culture, protein chemistry, flow cytometry, small animal studies, and immunofluorescent microscopy. The qualified candidate should have received a bachelor's degree in one of the relevant fields. Apply by July 19, 2022. Learn more.
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NEW: ORISE Fellowship, Health Communicator, CDC-DVBD
The learning objectives of the selected individual's appointment will be the ability: (1) to develop appropriate public health messages; and (2) to help coordinate and disseminate these tools via multiple channels. Activities will contribute to the individual's professional development and experience within the field of public health communication. The selected fellow will interact closely with epidemiologists, entomologists, health communicators, and web developers. The qualified candidate should have received a bachelor's or master's degree in one of the relevant fields (e.g. Public Health, Health Communications), or be currently pursuing one of the degrees with completion before August 12, 2022. Apply by July 20, 2022. Learn more.
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ORISE Postdoctoral Fellowship, Impact on Ticks Harboring Tickborne Pathogens, USDA-ARS
The participant will take a lead role in measuring metabolic activity and energetic consequences of infection in tick vectors. The participant will analyze multiple tick-borne pathogens which cause bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis to map the impact of these on tick biology and physiology. The participant will use techniques in respirometry, and thermal biology, to understand the role of infection on tick physiology and the subsequent impacts on the pathogen-tick-host interactions. Anticipated start date August 1, 2022. Doctoral degree in relevant fields required, with preferred skills in metabolic measurement systems, thermal tolerance physiology, R programming language, and arthropod physiology/ecology. Application deadline July 4, 2022. Learn more.
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Postdoctoral Scholar, MacDonald Disease Ecology Lab, UC Santa Barbara
The MacDonald disease ecology lab at UC Santa Barbara is recruiting a postdoctoral scholar to work on a NSF EEID funded project (DEB-2011147) investigating effects of land use change on vector-borne disease. The postdoc work with Dr. Andrew MacDonald in the Bren School, with opportunities for interaction with faculty in disease ecology, earth systems science and data science across the campus. The postdoc will collaborate and interact with other project PI’s based at Stanford University (Dr. Erin Mordecai – Dept. of Biology, Dr. Lisa Mandle – Natural Capital Project, and Dr. Eric Lambin – Earth System Science), and at Universidad Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru (Dr. Willy Lescano). The team has extensive experience in vector-borne disease ecology and epidemiology, as well as land systems science and land use and land cover change. Apply by September 30, 2022. Learn more.
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Postdoctoral Positions, Lyme Disease and Other Tickborne Diseases, Wadsworth Center NYSDOH
The Lin Laboratory at the Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health is recruiting postdoctoral fellows to study host-pathogen interactions of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases in multi-institutional, collaborative projects. We are particularly interested in defining the mechanisms of transmission and persistence by Lyme disease bacteria and other tickborne pathogens in reservoir animals. Prior experience in tackling the host-pathogen interactions using any of the following approaches are welcome: bacterial genetics, host immune responses, phylogenomics, or vector biology. Learn more. Please submit a CV (3 pages or less); a letter summarizing research interests, experience, and goals (1 page or less); and the names and phone numbers/e-mail of three references to: Dr. Yi-Pin Lin Ph.D., Research Scientist IV, E-mail: Yi-Pin.Lin@health.ny.gov.
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Postdoctoral Positions, Askoy Lab, Yale University
We are inviting motivated Postdoctoral Scientists to join our group to study the physiology, and the molecular and genetic mechanisms involved in host-pathogen interactions in the tsetse fly-African trypanosome system. We study the role of the fly immune system and the influences of tsetse’s endosymbiotic bacteria in the parasite infection process. The successful candidate will likely have (a) a recent (4-years) PhD degree in entomology, microbiology or immunology or a related discipline; (b) a track record of research productivity , as evidenced by first authored original publications in high quality peer-reviewed journals; (c) experience in–omics based technologies, and parasite or insect cultures; and (d) experience with BSL2 procedures. Interested candidates should submit a CV, personal statement and contact information for three references through Interfolio.
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Postdoctoral Positions, Vector-Borne Disease Ecology and Control, Texas A&M
Postdoctoral positions in vector and vector-borne disease ecology and control are available at Texas A&M University in the lab of Gabriel Hamer Lab in the Department of Entomology. The successful candidate will contribute one or more research projects funded by multiple sponsors: 1) evaluate host-targeted ectoparasiticide and/or endectocides for the control of multiple vector species (triatomines, mosquitoes, ticks), 2) conduct lab, semi-field, and field trials evaluating traps and control tools for ticks and kissing bugs, 3) study human and animal infection or exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and other infection agents. Research projects include insectary, field, and high-containment labs (BSL2 and BSL3) with opportunities for domestic and international travel to study sites. Review of applications will begin immediately and the position start date is flexible. Learn more.
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Postdoctoral Position, Vector Genomics Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
The Norris laboratory, located in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, is seeking a highly motivated individual for a postdoctoral position focusing on mosquito vector genomics and biology. The Norris laboratory is interested in understanding genetic diversity and molecular markers/barcodes that can be used to confirm mosquito identity. This involves development and validation of molecular genetic tools, phylogenetic analysis including spatiotemporal population level studies, and association with vector-borne pathogen incidence. A thorough understanding of mosquito biology and mosquito genomics is required. The position is available immediately for one year. Applicants should submit a CV, statement of research interests, writing/publication sample and contact information of three references. Learn more.
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Training Opportunities in VBD
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NEW: CDC Continuing Medical Education on Diagnosis and Treatment of Anaplasmosis and Ehrlichiosis
CDC Train now offers an interactive clinical education tool with case-based scenarios that provides technical training on the diagnosis and treatment of ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis. This enduring activity is designed to increase knowledge and change competency of medical and public health practices and strategies.
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Biology of Mosquitoes, Ticks, and other Disease-Causing Arthropods - Online Certificate Course
Save 20% on enrollment using discount code MOSQUITO20. This new online certificate course offered through eCornell explores the fascinating biology, behaviors, and disease-transmission processes of a range of organisms, with special emphasis on the most important groups, including ticks and mosquitoes. This course provides an excellent foundation for understanding medical and public health entomology and disease control. Next offering of the course is scheduled to begin 6 July 2022.
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Online Training in Vector Surveillance
Save 20% on enrollment using discount code MOSQUITO20. Learn to develop an effective vector surveillance program, collect data, and communicate risk with the Cornell Entomology Department and eCornell in the newest online course Vector-Borne Diseases Surveillance. Take this 3-week instructor-led course with Dr. Laura Harrington and Dr. Sarah Michaels and learn best practices to implement vector surveillance, data, and reporting methods. The next offering of the course is scheduled to begin 17 August 2022.
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Northeastern IPM Center Announces Spring 2022 "IPM Toolbox" Webinar Series
Got an IPM question? Need to know the latest IPM information? The Northeastern IPM Center has the answers with our webinar series, “The IPM Toolbox.” We’ve asked the experts to join us online for an hour of dialogue about an effective IPM practice, method, or effort. Learn more about the webinar line up and access recordings on the Northeastern IPM Center website.
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ESA Launches IPM Certificate Program
Pest management professionals can jumpstart their careers through the Certified Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Technician credential from the Entomological Society of America Certification Corp. Designed for professionals with less than five years’ experience in pest management, the Certified IPM Technician (CIT) credential demonstrates a foundational skillset and commitment to the IPM principles and practices. Applications for the credential are now being accepted by the ESA Certification Corp.
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Do you have a news story, job announcement, or other update that we should know about? Please send us a link for inclusion in future newsletters at at nevbd@cornell.edu!
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The Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases is supported through Cooperative Agreement Number 1U01CK000509-01 between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Cornell University.
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