NEVBD Program News & Updates
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Research & Collaborations
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NEVBD Research Publications
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Risk of Tick-Born Pathogen Spillover into Urban Yards in New York City
NEVBD researchers from Columbia University recently published results on their investigation into drivers of tick distribution across an urban landscape, focusing on Staten Island, New York City. The results highlight a considerable risk of tick exposure in residential yards in Staten Island. They found that the amount and placement of canopy cover in residential backyards was highly predictive for the presence of multiple tick species, and the presence of log and brush piles strongly increased the odds of finding ticks in yards. Species evaluated included the blacklegged tick, lone star tick, and Asian longhorned tick. Read the full report in Parasites & Vectors.
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The Public Health Impacts of Gentrification: Tick-Borne Disease Risks for Communities of Color
NEVBD researchers from Columbia University used Lyme disease as a case study to integrate elements of environmental epidemiology, ecology, public health, and urban planning to propose pathways of gentrification as a socioecological process with public health implications. They determined three pathways that exist for gentrification to act as a driver of tick-borne pathogen exposure, and note that gentrification should be viewed through the lens of public health as it relates to pathogen exposure, perception of risk, and tick-borne disease management. These results call for an increased awareness to disease ecologists, policy makers, and public health managers on the potential role of gentrification as a driver of tick-borne pathogen exposure. Read the full report in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment.
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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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ESA Public Health Entomology for All Requests for Proposals
ESA Public Health Entomology for All program is seeking proposals for two opportunities:
Proposals are due September 1, 2022. Questions can be directed to Stacie East (seast@entsoc.org), ESA’s Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion.
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Insects Special Issue: Research and Advances in Acarology
The continuous expansion of mites and ticks around the globe represents an agricultural and public health challenge. Studying fundamental biological and ecological traits is critical to developing sustainable management strategies in agricultural settings and understanding the epidemiology of vector-borne diseases. This Special Issue on “Research and Advances in Acarology” will consider all original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, and perspectives on basic and applied research of mites and ticks for publication after rigorous peer review. Guest editors Dr. Julia González and Dr. Alvaro Toledo of Rutgers University Center for Vector Biology.
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Vector-Borne Disease in the News
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Field Evaluations of Botanically-Inspired Repellents Against Blacklegged Ticks
Collaborators from the University of Iowa and University of Wisconsin-Madison tested three compounds synthetically-derived from botanicals sources for repellent activity against Ixodes scapularis in the field. They evaluated encounters, detachment rate, and time to detachment on tick drags for the three compounds, using DEET as a control. DEET was the most effective, repelling 69.7–87% of ticks by 3 min, but the effectiveness of the three test compounds was still high, with 42–87% of ticks detaching by 3 min. These naturally-derived compounds show promise as tick repellent products, but require further testing for safety and efficacy. Read the full report in the Journal of Medical Entomology.
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Lyme Disease Vaccine Entering Phase 3 Clinical Trial
A new Lyme disease vaccine, called VLA15, is now in the third phase of a clinical study in humans. It was created by Pfizer and French drug maker Valneva. The study that's now underway includes some 6,000 participants in the U.S. and Europe who are at least 5 years old and who live in places where Lyme disease is highly endemic. If the phase-three study is a success, the companies say, they would likely seek official authorization in 2025.
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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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Director of Scientific Programs, San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District
The Director of Scientific Programs directs and administers the District's disease surveillance program, supervises the Vector Ecologists and all other disease surveillance staff; collaborates with other District departments to assist the District Manager with planning, directing, and evaluating the District's overall operations. The incumbent must use their extensive knowledge of entomology, field ecology, vector biology/ecology, surveillance methodology, medical entomology, and pesticides to develop, organize, and manage the District’s vector borne disease surveillance program. First review of applications begins August 1, 2022. Learn more.
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Assistant Vector Ecologist/Vector Ecologist, Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control
Under general supervision (Assistant Vector Ecologist) or direction (Vector Ecologist), conducts and executes various aspects of the District's scientific-technical program; collects, preserves, records, and reports on a wide variety of biological and ecological field data associated with public health vectors, with an emphasis on mosquitoes; conducts field trials and surveillance for mosquitoes and mosquito borne diseases; provides assistance in the collection, analysis, and recording of biological and entomological field and laboratory data associated with the District’s scientific subprograms and technical services; performs field and laboratory trials and studies to evaluate the effectiveness of pesticides; provides technical assistance concerning operational pesticide application methods; and performs related work as required. 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, CDC Vector-Borne Diseases
A research fellowship opportunity is currently available with the Dengue Branch Entomology and Ecology Unit within the Division of Vector-Borne Diseases (DVBD), National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Fort Collins, CO. The Fellow will participate in field investigations on establishing what are the minimum numbers of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes required to prevent rampant outbreaks of arboviruses such as dengue (DENVs), chikungunya (CHIKV), Zika (ZIKV), or yellow fever (YFV) viruses. Applications due September 26, 2022. Learn more.
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Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Mosquito Population Genetics, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station + Yale University
A postdoctoral position on mosquito population genetics is available to work in collaboration with Andrea Gloria-Soria at The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) and Jeffrey Powell at Yale University, in New Haven, CT (USA). The postdoctoral researcher will lead the effort to characterize the genetic diversity across the ancestral range of Ae. aegypti, address questions of demography and population structure, and identifying putative sources of admixture in the region, using large genomic datasets. Depending on your personal interests and skills, projects on genome evolution, molecular evolution, behavioral genetics and ecological genomics are also possible. Applications accepted on a rolling basis until position filled. Learn more.
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Postdoctoral Scholar, Vector-Borne Disease Ecology and Global Change
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 overall objective of the project is to understand the successional dynamics of vector-borne diseases with changing land use, and their socio-ecological drivers, as well as to generalize beyond system-specific, descriptive case studies to mechanistic understanding and prediction of the consequences of land use decisions for infectious disease. The project is primarily focused on land use change in the Amazon basin and its impact on vector-borne disease, including dengue and other arboviruses, malaria and leishmaniasis. Final application date Friday, Sep 30, 2022. Learn more.
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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. 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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Training Opportunities in VBD
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EYE on Yellow Fever Podcast Series, WHO
‘EYE on yellow fever’ is a podcast series highlighting the global risks of yellow fever and how the Eliminate Yellow Fever Epidemics (EYE) Strategy is addressing these challenges in the most-affected countries. Experts from different fields of climate change and even outer space explore why and how this disease is in danger of spreading globally and take you inside a concerted global effort to ensure that yellow fever does not become the next big global health threat. The series is available on the WHO website or your preferred podcast app.
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Biology of Mosquitoes, Ticks, and other Disease-Causing Arthropods - Online Certificate Course
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 7 September 2022.
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Online Training in Vector Surveillance
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 4-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 12 October 2022.
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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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