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Our Team

Rhoel R. Dinglasan, PhD MPH
CDC SOUTHEASTERN CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN VECTOR BORNE DISEASES | DIRECTOR
Professor of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida

Research interests
: Molecular parasitology; arbovirology; molecular medical entomology; glycoproteomics; cell biology; microbial pathogenesis; vector-borne disease transmission biology

rdinglasan@epi.ufl.edu
Melissa Nolan, PhD MPH
CDC SOUTHEASTERN CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN VECTOR BORNE DISEASES | DEPUTY DIRECTOR
Assistant Professor, Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina

Research interests
: Infectious disease; vector-borne disease transmission; vector-borne disease control in resource-limited areas; tickborne illness; health disparities; surveillance; Chagas disease

msnolan@mailbox.sc.edu
Sadie J. Ryan, PhD
DATA CORE LEAD | PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Associate Professor of Medical Geography, Department of Geography, University of Florida

Research interests
: Medical geography and ecology; disease ecology; tropical conservation; human-wildlife interface; geospatial models

sjryan@ufl.edu
John C. Beier, Sc.D.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Professor and Director of the Division of Environment and Public Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami

Research interests
: Ecology and control of vector-borne diseases; pathogen transmission dynamics; determinants of human risk; novel vector control methods; innovative integrated vector management strategies for disease control

jbeier@miami.edu
Matthew J. DeGennaro, PhD
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University

Research interests
: Molecular genetics; development of new tools to control harmful mosquito behaviors; identification of olfactory receptors necessary for mosquito host detection

mdegenna@fiu.edu
Jeff Bloomquist, PhD
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Professor of Entomology and Nematology, Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida

Research interests
: Mode of action and neurotoxicity of synthetic insecticides, natural toxins, and drugs; mechanisms of resistance to insecticides and nematicides

jbquist@epi.ufl.edu
Holly Gaff, PhD
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Professor of Biological Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University

Research interests
: Tick ecology; tick-borne illness; surveillance; mathematical epidemiology

hgaff@odu.edu
Ricky Telg, PhD
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Professor, Department of Agricultural Education & Communication & Director, Center of Public Issues Education, University of Florida

Research interests
: Agricultural communication (television/video production, print media, and media relations), distance education (instructional design, instructional media)

rwtelg@ufl.edu
Meghan Hermance, PhD
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of South Alabama

Research interests
: emerging arboviruses, maintenance of infected tick and mosquito colonies in biocontainment facilities, and arthropod-host-virus transmission systems in animal models

mhermance@southalabama.edu
Abelardo Moncayo, PhD
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Director, Vector-Borne Diseases Program, Tennessee Department of Health

Research interests
: Vector-borne disease epidemiology, ecology, surveillance and control, emerging pathogen detection, public health policy

Abelardo.Moncayo@tn.gov
Daniel R. Swale, PhD
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Associate Professor of Entomology and Nematology, Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida

Research interests
: Insect Neurotoxicology, Ion channel physiology and pharmacology, insecticide/acaricide resistance mechanisms, and pathogen-vector interactions

dswale@epi.ufl.edu

Rhoel R. Dinglasan, PhD MPH

SOUTHEASTERN CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN VECTOR BORNE DISEASES DIRECTOR

Professor of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida

Research Interests: Molecular parasitology; arbovirology; molecular medical entomology; glycoproteomics; cell biology; microbial pathogenesis; vector-borne disease transmission biology

Melissa Nolan, PhD MPH

SOUTHEASTERN CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN VECTOR BORNE DISEASES DEPUTY DIRECTOR

Assistant Professor, Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina 

Research Interests: infectious disease; vector-borne disease transmission; vector-borne disease control in resource limited areas; tickborne illness; Chagas disease.

Sadie J. Ryan, PhD

DATA CORE LEAD| PRINICIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Associate Professor of Medical Geography, Department of Geography, University of Florida

Research Interests: Medical geography and ecology; disease ecology; tropical conservation; human-wildlife interface; geospatial models

Lauri Baker, PhD

PRINICIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Associate Professor of Agricultural Communication, Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, University of Florida

Research Interests: Science communication; health communication; message development; public perceptions and opinions; trust in science

Daniel Swale, PhD

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Associate Professor of Entomology and Nematology, Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida

Research Interests: insect Neurotoxicology, ion channel physiology and pharmacology, insecticide/acaricide resistance mechanisms, and pathogen-vector interactions

John Beier, Sc.D.

PRINICIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Professor and Director of the Division of Environment and Public Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami

Research Interests: Ecology and control of vector-borne diseases; pathogen transmission dynamics; determinants of human risk; novel vector control methods; innovative integrated vector management strategies for disease control.

Matthew J. DeGennaro, PhD

PRINICIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University

Research Interests: Molecular genetics; development of new tools to control harmful mosquito behaviors; identification of olfactory receptors necessary for mosquito host detection

Vanessa Rivera-Amil

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Coming Soon

Robert Rodriguez Gonzalez, PhD, MPH

Assistant Professor and Researcher, Puerto Rico Health Sciences University 

Research Interests: .

Brian Byrd, PhD

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Professor and Program Director in the Environmental Health Sciences program, College of Health and Human Sciences, Western Carolina University.

Research Interests: Ecology of domestic mosquito-borne diseases, ecology and epidemiology of La Crosse encephalitis, morphological and molecular identification of mosquitoes, invasive container-inhabiting Aedes mosquitoes

Ross Boyce, M.D.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Coming soon

Meghan Hermance, PhD

PRINICIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of South Alabama

Research Interests: Emerging arboviruses; maintenance of infected tick and mosquito colonies in biocontainment facilities; and arthropod-host-virus transmission systems in animal modes

Abelardo Moncayo, PhD

PRINICIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Director, Vector-Borne Diseases Program, Tennessee Department of Health 

Research Interests: Vector-borne disease epidemiology; ecology; surveillance and control; emerging pathogen detection; public health policy

Rosmarie Kelly, PhD MPH

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Public Health State Entomologist, Environmental Health Section, Georgia Department of Public Health

Research Interests: Mapping distribution of vector species; mosquito & tick surveillance; vector behavior; the effects of parasites on behavior.

“Tiffany” Thuy-Vi Thi Nguyen, PhD, MPH

PRINICIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Public Health Deputy State Entomologist, Environmental Health Section, Georgia Department of Public Health

Research Interests: Vector-borne disease transmission; vector control methods; efficacy of mosquito surveillance methods; insecticide resistance; efficacy of tick surveillance methods; mosquito and tick species distribution and phenology

Holly Gaff, PhD

PRINICIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Professor of Biological Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University 

Research Interests: Tick ecology; tick borne illness; surveillance; mathematical epidemiology

SECVBD STUDENTS

Hayley Abernathy

SECVBD PhD STUDENT

 

Research Interests: 

Peyton Pretsch

SECVBD PhD STUDENT

 

Research Interests: 

Emily Owens Pickle, MPH

SECVBD PhD STUDENT

University of South Carolina, SC- Nolan Lab

Research Interests: Alpha-gal syndrome; tick-borne illness; arboviruses; zoonotic disease; vector-borne disease; lone star tick; eco-epidemiological research; causal inference; rurual health; community-based research; disease ecology

Sarah McComic

SECVBD PhD STUDENT

Research Interests: 

Cheng-Xian Yang

SECVBD POSTDOC

Research Interests: 

Magic Vang

SECVBD MPH STUDENT

Research Interests: 

Hadian Iman Sasmita, PhD

SECVBD POSTDOC

University of Miami, FL- Beier Lab

Research Interests: Mosquito ecology; development of new tools to control harmful mosquito vectors; evaluation of mosquito biological parameters and behaviors necessary for feeding and mating.

Andrea Victoria Arce, B.S.

SECVBD PhD STUDENT

Florida International University, FL- DeGennaro Lab

Research Interests: Molecular genetics and development of new attractants and tools to control mosquito population

Elaine Chu

SECVBD PhD STUDENT

Research Interests: 

Jeremiah Miller

SECVBD POSTDOC

Research Interests: 

Luis Alonso Palomares

SECVBD POSTDOC

Research Interests: 

Bright Agbodzi, M.S., MPhil.

SECVBD PhD STUDENT

University of Florida, FL- Dinglasan Lab

Research Interests: Molecular genetics: application of omics approaches to understand host-virus interactions; vector virome influence on arbovirus competence; molecular evolution of viruses.

Francine Sado

SECVBD POSTDOC

Research Interests: 

Mykenna Zettle

SECVBD PhD STUDENT

Research Interests: 

Brian T. Rich, M.S.

SECVBD PhD STUDENT

Old Dominion University, VA

Research Interests: Tick ecology; vector-host interactions; novel tick detection methods; interspecific competition among tick species; ecological modeling of vector distributions; tick and mite taxonomy; integrated pest management; drone/satellite based tick detection and wildlife management

Christina Espada

SECVBD PhD STUDENT

Research Interests: 

Shania Sanderson, M.S.

SECVBD PhD STUDENT 

Old Dominion University, VA

Research Interests: Mathematical biology; vector-borne disease modeling; host-pathogen-environment interactions; ecological modeling of tick-borne diseases; machine

Tiffany R. Molinick, MPH, MLS(ASCP)CM

SECVBD PhD STUDENT

Old Dominion University, VA

Research Interests: Tick-borne disease ecology; vector surveillance and pathogen detection; molecular diagnostics of vector-borne pathogens; One Health approaches to public health; environmental impacts on disease transmission

Jaslyn Stamey

SECVBD M.S. STUDENT

Research Interests: 

Z.Bement
Zachary J. Bement, M.Sc.

SECVBD FELLOW

Tennessee Department of Public Health, TN

Research Interests: Vector-Borne Disease Surveillance; Vector surveillance; Molecular Pathogen Identification; Use of dPCR to identify rare vector-borne pathogen targets; Designing more effective tick surveillance methods; Disease Ecology

2025 SECVBD SUMMER INTERNS

FLORIDA

Pierce Garvis- Anastasia Mosquito Control District 

Lilyana Hamerling- Florida International University 

Luisa Moreno- Florida International University 

GEORGIA

Jamesia Henderson- GA Department of Health

Titilayomi Abiodun- GA Department of Health 

ALABAMA

Emily Ward- University of Southern Alabama

ARKANSAS

Edith Weatherington- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

NORTH CAROLINA

Hannah Alexander- Western Carolina University

Madison Lohwasser- Western Carolina University 

Sean Fitzgerald- Western Carolina University

Mara Tate- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Ayla Bullock- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

KENTUCKY

Bruktawit Getnet- KY Department of Public Health