Guest Speaker Series
The UTRGV Center for Vector-Borne Diseases implemented a Guest Speaker Series to provide students a platform in areas of interest and the opportunity to meet professors or colleagues conducting research. The symposiums are scheduled at noon and offered to the UTRGV community. Students unable to attend can watch via Zoom on their mobile devices.
Past Speakers
October 3, 2024- Dr. Ted Burgess Veterinary Entomologist and Assistant Professor at the University of Florida. His primary research focus is on arthropod pests in animal production systems. Dr. Burgess applies a multidisciplinary approach to field and laboratory research, merging tools from arthropod physiology, toxicology, biochemistry, and behavioral ecology. His research efforts include investigations of features of pest biology that may be leveraged for control efforts or that contribute to economic loss or pathogen transmission, and development of sustainable chemical and biological control solutions for use in livestock systems. He presented his research "Challenging old dogma to generate new strategies for vector control". Link to Presentation Password - %1LJm28B
September 19, 2024- Dr. Brian Hendricks Executive Director & Associate Professor for the Center for Rural and Community Health at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. His research involves the application of spatial epidemiology to a wide variety of public health issues, improving access to medical care and health programs for underserved and rural communities, and fostering community engagement in research. He presented his research on Empowering communities through research and service. Link to presentation Password - S!^yqt6L
October 13, 2022 - Dr. Maureen Laroche Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Global Health and Emerging Diseases. She presented her research on developing proteomic tools for the surveillance of vector-borne diseases, the epidemiology, and the pathogenesis of vector-borne bacteria targeting the endothelium, such as the Rickettsia and Bartonella species.
February 24, 2022 - Dr. Phil Kaufman Professor and Chair, Department of Entomology Texas A&M University presented Using traditional techniques and modern tools to answer questions in veterinary entomology
October 14, 2021 - Dr. Joe Louis Department of Entomology & Department of Biochemistry Institute of Agricultural and Natural Resources from the University of Nebraska Lincoln presented on the regulation of Plant Defense responses to sap-sucking aphids
April 8, 2021 - Dr. Cynthia Lord Department of Entomology and Nematology, IFAS, University of Florida, presented on Mathematical and computer modeling to investigate questions bout the ecology and epidemiology of pathogens
April 2, 2021 - Chelsea T. Smartt Department of Entomology and Nematology, IFAS from the University of Florida presented on Molecular biology and biochemistry of disease-transmitting mosquitoes, molecular entomology, gene expression and regulation, the genetic basis of vector competence, insecticide resistance mechanisms
March 25, 2021 - Dr. Kerry Mauck Assistant professor, the University of California, Riverside presented on the chemical ecology of insect-vectored Disease
November 12, 2020 - Dr. Saravanan Thangamani SUNNY Upstate Medical University presented on Tracking the emergence of tick and tick-borne diseases in New York
October 29, 2020 - Dr. Roberto Barrera Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention Dengue Branch, Puerto Rico presented on Ecology and Control of Dengue Vectors
April 3, 2020 - Dr. Susan McLellan UTMB, Questions and Answers on Corona Virus
November 21, 2019 - Dr. Federico Gonzalez-Fernandez
Professor, Department of Pathology and Ophthalmology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center with a specialty in Ocular pathology will present on Congenital Zika virus infection in immunocompetent mice causes postnatal growth impediment and neurobehavioral deficits.
March 21, 2019 - Dr. Alejandro Cordoba-Aguilar
Professor, the Ecology Institute in Mexico City presented on the Evolutionary Ecology Applied to Control Chagasic Bugs.
December 6, 2018 - Dr. Gabriela Blohm
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions presented on Tracking Zika and other viruses in Venezuela: Lessons learned and discoveries made.
For more information contact the Center for Vector-Borne Disease at (956) 665-7170