Many of us intuitively recognize that our mosquito problems are seasonal; there are times of the year when mosquitoes are abundant and we cannot go outside without getting bitten (e.g. late spring and summer), while there are other times when we enjoy a reprieve from mosquito bites (e.g. late fall and winter). I am interested in how precisely mosquitoes are able to tell what time of year it is and appropriately respond to their environment. Members of my lab group study how circadian clock genes might allow mosquitoes to measure day length to determine the time of year; how male mosquitoes change their accessory gland proteins to influence female behavior and physiology; and whether mosquitoes in urban environments are active for longer periods during the year and/or bite humans more frequently. We use a variety of molecular, genetic and physiological techniques to investigate these questions. Our ultimate goal is to uncover specific ways to manipulate seasonal responses in insects so that we can more effectively control them.

I graduated from The Ohio State University in 2004 with dual Bachelor's of Science Degrees in Entomology and Microbiology. I then continued my graduate work at OSU, where I worked in Dr. David Denlinger's Insect Molecuar Physiology Lab, earning my PhD in December of 2014. I taught general biology as well as courses on insect biology for science and non-science majors at Kenyon College for one year before returning to OSU as an Assistant Professor of Entomology in 2016.