EPI Seminar Series

University of Florida

Bianca Burini Kojin, Ph.D.

Bianca Burini Kojin, Ph.D., is an assistant professor specializing in the genetic control of mosquitoes at the UF IFAS Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory. The Burini Lab is dedicated to conducting basic research aimed at developing cutting-edge technologies to combat vector-borne diseases. Utilizing genetic engineering as our primary tool, they seek to understand the dynamics of host-pathogen interactions and understand the molecular mechanisms underlying disease transmission. Through this understanding, they want to engineer novel transgenes and refine existing tools, with the goal of designing more effective strategies for mosquito population suppression and population replacement. Their research encompasses a diverse array of pathogens, including those responsible for diseases such as malaria, dengue, Zika and chikungunya, along with their vectors, the mosquitoes from the genus Anopheles, Aedes, and Culex.

Yale School of Public Health

Daniel Weinberger, Ph.D.

Dan Weinberger, Ph.D., is the Haelyung Hwang Professor of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases at Yale School of Public Health. His research uses a combination of quantitative analysis, laboratory experiments and field work to understand the epidemiology and biology of respiratory infections. His lab's focuses on understanding the biological and epidemiological drivers of respiratory infections, including pneumococcus, RSV and influenza. Major research areas include understanding the biological drivers of the emergence of rare pneumococcal serotypes following vaccine introduction, developing novel statistical approaches to evaluate vaccine impact and effectiveness from observational data, and evaluating the importance of interactions among respiratory pathogens.

Kansas State University

Yoonseong Park, Ph.D.

Yoonseong Park, Ph.D., is a distinguished professor of arthropod molecular physiology in entomology at Kansas State University. Park's lab, the Arthropod Molecular Physiology Laboratory, studies the molecular physiology of arthropod species to gain fundamental knowledge and to apply the knowledge to improve human life. Arthropod is the largest Phylum on earth in its number and diversity. Many species of arthropods have significant impacts on human life and health. The lab focuses on three areas: Arthropod signaling peptides and their receptors; Signaling pathways for tick salivary secretion; Mechanisms of systemic RNA interference.