Office hours
Anytime on Slack-see the syllabus for the link
or
EMAIL me.
Courses
Spring 2023
Previously Taught:
Education
Ph.D., Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of California Irvine
M.S., Environmental Studies, French Institute for Research and Development
B.S., Population and Ecosystem Biology, University of Rennes, France
Background
After growing up in France, I became interested in infectious disease and public health during my masters research in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. I then moved to California to pursue doctoral research on the environmental stress physiology of mosquitoes as disease vectors. Other interests (ecology, insect evolution, travel) then took me to South Africa for both teaching (Organization for Tropical Studies) and more research (University of Stellenbosch). Following this stint abroad, I returned to the US to pursue research at the University of Notre Dame on the evolution of aridity tolerance in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae, and during that time had the chance to work in Cameroon. After so much adventure, I settled down in Colorado where I taught at Colorado College for over 10 years. Itchy feet, and a desire to be closer to family, drove me east and to Ithaca, NY where I now live with my partner, 2 dogs and half dozen chickens.
Research
My primary research interest focuses on mosquitoes and the physiological and evolutionary mechanisms through which they respond to environmental stresses such as climate change or insecticide use. I've explored both physiological/ecological adaptations to environmental stresses as well as the genetic mutations responsible for these adaptations.
I also have a long-standing interest in the evolution of gas exchange in insects: long ago, tracheae with spiracular control evolved in an arthropod ancestor which ultimately may have allowed the tremendous diversification of insects we see today, as well as the ability of many to fly. I am an expert at using flow-through respirometry to measure the gas exchange patterns in small insects such as mosquitoes.
Finally, I pursue broader ecological questions related to land use and its effects on biodiversity. A longstanding project I hope to continue relates to examining the consequences of water use changes on aquatic life and bird populations in the Salton Sea, California.