About Us
Current Lab Members
Dr. Gillian Eastwood, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor / Primary Investigator geastwood @ vt.edu I am a disease ecologist with a background in arboviral research, tropical conservation ecology and wildlife crime analysis. My research incorporates field- and lab-based studies to investigate the ecology of vector-borne and zoonotic disease. A major focus is to increase understanding of novel tick- and mosquito-borne pathogens of One Health interest, their mechanisms of emergence, and ecological factors influencing their distribution and prevalence. |
Affiliations: VT Center for Emerging, Zoonotic, & Arthropod-borne Pathogens (CeZAP), VT Global Change Center; Northeast Center for Excellence in Vector-borne Diseases (NEVBD), American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (ASTMH), American Committee on Arthropod-borne Viruses and Zoonotic Viruses (ACAV; Council Member), Wildlife Disease Association.
Lindsey Faw, M.S. - PhD Student; ICTAS Doctoral fellow
lrfaw @ vt.edu ; lindseyfaw.weebly.com I received my Master's degree in Biology at UNCG in Aug. 2020 where I focused on the ecology of sand flies. I joined the Eastwood lab in Aug. 2020 focusing on the newly isolated strain (lineage III) of La Crosse virus (LACV) in the Northeast, USA. Specifically, I am determining the horizontal and vertical transmission of potential mosquito vectors and the pathogenesis in murine models to determine the potential public health risks associated with lineage III. Affiliations: VT CeZAP, VT Wildlife Disease Association, ASTMH, Virginia Mosquito Control Association (VMCA) . |
Muhammed Camara - MSFLS Student
muhammedmc @ vt.edu I am from The Gambia, a member state of the low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in West Africa. The Gambia faces a health system gap, further exacerbated by low research capacity in that sector. I am dedicated, motivated, and passionate about using scientific research tools to address the knowledge gaps. I am currently doing my master's degree program in Entomology. I am an aspiring African researcher who aims to contribute to reducing endemic diseases in Africa by broadening participation in scientific research. Research requires hard work and perseverance which are installed in me. Affiliations: VT CeZAP, ASTMH |
Matt Sharpe - MSFLS Student (jointly with the Kuhar Lab)
matts184 @ vt.edu Now an MSFLS student, I majored in Wildlife Conservation, and was an undergraduate researcher in the Eastwood lab trapping small mammals in order to test their blood for antibodies to tick borne viruses, as well as to determine population densities of white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus). I also survey for ticks around Montgomery County. For my Masters research, I will be studying spatial ecology of the invasive Asian Longhorned tick. Affiliations: ESA |
Isidore Nsengimana, M.S.
PhD student (PASET-RSIF)
Isidore is a PASET-RSIF doctoral scholar from Rwanda, who joined the Eastwood Lab for 2023. His research focus on vector-borne disease epidemiology of Rift Valley fever virus circulation in Rwanda, including investigations of small ruminants, humans and mosquitoes.
PhD student (PASET-RSIF)
Isidore is a PASET-RSIF doctoral scholar from Rwanda, who joined the Eastwood Lab for 2023. His research focus on vector-borne disease epidemiology of Rift Valley fever virus circulation in Rwanda, including investigations of small ruminants, humans and mosquitoes.
Ivy Okello, M.S.
PhD defending candidate. Ivy has been a PASET-RSIF doctoral scholar, who joined the Eastwood Lab in June, 2022. I received my masters in Molecular Biology from Katholieke University of Leuven, Belgium. My research interests are in vector-borne diseases. My project is on tsetse-fly transmitted animal trypanosomiasis in Kenya and emergence of drug resistant parasites. I am involved in a tick virus project in addition to my tsetse project! |
Erika Mathov
Undergraduate Student Researcher
erika mathov @ vt. edu
A Pre-Vet senior majoring in Biology with a minor in Peace Studies &
Social Justice, Erika focuses on serological assays and assessing wildlife
exposure to mosquito- and tick-borne arboviruses.
Erika is also our journal club coordinator.
Undergraduate Student Researcher
erika mathov @ vt. edu
A Pre-Vet senior majoring in Biology with a minor in Peace Studies &
Social Justice, Erika focuses on serological assays and assessing wildlife
exposure to mosquito- and tick-borne arboviruses.
Erika is also our journal club coordinator.
Jeehyun Ghang
Undergraduate Student Researcher
ghyun @ vt. edu
A senior majoring in Biological Sciences, Jeehyun's focus in the lab is molecular analysis of tick-borne pathogens in field-collected tick species.
Undergraduate Student Researcher
ghyun @ vt. edu
A senior majoring in Biological Sciences, Jeehyun's focus in the lab is molecular analysis of tick-borne pathogens in field-collected tick species.
Previous Lab Members
Peter Schiff - Former Undergraduate Student Researcher
Peter majored in microbiology with a minor in entomology. His work in the lab involved studying the pathogens transmitted by blacklegged ticks in the Southwest Virginia region. Specifically, Peter was surveying ticks for Powasssan virus and Borrelia spp. and Anaplasma spp. pathogens, as well as assessing infection rates in tick from lagomorphs. One of our VT Global Change Center fellowship awardees 2022! |
Melanie Turner -Former Undergraduate Student Researcher
melaniet19 @ vt.edu As a senior majoring in Biology with a minor in Animal and Poultry Sciences, in the lab, Melanie researched the phenology of container-breeding Aedes spp. mosquitoes in Southwest Virginia, as well as receiving a Global Change Center fellowship to study La Crosse virus vector competency. After graduating with aBachelor's degree in Spring 2023, Melanie is currently attending veterinary school to become a practicing Veterinarian. |
Dr. Alexandra (Alex) Cumbie, Ph.D. - Former PostDoc
calex26 @ vt.edu
I received my Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from Old Dominion University in Dec. 2020 where I studied rickettsiae in hard-bodied ticks. My main expertise is related to hard-bodied tick species and tick-borne pathogens, but I am interested in broad scale parasitology and zoonoses. In the Eastwood Lab, I focused on Powassan virus co-infections in blacklegged ticks and small mammal hosts.
calex26 @ vt.edu
I received my Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from Old Dominion University in Dec. 2020 where I studied rickettsiae in hard-bodied ticks. My main expertise is related to hard-bodied tick species and tick-borne pathogens, but I am interested in broad scale parasitology and zoonoses. In the Eastwood Lab, I focused on Powassan virus co-infections in blacklegged ticks and small mammal hosts.
Ahmed Garba DVM - Former MS student
Now at University of South Alabama (Hermance Lab)
I am interested in emerging tick-borne diseases, and aim to understand the complex relationship between the environment and tick-borne pathogens. My graduate research project involved evaluating the prevalence of tick-borne viruses circulating in Virginia through a One-Health lens. When I am not talking or reading about ticks and their pathogens, I enjoy playing football (soccer, here in the states), watching movies based on true life events and having conversations with my sweet wife.
Now at University of South Alabama (Hermance Lab)
I am interested in emerging tick-borne diseases, and aim to understand the complex relationship between the environment and tick-borne pathogens. My graduate research project involved evaluating the prevalence of tick-borne viruses circulating in Virginia through a One-Health lens. When I am not talking or reading about ticks and their pathogens, I enjoy playing football (soccer, here in the states), watching movies based on true life events and having conversations with my sweet wife.
Rebecca Trimble - Previous Undergraduate Student Researcher
trebecca @ vt.edu
Rebecca researched the use of an membrane feeding system for the tick species Ixodes scapularis and conditions to encourage them to feed on an artificial membrane. The eventual goal of this research was to study pathogen transmission between tick life stages using feeding mechanisms that avoid the use of lab animals in research.
Upon graduation, Rebecca has joined the Jutras lab at VT Biochemistry for her PhD research. Best of luck!
trebecca @ vt.edu
Rebecca researched the use of an membrane feeding system for the tick species Ixodes scapularis and conditions to encourage them to feed on an artificial membrane. The eventual goal of this research was to study pathogen transmission between tick life stages using feeding mechanisms that avoid the use of lab animals in research.
Upon graduation, Rebecca has joined the Jutras lab at VT Biochemistry for her PhD research. Best of luck!
Lucas Raymond - Former Undergraduate Student Researcher
Lucas, also the lab musician, majored in biology with minors in entomology and philosophy. Much of his work with the lab involved sampling for ticks in counties across southwest Virginia. He was also involved in several research projects studying insecticide and acaricide efficacy. Lucas accepted a position at UC Riverside upon graduation! Congrats Lucas! |
Christian Reid - Former Lab Assistant
Christian was both an undergraduate researcher then worked part-time with the lab after graduating (Dec. 2020) with a B.S. in Biological Sciences. He assisted with field collections, morphological identification of tick specimens, as well as performing nucleic acid extraction and qPCR screening for tick pathogens. His future aspirations include attending a M.S. graduate program and becoming a Forensic DNA analyst. |
Awards: Hill Scholarship, Alwood Society Travel Fund
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Amanda Whitlow, M.S.
First completed MSLFS Student of the lab! For her Master’s, Amanda characterized tick populations within central Appalachia / Southwestern Virginia, assessing relative abundance, species diversity, pathogen prevalence, habitat association and phenology of ticks found within the region. Additionally, she determined the overwintering ability of three medically-significant tick vectors shifting into the region,. The research provided more information in determining tick-associated risks in Virginia, and resulted in 4 publications! |
Kayla Cash
- Former Undergraduate Student Researcher Kayla was a Psychology major at Virginia Tech. Her primary role in the lab was helping with cell culture; splitting the cells to maintain the cell lines, making plates for the projects that need them, etc. She got involved in this research lab primarily to gain experience and has learned a lot in terms of cell culture and even a bit with maintaining the mosquito colonies. |