Research
Our research currently focuses on climate-health issues, vector borne disease modeling, geospatial models of intervention, and quantifying the social-ecological risk of disease emergence and vector borne disease exposure in a changing world. 

We work with the applied realm, aiming to align our model findings with real-world decision making frameworks and scales. We seek to inform vector control, surveillance, and guide and engage further research into these systems.

We also work on ecology at the human-wildlife interface, particularly where it pertains to disease ecology, conservation biology, and wildlife management.

We use methods from landscape ecology (GIS, remote sensing, spatial analyses), quantitative ecology, and epidemiology to analyze landscape change, health outcomes, and the impact of anthropogenic changes, including climate change.

CHECK OUT OUR CLIMATE-DISEASE MAPPING AT THIS GREAT WEB PROJECT CREATED BY JULIA BELLOT UF '21
Topics / Ongoing projects
APPEX (NSF PIPP Phase II institute)
  • APPEX is an institute dedicated to promoting multidisciplinary team science approaches to the Analysis and Prediction of Pandemic Expansion
  • Ryan is Associate Director for Core and Working Group Research
VectorByte (NSF CIBR funded)
  • Developing and building data infrastructure for vector borne diseases of people, plants, and animals
  • Training on informatics approaches to understanding vector borne diseases and vector dynamics
SE Center of Excellence in Vector Borne Disease (CDC funded)
  • Ryan is Data Core Lead 
  • Supports a number of projects in the US, and involves us in outreach to agencies and practitioners. 
VERENA: The Viral Emergence Initiative (NSF BII funded)
  • Exploring data-driven modeling approaches to viral emergence
  • Understanding spillover and emergence 
  • ​Supporting training and informatics development with the team
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Core Lab Foci:
  • Climate-health attribution 
  • ​Geospatial models of
    • Malaria intervention in Africa
    • Shifting patterns of vector borne disease in Nepal
    • Global change and shifting risk on the landscape
    • Vector-pathogen life-history and temperature relationships​
    • Ticks and pathogens in the US and Africa
​Older Projects 
  • Anthrax and environmental transmission frameworks
  • Bluetongue and climate change risk