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I have a Ph.D. in Public Health with a major in infectious diseases. My research is focused on insect molecular genetics, vector biology and the development of synthetic approaches to prevent transmission of mosquito-borne diseases. I have been active in mentoring numerous undergraduate students at UCI and have had a positive influence on their career trajectories. I enjoy training and teaching new recruits in the field. I provided the intellectual input for the project design and daily guidance to the students. I have been responsible for planning experiments, data analysis, manuscript preparation and data presentation at meetings for many projects. I have the ability to coordinate several activities and teamwork. I, therefore, have an established track record as a research scientist capable of leading independent studies and providing academic preparation for future young scientists of this country.

My current scientific training and expertise as a researcher and mentor are focused primarily on two areas: 1) insect molecular genetics and vector biology and 2) crop pests.

I have a broad experience in molecular biology, transgenesis, genetic modification, and the development of new synthetic technologies such as gene drives for the control of infectious diseases such as malaria and dengue. I have a strong background in molecular entomology and insect control, specialized in mosquito populations. contributed articles to some of the most prestigious scientific journals in the field of biology. These include: Cell and Molecular Life Sciences, the 7th ranked scientific journal in Molecular Medicine, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, and Pharmacology, as well as the 36th, ranked journal in Cell Biology; PLoS One, the 3rd ranked scientific journal in Agricultural and Biological Sciences, and 13th ranked journal in Biochemistry, Genetics, and Molecular Biology; Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, the 3rd ranked scientific journal of multidisciplinary focus; Insect Molecular Biology, the 12th ranked scientific journal in Insect Sciences, Pathogens, and Global Health, the 29th ranked scientific journal in Parasitology; Plant Methods, the 25th ranked scientific journal in both Plant Science and Biotechnology and countless others.