99 - Public Health Entomology for All Fellowship Experience

Public Health Entomology for All (PHEFA) is a program in collaboration with the Entomological Society of America and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. PHEFA offers three different levels of opportunity: a 10-week internship, a one-year fellowship, and a 2-year fellowship. The two-year fellowship opportunities are research-intensive, requiring a Master of Science or a PhD. As a two-year fellow, I have participated in several research projects, including a large-scale vector control evaluation study in coordination with the North Shore Mosquito Abatement District (NSMAD) north of Chicago, IL. This area has historically high incidence of West Nile virus, and the NSMAD regularly treats catch basins throughout the area to control mosquito populations. The field work for this study has been completed, and data analysis is currently underway. The data collected from this project will be used to inform future vector control operations. Through this experience, I was able to gain valuable field skills in mosquito control including collecting egg rafts, treating field sites, larval identification, and trapping methods. Participating in this project allowed me to familiarize myself with the operational workflow of a large mosquito abatement district, which has been a valuable part of my training in the PHEFA program.