With a background in evolutionary genetics and entomology, I am interested in elucidating the underlying genetic and ecological factors that drive vector competence. My research has involved improving the genetic map of disease vectors, mapping of resistance genes, and describing the composition of host associated microbial communities. Currently, my research focuses on elucidating how the evolutionary relationships between mosquitoes and their associated microbes may contribute to vector competence. I am specifically interested in studying these in natural vector populations in vector-borne disease endemic settings. I seek to address questions like; do the differences in bacterial diversity in vector populations contribute to variations in vector competence and disease epidemiology? are these variations affected by changing environmental, climatic and anthropological factors? can these bacteria be useful in transmission–blocking strategies in natural populations?