BSc in Biology (Ecology & Biodiversity), Wageningen University & Research
MSc in Biology (Ecology), Wageningen University & Research
PhD, Wageningen University & Research
Postdoc, Wageningen University & Research

Mosquitoes and ticks have fascinated me from the start of my Biology studies at Wageningen University, the Netherlands. How can such small creatures cause such devastating diseases in humans? During my MSc in Biology, I focused my thesis on mosquitoes and the transmission of malaria between non-human primates. This work also sparked my interest in arthropod-borne viruses.

During my PhD, I studied the role of ticks and rodents in the transmission of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). My research included establishing a vector competence assay for ticks in our BSL-3 facility, studying TBEV infections in wild-caught rodents, and exploring how tick-borne pathogens influence tick behavior and infections with other pathogens.

After completing my PhD, I continued at Wageningen University as a postdoctoral researcher, studying the relationship between tick-borne disease risk and public perception in three European countries. Additionally, I worked on assessing insecticide resistance in mosquito populations across Europe.

Alongside my postdoctoral research at Wageningen University, I worked with Doctors Without Borders as a Medical Entomologist, providing expert advice on the prevention and control of disease vectors such as sandflies and mosquitoes. I also contributed to the planning and preparation of a city-wide dengue virus control intervention in Chittagong, Bangladesh. These experiences gave me valuable on-the-ground insights into how dengue is disrupting health systems worldwide, particularly in low-income countries. These experiences strengthen my commitment to advancing research that aims to interrupt the transmission cycles of vector-borne diseases.

I’m excited to now focus on dengue virus research in the Vogels Lab. Currently, I am investigating interactions between dengue virus and Wolbachia in Aedes mosquitoes. Using a genomics approach, I aim to understand how mutations in the viral genome may influence its suppression by Wolbachia. Additionally, I am exploring the transmission dynamics of Powassan virus between ticks and rodents.

Outside the lab, you’ll often find me on my road bike or enjoying the outdoors—hiking and camping in nature.