Congratulations to Joseph Spina, who successfully defended his master’s thesis in Entomology titled “The Vector Competence and Vectorial Capacity of Aedes albopictus for Ross River Virus as a Function of Temperature” on June 13, 2025.
In his work, Joe investigated how temperature influences the ability of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes to transmit Ross River virus—a critical step toward understanding how climate change may affect the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. The research involved both laboratory experiments and modeling to assess how temperature affects the mosquito’s biology and transmission potential.
Joe will be continuing in the lab as a PhD student. We look forward to seeing the next phase of his work and the continued contributions to the field of vector-borne disease ecology.
Well done, Joe!