Speaker: Catherine Miller, Ph.D, Assistant Professor Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern Maine
About the speaker: Dr. Catherine Miller joined the USM Biology faculty in 2019. Previously, she was an Assistant Professor of Biology at Western Illinois University, and she held postdoctoral research positions in the Department of Microbiology and the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Iowa. Dr. Miller is a microbiologist who focuses on viruses.
About the seminar: West Nile Virus (WNV), introduced to the U.S in 1999, is now the primary mosquito-borne illness in the country, with no human vaccine available and limited data on infection rates among the general population. Climate change is expected to expand WNV’s reach to northern areas by creating more mosquito-friendly habitats, increasing the likelihood and severity of outbreaks. This seminar covers a study aimed at establishing baseline WNV infection rates in Southern Maine’s general population to enhance understanding of the virus’s status and transmission in the region.
The event is free but registration is required. Please use this registration link to sign up for the Zoom event.