Joseph McMillan

Research Interests

The lab's research broadly investigates the eco-epidemiology and control of zoonotic, vector-borne pathogens. Within this context, I focus primarily on mosquitoes and arboviruses. My aim is to use ecological and empirical approaches to elucidate the mechanisms of arbovirus amplification and perpetuation in human-dominated environments and to suppress zoonotic arbovirus spillover into human populations. To this end, my primary research approaches include mosquito surveillance, semi-natural and in-lab experiments, diagnostic testing,  and quantitative methods.

Current projects include:

• Quantitative analysis of longitudinal mosquito and arbovirus surveillance data to identify metrics of ecological and epidemiological risk
• Investigate influence of biopesticides on mosquito larval community assembly and interspecific interactions

Projects in development include:

• Evaluate and improve integrated pest management solutions for Culex tarsalis
• Quantify West Nile virus transmission networks among Culex tarsalis and Culex pipiens complex
• Island biogeography theory as a mechanism of Aedes aegypti expansion in the southwest US
• Determine relationship mosquito microbiome composition and pesticide effectiveness

Select Publications

• McMillan J, Harden C, Burtis J, Breban M, Shepard J, Petroff T, Misencik M, Bransfield A, Poggi J, Harrington L, Andreadis T, Armstrong P. (2021). The community-wide effectiveness of municipal larval control programs for West Nile virus risk reduction in Connecticut, United States, Pest Management Science. 77(11): 5186-5201. ed Publications
• McMillan J, Armstrong P, Andreadis T (2020). Patterns of mosquito and arbovirus community composition and ecological indexes of arboviral risk in the northeast United States. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 14(2): e0008066.  
• McMillan J, Marcet P, Hoover C, Mead D, Kitron U, Vazquez-Prokopec G. (2019) Feeding success and host choice of Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes in experimental trials. Vector-Borne & Zoonotic Diseases. 15(5):303-310. 
  
  
• McMillan J, Blakeny R, Mead G, Koval W, Coker S, Waller L, Kitron U, Vazquez-Prokopec G. (2019). Linking the vectorial capacity of multiple vectors to observed patterns of West Nile virus transmission. Journal of Applied Ecology 56 (4). 
  
  

• Complete list of Published Work: 
  
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/joseph.mcmillan.1/bibliography/public/