August 3, 2021
Taylor Painter, who is pursuing biology and allied health majors at Mayville State University, recently attended the 72nd American Midwestern Conference of Parasitologists in De Pere, Wis. Also attending was Dr. Joseph Mehus, chair of the Mayville State Division of Science and Mathematics and INBRE (IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence) researcher.
During the conference, Painter was able to present data from the Mehus lab, where Dr. Mehus is leading a team that is actively studying mosquitoes found within Mayville-Portland and surrounding sites in Traill County. They have generated mosquito population data and population dynamics information. The team has identified a number of mosquito species and they are examining trends in mosquito numbers and influences on mosquito population numbers.
“We are very proud of Taylor and all of the students participating in student-led research at Mayville State University,” said Dr. Mehus.
The work of the Mehus research team is being funded by an INBRE grant. Taylor Painter and other student researchers working in the lab this summer are doing so via an opportunity afforded by a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU). REUs are funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The host site for the REU under which the Mayville State University student researchers are working is the University of North Dakota.
Dr. Mehus and his student researchers will also be attending the Entomological Society of America’s annual conference in Denver, Colo. at the end of October. These opportunities provide valuable experiences in research and presentation of data for students who anticipate that they will pursue graduate studies.
Photo caption: Mayville State University student researcher Taylor Painter is part of a team studying mosquitoes in Mayville-Portland and the Traill County area this summer. Taylor presented findings of the research team at the 72nd American Midwestern Conference of Parasitologists in De Pere, Wis. recently.