University of Georgia

Medical Entomology and Vector‑Borne Disease Surveillance

Department of Entomology & Pre‑Professional Advising Office

Overview

This Certificate Program in Medical Entomology and Vector Borne Disease Surveillance offers a unique interdisciplinary opportunity for students pursuing careers in medicine, veterinary medicine, public health, or biomedical research. With a focus on medical entomology and vector-borne diseases, students will explore the vital roles insects play in global health, disease ecology, and clinical challenges that affect both human and animal populations.

Participants gain hands‑on experience in vector surveillance, insect identification, and disease monitoring while engaging with faculty experts and public health partners.

Participants in this certificate program will use VecTech IDX to practice searching, filtering, and interpreting large datasets efficiently. These skills directly apply to human and animal healthcare, where professionals work with patient records, diagnostics, and research data. Experience with this system builds data literacy and demonstrates readiness to use AI tools increasingly common in modern medical and veterinary settings.

Benefits of Participation

Students completing the certificate will:

  • Gain critical knowledge of a biomedical field often overlooked in pre-health curricula.
  • Build applied research and service experience relevant to med/vet school applications.
  • Understand disease from a systems-level and ecological perspective.
  • Network with faculty experts and researchers in public health, veterinary science, and entomology.

After successful completion of this program, students will receive a certificate from the Department of Entomology and the Pre-Professional Advising Office.

Experiential Learning: Please note that you need to double-check with your college that they have approved this activity for Experiential Learning Credit on engage.uga.edu. If you do not see this listed, speak with your academic advisor to confirm whether or not this program will count for EL.

Please note that this is not an official UGA certificate and will not appear on your transcript. However, you may include it in your professional school application.

Program Requirements

To earn the certificate, students must complete the following:

Attend 4 of 5 presentations in the Medical Entomology & Health Sciences Speaker Series:

  • Vectors and Disease Transmission – How insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas spread illness in humans and animals.
  • Emerging and Expanding Vector Borne Threats – How shifting environments are creating new disease risks across species and expanding public health threats.
  • Veterinary Perspectives on Vector-Borne Illness – The impact of insects on animal health, livestock, and zoonotic risks.
  • The One Health Connection – Integrating human, animal, and environmental health through entomological research.
  • Controlling Vector Borne Diseases – Approaches and advances in vector and disease control in the past and today.

Please reserve the following dates for presentations. Specific presentation assignments will be announced later, but you are expected to be available on all listed dates.

  1. Orientation: Friday, August 21st at 4:00pm – Hybrid TBD
  2. Speaker Presentation 1: Friday, August 28th at 4:00pm – Hybrid TBD
  3. Speaker Presentation 2: Friday, September 18th at 4:00pm – Hybrid TBD
  4. Speaker Presentation 3: Friday, October 9th at 4:00pm – Hybrid TBD
  5. Speaker Presentation 4: Friday, October 23rd at 4:00pm – Hybrid TBD
  6. Speaker Presentation 5: Friday, November 6th at 4:00pm – Hybrid TBD
Participate in a vector surveillance and geographic mapping project

The Entomology Department is in partnership with the Georgia Department of Public Health in areas such as:

  • Field collections to monitor for medically important invasive insect species and vector-borne disease agents
  • AI-assisted identification of mosquito and tick species from field collections
  • Screening of field-collected material for vector-borne disease agents
  • Analysis of data to contribute to geographical mapping of species distributions
  • A choice among in-depth experiences such as surveying hunters about disease prevention, collecting ticks from hunting game, shadowing lab testing processes, and more.
  • Group oral presentation of collection, identification, and surveillance data from field collections
Submit a 1,000-word reflection paper on one of the following topics:
  • Global burden and control of vector‑borne diseases.
  • Role of entomological research in clinical or veterinary practice
  • Integrating insect‑borne disease knowledge into medical or public health strategies
Participate in a final reflective dialogue session, engaging in peer-led discussion around:
  • Most meaningful or surprising aspects of the program
  • Connections between entomology and human/animal medicine
  • How the experience will shape future clinical, research, or policy work
Student Presentation Opportunity at Jekyll Island

Up to eight students from this program will be selected to attend the Georgia Mosquito Control Association meeting at Jekyll Island on Thursday, October 22nd – Friday, October 23rd where they will present their research findings. This is a valuable opportunity to gain professional presentation experience and strengthen your applications to professional or graduate programs.

Time Commitment

Total: 45 hours 15 contact hours and 30 out‑of‑class hours

Contact Hours (15)

  • Lab tour: 1 hour
  • Skill development sessions: 6 hours
  • Insect identification training: 3 hours
  • Speaker series: 4 hours
  • Reflection session: 1 hour

Out‑of‑Class Hours (30)

  • Mosquito and tick surveillance: 12 hours
  • Insect ID and data analysis: 8 hours
  • Group presentation: 5 hours
  • In‑depth experience: 5 hours

Activities

Lab Tours

Choose one two‑hour tour to see how different labs study insects and disease.

  1. Coverdell Mosquito Lab – vector biology and mosquito research
  2. Blackfly Lab – toxicology research
  3. Animal Health Research Center – screening insect vectors for disease agents
  4. Entomology Department tour – mosquito and kissing bug research

Skill Development

Complete short online modules, then practice basic field techniques like setting traps, collecting ticks, and staying safe outdoors.

Insect Identification Training

Spend four hours in the lab learning to identify mosquitoes and ticks using the VecTech IDX system.

Mosquito and Tick Surveillance

Go into the field in Clarke or Oconee County to collect mosquitoes and ticks, identify them, and contribute data to state and national surveillance programs.

Insect ID and Data Analysis

Identify part of the class’s collected specimens, analyze the shared dataset, and compare this year’s findings with previous years.

Group Presentation

Students create a scientific poster and recorded oral presentation. Top groups may be selected to present at the Georgia Mosquito Control Association meeting.

 

Registration for this program is open now. Space is limited to 50 participants. You will receive an email within 24 hours confirming your registration or placement on the wait-list.

Register Here