By Patrick Sherry
Assistant Professor of molecular ecology, population genomics, and bioinformatics at the University of Florida Dr. Yoosook Lee researches the deadliest animal on the planet to find potential solutions to combat the many issues brought by mosquitos.
"They're the most important animal to humans in terms of their impact on death and disabilities that impact humans," said Lee. "So, studying them and figuring out a way to control them [and] identify them to respond. Those are great motivations to study them."
She first began studying language evolution using population genetics and evolutionary principles. But, after creating a successful database for a lab that studies African malaria mosquitos, she continued to pursue mosquito biology research. This has led to it being the focus of her postdoc, the beginning of her research scientist career, and 10 years studying African malaria vectors.
Her current research at UF mostly focuses on two mosquito species. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in the pacific islands and states like California and Florida. These Aedes mosquitos can transmit several viral diseases.
Dr. Lee collaborates with other researchers at universities to provide data that allows them to potentially develop mosquito strains that are unable to transmit disease or cause a population decline. This involves collecting data on mosquito populations, how far they will disperse, and if they have any genetic structure that prevents them from mating in natural conditions. This data is used to create mathematical models to come up with different release scenarios and predictions of population impacts.
"I evaluate the natural field site, study the natural population, and try to collect data that can be used to model the mosquito population growth or mosquito dispersal when or if transmitting mosquitoes were to release in the natural conditions," said Lee.
These collaborations have led to involvement in other projects with the EPA. These projects include Dr. Lee researching mosquito dispersal in Hawaii, and research on Aedes aegypti populations before and after the release of genetically modified mosquitos in the Florida Keys.
Other than that, she is researching understudied African malaria vectors in Zambia in the pre-elimination stage and insecticide resistance among mosquitos. Her research is to better understand the ecology and genetics to develop better surveillance and control strategies for these vectors.
Other than academics, Dr. Lee says she is particularly proud of mentoring students.
"I've been pretty successful at mentoring undergraduate students at UC Davis (University of California, Davis) and here, I think like 70 — 80 percent of my students have peer-reviewed publications before they graduate," said Lee. "The ones, when I was at UC Davis, people stay on average, like two years — they do stick around. I see that as them having a value for the participating in our research."
All in all, Dr. Lee explains that her research is a valuable experience.
"You get the gratification to working on something that what you do matters to help people save lives to help people save live," said Lee.