Abdelkafar Alkishe
Track
Research Frontiers
Faculty Mentor
Luis Escobar
Assistant Professor of Disease Ecology
Research Focus
Ecology and Geography of Hantavirus in Wildlife Reservoirs in North America: Hantavirus is considered as a neglected disease because no studies have investigated the biogeography of the hosts and pathogen in tandem even though hundreds of thousands of cases are reported globally, especially in rural areas and indigenous communities. The research objectives of this project are:
- Determine the potential geographic distribution of hantavirus hosts under climate conditions during the period 1900-2020.
- Identify anthropogenic and physical factors that trigger hantavirus spillover transmission from rodents to humans.
- Assess linkages between hantavirus prevalence and habitat and biodiversity change.
- Develop an eco-epidemiological framework combining phylogenetics with spatial modeling to anticipate the speed, direction, and extent of hantavirus spread in wildlife.
Why did you choose to pursue postdoctoral training at Virginia Tech?
Virginia Tech is known as an outstanding institution in terms of supporting research besides many other postdoc programs that lead to improving many skills in research and teaching.
What are you most looking forward to as you begin in this fellowship at Virginia Tech?
Making friends, connections, and getting to know new people from other research areas working at Virginia Tech.