Patrick Heffernan
Vector-borne disease ecologist | PhD Candidate at Notre Dame | NIH F31 Research Fellow |🦟|✍️|☕️
heffernanp.substack.com
- 30 years ago today, the world of vector biology lost George B. Craig, Jr., a leading expert on Aedes mosquitoes. At Notre Dame, I’m lucky enough to work in his insectaries and care for his books. Here are some of my reflections on his legacy that I’ve had here. open.substack.com/pub/hefferna...
- Loved Eric Ochomo’s call to action during the George B. Craig memorial lecture! Fighting vector-borne disease requires united, integrated, and bold actions now more than ever.
- Had a blast presenting at and attending #PHAM2025!
- I’m incredibly grateful to be funded through the NIH. Because of their support, I’m able to conduct research that helps fight mosquito-borne disease. The NIH funds countless researchers dedicated to helping improve human lives, and I hope they continue to give us that opportunity
- The White House budget proposal includes an $18B cut to NIH research funding in FY26. Explore the anticipated economic impacts in communities nationwide & click on any district to learn more and get a shareable scorecard. New from our #SCIMaP team: scienceimpacts.org/fy26
- Had so much fun with @rohrecologylab.bsky.social at #ESA2025! Can’t wait to be back
- Just got to present @eselland.bsky.social and I’s Schistosomiasis lab project at ESA! While I primarily work with mosquitoes now, learning about Schistosomiasis in undergrad parasitology was what convinced me to become a disease ecologist. Such a cool full circle moment for me!
- While out walking, this pair of insects fell from the tree canopy and landed right in front of me!
- The cicada-killer wasp had just stung the cicada and was waiting for paralysis to fully kick in. It will then carry the cicada back to its burrow where it will lay its eggs, and the cicada’s body will serve as food for the hatching larvae
- Such a treat to get to see in person! It feels great to cross seeing a cicada-killer hunt off my entomology bucket list ✔️
- I’m normally an Aedes guy, but I had a blast learning how to do Anopheles midgut and salivary gland dissections today with members of the @aacostaserrano.bsky.social lab today! They’re the best!
- Took a brief break from honeymooning to identify hundreds of Aedes albopictus larvae in a standing water basin at Villa Monastero in Varenna, Italy. Remember to drain or dump standing water!
- Another historic botanical garden in Varenna, Castello di Vezio, maintains artificial mini ponds full of mosquito predators as a means of ecological control. Very fun to see in action (and full of adorable snails, fish, and aquatic inverts)
- Working on this project with @eselland.bsky.social and @rohrecologylab.bsky.social has been incredibly rewarding! Can’t wait to present on it further at ESA this fall 🐌
- Thanks to everyone at @eeid2025.bsky.social for listening to me present our work yesterday on #schistosomiasis transmission across two ecological gradients! 🐌🪱 Excited to see how this project continues to take shape with @pmheffernan.bsky.social and the @rohrecologylab.bsky.social crew!
- Reposted by Patrick HeffernanThanks to everyone at @eeid2025.bsky.social for listening to me present our work yesterday on #schistosomiasis transmission across two ecological gradients! 🐌🪱 Excited to see how this project continues to take shape with @pmheffernan.bsky.social and the @rohrecologylab.bsky.social crew!
