London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

How I Became a Biology Lecturer: Richard's Story

Richard describes how his master's at LSHDM launched a seven‑year malaria research stint in Tanzania, which formed the core of his PhD. He worked under Professor Mark Roland, trapping mosquitoes in rural villages, identifying species, and measuring infection rates to evaluate insecticide‑treated nets and indoor residual spraying. After returning to the United States, he now teaches undergraduate biology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, while studying local mosquito populations, West Nile virus transmission, and the recent invasion of Egyptian daytime‑biting mosquitoes. His narrative underscores LSHDM’s hands‑on training, the value of an alumni network that feels like family, and the broader relevance of entomological research to public‑health challenges worldwide. The story illustrates how practical field experience can translate into academic positions and highlights the ongoing need for skilled entomologists in combating vector‑borne diseases.