Research Activities at the NSF-Center for Pandemic Insights
Christine Johnson, Center Director
Dr. Christine Johnson (University of California, Davis) is responsible for strategic leadership of the Center and research at the animal-human interface in landscapes that constitute “fault lines” for disease emergence, disease spillover and subsequent spread. Dr. Johnson currently works with transdisciplinary teams to drive technological innovation and disease modeling to advance our understanding of disease dynamics in the pre-emergence phase of epidemics and pandemics at common animal-human interfaces. (Team includes graduate students Elizabeth Ashley and Olivia Cords, post-docs Jillian Armstrong and Yingying Wang, and Field Researcher Sarah Lagatutta)
Urbashi Mitra, Associate Director
Dr. Urbashi Mitra (University of Southern California) works on problems in communication theory, information theory, and signal processing. For the Center, Dr. Mitra leads teams working on rare event signal detection, predictive modeling, and multi-modal sensor signal integration. Current work is focused on preliminary forecasting activities, analyzing datasets collected across the Center and characterizing and extending models developed in the pre-emergence modeling space. (Team includes graduate students Nomaan Kherani and Sambit Mishra)
Simon Anthony, Associate Director
Dr. Simon Anthony (University of California, Davis) works on zoonotic and emerging infectious diseases, and specifically on the discovery, ecology, and evolution of viruses. He leads CPI efforts to develop a deeper understanding of the ecology and evolution of wildlife viruses. Specifically, Dr. Anthony is working on theoretical and empirical models of recombination, a key evolutionary mechanism driving the establishment and emergence of new virus strains. (Team includes graduate student Caleb Huntington and post-docs Cassandra Bonavita and Heather Wells)
Karen Saylors, Associate Director
Dr. Karen Saylors (Labyrinth Global Health) is a social science researcher and CEO/Co-founder of Labyrinth Global Health. Her work includes mixed methods research and behavioral surveillance of drivers of emerging infectious diseases and risk mitigation of HIV, TB, coronaviruses, and novel emerging viruses in Africa and Southeast Asia. Dr. Saylors provides the CPI team with interdisciplinary research expertise in behavioral and socioeconomic sciences, and she leads community participatory engagement in field implementation and public outreach.
Gisele Ragusa, Director of Training and Outreach
Dr. Gisele Ragusa (University of Southern California) is the Director of Training and Outreach for the Center. Dr. Ragusa’s research interests and areas of expertise include STEM, in particular engineering education, human computing interaction in learning, engineering innovation and global preparedness, STEM PK-12 education and teacher education, STEM literacy education, as well as assessment and measurement in STEM.
David Coil, Program Manager
Dr. David Coil (University of California, Davis) is the Program Manager for the Center and is responsible for coordinating and facilitating research across groups, in addition to regulatory compliance and sponsor reporting. Dr. Coil is currently focused on managing the deployment of sensors to the field and other field site logistics.
Cristina Davis, Senior Scientist and Mitch McCartney, Senior Scientist
Dr. Cristina Davis and Mitch McCartney (University of California, Davis) develop advanced, portable chemical sensor systems capable of selectively targeting individual volatile organic compounds (VOCs) within complex mixtures. VOC emissions from animals and their environments can provide rich insights into health and disease states. Their current work includes establishing baseline VOC profiles across diverse settings and creating field-deployable sensors for precise, real-time monitoring. (Team includes staff researcher Tristan Hicks)
Pei Zhang, Senior Scientist
Dr. Pei Zhang (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor) and his team are responsible for sensor integration and data transfer in the development of multi-modal sensors, as well as the hybrid learning, physical model incorporation, and data transfer aspects of the work. Dr. Zhang’s team also works on refining data augmentation algorithms and physical models based on initial data collected, developing additional algorithms, and integrating learning into the system structure. Current work is focused on initial deployments of multi-modal sensors at various field sites and improving data augmentation approaches (e.g. when sensor data is unreliable or missing). (Team includes graduate students Jiale Zhang and Julia Gersey)
Troy Magney, Senior Scientist
Dr. Troy Magney (University of Montana) and his team will lead tasks associated with environmental sensing and satellite remote sensing in support of the Center. Specifically, Dr. Magney will be responsible for the integration of satellite-based remote sensing observations with ecological and epidemiological modeling frameworks developed by the Center. Current and future projects include the derivation of high-resolution landscape and climate metrics from multiple satellite platforms and contributions to joint species distribution modeling (JSDMs) by providing remote sensing inputs that define habitat features and environmental gradients across local and regional scales. (Team includes graduate student McKenzie Sime).
Patrick Mercier, Senior Scientist
Dr. Patrick Mercier (University of California, San Diego) and team will help design and develop electronics platforms for the program. This includes design of custom integrated circuit front-ends, along with system integration of other necessary electronic components such as wireless communication functionality. A particular area of focus includes building the required front-end for the pathogen sensor. Current work involves testing the first-generation chip design. (Team includes graduate student Sumukh Nitundil)
Bistra Dilkina, Senior Scientist
Dr. Bistra Dilkina (University of Southern California) is an Artificial Intelligence researcher who works on hybrid methods combining machine learning and combinatorial optimization algorithms, with applications in environmental and social impact domains. Dr. Dilkina’s work with CPI will work on developing species distribution models leveraging species occurrences and environmental covariates data developed by other members of the CPI team. She will work on introducing novel machine learning and decision approaches that can inform minimizing zoonic spread at the animal-human interface.
Zhaodan Kong, Senior Scientist
Dr. Zhaodan Kong (University of California, Davis) develops, validates, and implements autonomous robotic systems—primarily UAVs— to be ultimately integrated into a multimodal sensor network. Specific projects include development of a sequential air filtration system, assembly and validation of different UAVs with different sensor payloads, and the enhancement of UAV capabilities for deployment in rugged field conditions. (Team includes graduate student Baihan Chen)
Kartik Chandran, Senior Scientist
Dr. Kartik Chandran (Albert Einstein College of Medicine) supports the Center through assistance with pathogen sensor design and virus-host interaction predictions for viruses of interest. Dr. Chandran’s group specializes in viral protein expression and protein modeling. Work to date has focused on modeling the structure of viral proteins relevant to CPI work.
Rebekah Kading, Senior Scientist
Dr. Rebekah Kading (Colorado State University) provides expertise in fieldwork, bat tracking, and surveillance technology. Dr. Kading and her team have access to controlled settings that house bats and they have been facilitating deployment of biosensors in these spaces. To date, CPI has deployed VOC samplers and multi-modal environmental sensors at these facilities.
Brian Wood, Senior Scientist
Dr. Brian Wood (University of California, Los Angeles) provides expertise and consultative services on methods and practices of social science research, assists with data analysis, spatial analyses, and the study of human-animal interactions. Current CPI work involves engineering and testing a keyword data logger for use in the field.
Tigga Kingston, Senior Scientist
Dr. Tigga Kingston (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) provides technical input on bat and wildlife ecology, and biosafety practices critical for working with bats in field conditions. Dr. Kingston also supports in-situ field activities and trials of innovative technologies in field applications, particularly to ensure ethical and safe practice. Current activities involve helping analyze air sampling data and planning future fieldwork.
Ian Ingram, Senior Scientist
Ian Ingram (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance) leads the Conservation Technology Lab at the SDZWA, which focuses on wildlife health, behavior, conservation technology, and education of conservation technologists. SDZWA supports the Center both through the development of new technologies and methodologies, and also as a site to validate sensors on a controlled animal population. The lab’s current focus include optimization of automated machine learning counting methods for both visual and auditory data from animals. (Team includes Research Coordinator Sumega Mandadi)
Marcela Uhart, Senior Scientist
Dr. Marcela Uhart (University of California, Davis) is the Director of the Latin America Program at the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center. Her focus is on free-ranging wildlife health research and conservation, especially in marine wildlife (particularly mammals and birds). Dr Uhart’s work with CPI has focused on understanding the transmission dynamics and risk associated with avian influenza in marine mammals and birds.
Maggie Reinbold, Senior Scientist
Maggie is the Director of Community Engagement for the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. She oversees and supports the work of the in-house and community-based conservation teams as they design and implement programs that connect communities to conservation for the benefit of wildlife and habitats. Maggie works closely with the education, training, and outreach teams that are part of CPI.
Guillaume Jospin, Cyberinfrastructure and Data Management Officer
In his role as the Cyberinfrastructure and Data Management Officer for CPI, Guillaume (University of California, Davis) oversees all aspects of data handling and digital infrastructure for the Center. Current projects include the development of a data-sharing portal that will encompass both public and Center-generated data. Future work will include an interactive data visualization platform on the CPI website.
Nadine Lamberski, Thought Partner
Dr. Lamberski, Chief Conservation and Wildlife Health Officer for the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, provides strategic leadership and oversight to the Center. Dr. Lamberski currently leads a large and diverse team responsible for the health of wildlife at the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park as well as the Alliance’s in situ conservation efforts in eight locations around the world.