Prof. Dr. Niels Verhulst

Area of Research

Description of Research Interest

I am leading the vector ecology group within the Institute for Parasitology in Zürich. Together we study the behaviour of vectors of different pathogens with the goal to develop new vector control tools. We study the thermal preference of mosquitoes and biting midges with video tracking and semi-field and field setups. Understanding the thermal preference of vectors will help to develop better models and thereby predict disease risk. Host preference is another important determinant of pathogen transmission by mosquitoes and other arthropods. We study the influence of skin bacterial odours on the host finding of mosquitoes, biting midges and ticks with the goal to develop skin bacterial products that could reduce biting and thereby pathogen transmission. 
 

Special Expertise

Behavioural bioassays, Camera tracking, skin probiotics, skin microbiology, insect vectors, ticksfield work (Congo,Kenya, Burkina Faso,Costa Rica, Peru The Netherlands, Switzerland ), statistical analysis (GLM, multivariate analysis, etc.) odour analysis, microbiology, working with volunteers and insect rearing