Welcome!

Welcome to the Attardo Lab in the Department of Entomology and Nematology at the University of California Davis! I am Geoff Attardo, the PI of the lab and a research scientist with a background in entomology, molecular biology and genetics. My work has centered around the reproductive biology of insect vectors of human disease. The primary subjects of my work have been mosquitoes and tsetse flies. I've studied how female mosquitoes regulate gene expression in response to blood feeding. I also study the reproductive biology of tsetse flies, unique insects that lactate and give birth to live young! This work covers multiple areas of reproduction in tsetse including nutrition; analysis of genes associated with reproduction; the role symbiotic bacteria play in tsetse reproduction; and the interactions between insect vectors and the parasites they vector.

Please find on this site information on the people associated with the lab and the projects we are currently working on. Also on the site is a collection of galleries containing representative samples of my insect photography, scientific illustrations, artwork and videos. I have also included a list of my scientific publications which link to their associated pages at the Pubmed database. Feel free to get in touch or come for a visit to the lab. The contact information for the lab is on the Contact link.

Mission Statement:

My vision for the group is to develop a detailed and multilayered understanding of the molecular biology and physiology of insect disease vectors and their pathogenic partners. Then leverage this information to improve current vector control strategies and develop new strategies against biological targets identified during our research. 

Values:

The Attardo lab acts in solidarity with all underrepresented groups in STEM. We recognize the responsibility to identify and correct institutional biases experienced by students, staff, and faculty. We recognize the history of disadvantages experienced by underrepresented groups as well as the history of exploitation of such groups in pursuit of vector-borne disease research. The path to equality in STEM requires persistence and commitment to science-based approaches to course-correct effectively. The lab aims to recognize and learn from the complete history of this field and science, in general, to move toward the elimination of discrimination and maximization of inclusiveness for all.

Educational Philosophy

I want to share my fascination for this work and these insects with students. I am a proponent of emphasizing the importance of problem solving and analytical skills, doing hands on work and recognizing the power of learning from mistakes. Entering science can be intimidating and overwhelming, however I think anyone with the interest and motivation to learn can be a good scientist. My goal is that my lab will provide a supportive, productive, fun and interesting place to learn, work and make discoveries that will someday make a difference in human health.