Erika Ebbs
Assistant Professor of Biology
Erika Ebbs received her B.S. in Biology from California State University, Fresno in 2011 and a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of New Mexico in 2018. She is an Evolutionary Parasitologist who uses population genetic, phylogenetic and ecological tools to understand host-parasite relationships across time and space. Specifically, her work focuses on a group of trematode parasites of medical and veterinary importance known as Schistosomes.
She is primarily interested in species of zoonotic importance, which are known to cause Human Cercarial Dermatitis (a.k.a. Swimmer’s Itch) globally. Her Ph.D. work focused on the Evolutionary Ecology of schistosomes of waterfowl and their aquatic snail intermediate hosts, and addressed how host specific traits may influence parasite microevolutionary patterns. She is also interested in the population genetics, distribution and invasion of aquatic snails.
More About Me
At the University of New Mexico she also worked through the Museum of Southwestern Biology, Parasite Division where she worked to expand the collection through field efforts in South Africa, Argentina and throughout North America. She is also passionate about science education and biology outreach, specifically in relation to Parasitology!
For more information about Erika, check out her website.