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Dr. Courtney Murdock

@ecodynvplab.bsky.social
642 followers 383 following 115 posts

Disease Ecologist. Vector Biologist. Associate Professor. Mom of 3. Department of Entomology. Cornell University. All opinions are my own.

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Reposted by Dr. Courtney Murdock
Sadie J. Ryan (she/her) @sjryan3.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
NEW: "Ecological and socioeconomic factors associated with globally reported tick-borne viruses", led by @samsambado.bsky.social, in which she applied BRT modelling to a global database of TBVs to pick apart the complicated pathway from transmission to reported cases! www.nature.com/articles/s43...
nature.com
Ecological and socioeconomic factors associated with globally reported tick-borne viruses - Communications Medicine
Sambado et al. examine how environmental and social conditions shape where tick-borne viruses are reported worldwide. Using machine learning, they find that both ecological and economic are important, and that wealthier nations are more likely to report these overlooked diseases.
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
We are launching the new URBAN-VECTOR Training Program! Building an India–Africa network to strengthen urban malaria control in Africa through research, training, and collaboration! 🌍🦟 Come check us out and apply to be part of the team: www.urbanmalarianetwork.com #UrbanMalaria #GlobalHealth
urbanmalarianetwork.com
Home | URBAN-VECTOR Training Program
An interdisciplinary, international training initiative designed to build sustainable research capacity in vector-borne and tropical infectious diseases, with a primary focus on urban malaria.
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Reposted by Dr. Courtney Murdock
Sadie J. Ryan (she/her) @sjryan3.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
Pleased to have contributed to this one, presented at UNFCC COP meeting in Belem - now published in Global Sustainability. Don't even start with me on the horrific irony of the timing. We must keep producing evidence and communicating science.
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Celebrating a new publication with lead author @infectiouschill.bsky.social! This paper explores the use and validation of different species distribution modeling approaches for understanding and predicting Asian tiger mosquito invasion along its northern distribution edge. lnkd.in/dqSw8czu
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
Thank you for an excellent symposium this morning at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) on building a global initiative to address urban malaria transmission in Africa. Thank you to our speakers and the audience members that joined us early this morning.
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
Excited to kickoff the @ASTMH 2025 meeting in Toronto. One day late due to teaching this term, but happy to be in the Presidential Plenary this morning with fellow colleagues discussing the unprecedented threats of global funding cuts on malaria elimination.
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
Come see our Urban Malaria Team at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) 2025 meeting! We have an exciting line-up of talks and posters on the effects of climate, control, urban heterogeneity, and climate change on malaria transmission in cities!
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
We are hosting an exciting symposium at this year's American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) meeting next week in Toronto titled "Malaria in the Metropolis"! This symposium focuses on leveraging international collaboration to control mosquito-borne diseases in cities!
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
Happy Halloween! Sending love, empathy, hope, resilience, harmony, self-care, and general good vibes to triumph over darkness from the EcoDyn VP Lab Care Bears Stare this Halloween 2025!
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
We received an NOA for a new NIH Training grant: "Building an India-Africa Network to Support Research and Control of Urban Malaria"! This network brings together experts from African, Indian, and Western institutions to build rapid capacity to address this emerging threat in Africa. More soon!
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
My PhD student Anna Shattuck just passed her comprehensive exam with flying colors to become a PhD candidate! Go Anna! Well done 😊.
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Reposted by Dr. Courtney Murdock
Sadie J. Ryan (she/her) @sjryan3.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
“I wish they had computed a bit less and thought a bit more”
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Reposted by Dr. Courtney Murdock
Pete Buttigieg @petebuttigieg.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
As heartbreaking news continues to emerge from central Texas, @chastenbuttigieg.bsky.social and I are thinking of everyone affected and grateful for the extraordinary work of first responders. Here are some ways all of us can help:
texastribune.org
Hill Country flooding: Here’s how to give and receive help
Catastrophic flooding in the Texas Hill Country has killed 79 people. Rescue crews are searching for missing girls from Camp Mystic. Here is a guide on how to help those affected.
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Reposted by Dr. Courtney Murdock
Michael Wimberly @mcwimberly.bsky.social · 29/06/2025
The manuscript offers new insights into spatial and temporal patterns of urban microclimate, emphasizing contrasts between dry- and wet-bulb temperatures and indoor and outdoor microenvironment. We would be interested to hear your feedback!
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
New preprint from our group on how indoor and outdoor microclimates vary across Indian cities and seasonally: essopenarchive.org/doi/full/10.... @mcwimberly.bsky.social and Yusuf Jamal provide data identifying the location and seasonal timing of extreme wet bulb temperature in urban settings.
essopenarchive.org
Spatiotemporal Patterns of Urban Heat in Indoor and Outdoor Microclimates
A document by Yusuf Jamal. Click on the document to view its contents.
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
When I am not professoring, I am momming. Spent the weekend in Niagra, New York at the TCS Niagra Falls Summer Showndown AAU youth hockey tournament. My son's AA 12U team took home the championship. Great way to end the spring hockey season.
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
Postdoc position available at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine!
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Reposted by Dr. Courtney Murdock
Brandy St. Laurent @mosquitohunting.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
@ecodynvplab.bsky.social
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
Another preprint from our group online! papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.... We find socioeconomic disparities and water management practices influence urban malaria incidence and prevention behaviors in Surat and Ahmedabad, two cities of India in the state of Gujurat.
papers.ssrn.com
Socioeconomic Indicators, Household Water Management, and Malaria Prevention and Control in Gujarat, India
<p><b><span>Background</span></b></p> <p><span>Malaria remains a major public health concern in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in urban
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
New preprint out from our group! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... We find that relative humidity systematically shifts the temperature dependence of a key malaria vector. These effects are also likely important for aquatic insects more generally, and for predicting their responses to climate change.
biorxiv.org
Beyond temperature: Relative humidity systematically shifts the temperature dependence of population growth in a malaria vector
Understanding ectotherm responses to environmental change is central to coping with many of humanity′s current and future challenges in public health, biodiversity conservation, and food security. Com...
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
Celebrating @mosquitohunting.bsky.social today in lab meeting and her recent publication! www.frontiersin.org/journals/mal...
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
New paper out by @mosquitohunting.bsky.social! www.frontiersin.org/journals/mal... This paper explores how variation in mosquito diversity, feeding behavior, vector competence, seasonality, and vector-pathogen interactions shape the transmission, persistence, and evolution of human malaria!
frontiersin.org
Frontiers | Mosquito vector diversity and malaria transmission
Malaria is the most important parasitic disease in the world, killing over half a million people a year. Globally, we have made gains toward eliminating this...
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 10/05/2025
Congratulations to Dr. Mike Newberry, a PhD student in my group who graduated officially from the Odum School of Ecology at the University of Georgia on May 8th 😊! Well done, and congratulations, Mike!
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
I am very excited to participate in a keynote lecture by Ray Huey, one of the fathers of thermal and physiological ecology, today during Evo Day here at Cornell. His work is the foundation of our work, and it is awesome to see it presented live today 😊.
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
New preprint out from our group led by @infectiouschill.bsky.social! Anna compares how various species distribution models perform at predicting the relatively recent invasion of the Asian tiger mosquito, a significant pest species, in Suffolk County, New York. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
biorxiv.org
Field-validation of multiple species distribution models shows variation in performance for predicting Aedes albopictus distributions at the invasion edge
Climate and land use changes have resulted in range expansion of many species. In this shifting disease landscape, it is important to leverage tools that can predict the potential distributions of inv...
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 26/04/2025
Heading home to the U.S. today. Here is the almost complete team from the Surat Municipal Corporation...out for a team dinner. We are missing Mr. Suthar and Dr. Dhwani, who were busy for World Malaria Day. Thank you as always for your excellent work, your collaboration, and friendship.
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
Also, this tractor...why can't we have nice things in the United States 😊. This makes me happy.
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
We placed the final 144th logger today in Surat with @mcwimberly.bsky.social and colleagues from the Surat Municipal Corporation. Here are some pics from the field 😊.
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
World Malaria Day. Progress has been made on malaria elimination but it remains a killer. Changing climate, invasive mosquitoes, and limited global funding are threatening efforts. Today, we are in India working to better understand the effects of climate on urban malaria. @mcwimberly.bsky.social
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Reposted by Dr. Courtney Murdock
Michael Wimberly @mcwimberly.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
Spent World Malaria Day with @ecodynvplab.bsky.social and colleagues in Surat, India studying mosquito microhabitats in urban construction sites. Best wishes to all who work to control and eliminate this terrible disease- your efforts are greatly appreciated!
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
We set another 36 loggers across construction sites today to monitor the microclimate mosquitoes experience during the pre-monsoon season. Here are some pics of construction trucks because they make me happy. Why can't we have colorful trucks in the U.S.? @mcwimberly.bsky.social
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
Pics from Surat today. Super hot and humid in the pre-monsoon season here...it was a sweat fest. We have placed 72 loggers thus far throughout construction sites. Also, we found a lot of mosquitoes in these sites, especially in the unfinished underground parks. @mcwimberly.bsky.social
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 21/04/2025
Spent the day replacing batteries and reprogramming loggers so they are ready to be placed across construction sites throughout Surat. Looking forward to setting them the rest of the week. It is the beginning of the pre-monsoon season here, so very hot and relatively dry. @mcwimberly.bsky.social
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 19/04/2025
Heading back to India. We will quantify the microclimate mosquitoes experience in construction sites, as they are potentially important climate refugia during the hot, dry pre-monsoon season for malaria and dengue mosquitoes. Potentially, my last trip due to NIH funding freezes threatening Cornell.
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
Headed to the University of Georgia to give a seminar in the Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases and for one of my Ph.D. student's defense. I am very excited to see my former colleagues and friends. And, it's spring break, so bringing the family 😊.
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Reposted by Dr. Courtney Murdock
Sadie J. Ryan (she/her) @sjryan3.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
"Mean daily temperatures predict the thermal limits of malaria transmission better than hourly rate summation" new paper now out in NatComm, led by @martashocket.bsky.social doi.org/10.1038/s414...
Figure maps in magma palette, depicting mosquito range countries in South Asia, against grey non-range countries and white non-land components. Legend for color range dark to light, most to least.  Months of thermal suitability, S(T), for transmission of malaria by Anopheles stephensi in its native range in Central and South Asia predicted by models parameterized using constant and fluctuating temperatures.
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
New paper out! A common computational approach to predict organismal fitness and distributions in the field could vastly overpredict the potential range of thermal suitability for malaria transmission relative to performance characterized at constant temperatures: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Mean daily temperatures predict the thermal limits of malaria transmission better than hourly rate summation - Nature Communications
Malaria transmission is sensitive to temperature and models of malaria typically account for daily fluctuations in temperature through a ‘rate summation’ approach. Here, the authors conduct experiment...
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
Powerful statement from President Kotlikoff at Cornell. Thank you for stepping up. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/31/o... "Our colleges and universities are cradles of democracy and bulwarks against autocracy."
nytimes.com
Opinion | Universities Should Not be Afraid of Contentious Ideas (Gift Article)
Higher education cannot cede the space of public discourse and the free exchange of ideas.
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 27/03/2025
Boom. Accepted for publication in Nature Communications. This paper has been a journey, but it is done. Here, we explore the use of constant temperature experiments to predict the thermal suitability for malaria transmission in a diurnally fluctuating environment. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
biorxiv.org
Mean daily temperatures can predict the thermal limits of malaria transmission better than rate summation
Temperature shapes the distribution, seasonality, and magnitude of mosquito-borne disease outbreaks. Mechanistic models predicting transmission often use mosquito and pathogen thermal responses from c...
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 27/03/2025
Very excited to be giving a seminar tomorrow at Purdue University on the climate drivers of malaria transmission in urban environments by the invasive malaria vector Anopheles stephensi! Thank you for the invitation 😊. I also flew on the smallest plane ever to get here, which was an adventure!
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Reposted by Dr. Courtney Murdock
Jeff Roush @jeffroushwriting.bsky.social · 15/03/2025
Cancer research has never been a partisan issue. Diabetes research has never been a partisan issue. Offering hope to families struggling with disease has never been a partisan issue. Until now. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
theguardian.com
Johns Hopkins to lose 2,000 jobs after Trump’s $800m cut in USAid funding
University says cut in funding ‘forcing us to wind down critical work’ as academics rally against job losses
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Gavril Ducu 🇷🇴 🇩🇪 🇺🇸 🇳🇱 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 @ducugavril.nafoforum.org · 16/03/2025
The world is complicated—but propaganda hates complexity. Oversimplification reduces deep, nuanced issues into black-and-white, fake “easy” solutions. The goal? Make you stop thinking and start reacting. 🧵
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Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 @davidimiller.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
🧪 The NSF director is lying to you. Let’s fact check 7 claims from yesterday’s letter to the community, while pointing out 3 critical omissions. 🧵
Long letter from NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan, available here: https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/Letter-to-the-Community.pdf
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
Last day in India. Thank you to my Indian collaborators for another wonderful trip. Research in the field is my happy place and I have learned a lot from my friends in the National Institute of Malaria Research and the Ahmedabad and Surat Municipal corporations. Bye for now 😊.
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
My happy place as a researcher trying to understand how the world works is in the field...where it all matters.
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
And some fun pictures from the field in Surat, India.
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
Day 5 in Surat, India. Today was an An. subpictus day, which was most of what we caught across the board from human and mixed dwellings, animal sheds, and construction sites. Usually in dark corners with things up against the wall. The new backpack aspirators are working well 😊.
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
Day 4 from Surat, India. Sampled a lot of Anopheles subpictus from a very productive cattleshed, one An. annularis, and some An. stephensi from mixed dwellings and a construction site. Also saw many Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus resting.
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
Day 3 today from Surat, India. Did not catch as many different species, but did sample a new one this trip...Anopheles barbirostris...prefers to develop in flowing water, can transmit malaria, and feeds on cattle and humans. Including a pic of bloodfed mossies resting in cobwebs in a 50-gallon drum.
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Dr. Courtney Murdock @ecodynvplab.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
Day 2 today from Surat, India. We visited human dwellings, cattle sheds, construction sites. We caught Anopheles stephensi, annularus, pulcherrimus, subpictus, and culicifacies...and Culex quinquefasciatus. An. stephensi and Ae. aegypti are down in numbers this time of year.
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