I would like to communicate my strong interest in the PhD position with the project title “How maternal behaviour and larval environment influence disease transmission in mosquitoes: a modelling and experimental approach” with Bristol-Macquarie Cotutelle Programme.
I completed my Master in Zoology from Lahore College for Women University, Pakistan in 2020 with a focus on Entomology . Recently, I worked as a Research Assistant at the Department of Entomology, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan. With my academic background and research experience in Medical Entomology and Biological Control, I find myself to be a suitable candidate for this position and look forward to working on this interesting project.
I started my research experience with a semester project during my BS. I studied the genes and proteins important for the transmission of vector-borne disease. I concluded that expanding research on the tripartite relationships between the insect, its microbiome, and the pathogens it can transmit, will lead to the development of novel control strategies (e.g. paratransgenesis) and therapeutic drugs.
Continuing my passion to work in the field of Medical Entomology, I joined the Department of Entomology, National Chung Hsing University as a Research Assistant from 2021 to 2024. During my role as RA, I worked independently on two research projects, “Behavioural response and life history traits of Taiwanese population of Aedes agypti surviving after exposed to fludora fusion” and “Homeotic effect after being exposed to sub-lethal insecticide and its mechanism”. I was responsible for conducting extensive literature reviews, designing all the laboratory experiments for both projects and carrying them out in a sophisticated manner. I also performed various sub-tasks such as determining the insecticide dosage, checking toxicity, maintaining and rearing mosquito population. Further, I also gained proficiency in statistical software for data analysis, which enabled me to derive significant insights into the efficacy of biological control agents.
My role at NCHU Taiwan gave me a strong laboratory and computational analysis
background to further advance research in Medical Entomology. To be precise, I performed experimental work on optimizing oviposition conditions to ensure high egg-laying rates, larval development, from the hatching of eggs to the pupation stage. I learned at maintaining optimal water quality and nutrient levels to support healthy larval growth and ensuring that larval density remains within optimal ranges to avoid stunted development or increased mortality. Furthermore, I worked on designing and implementing feeding protocols that cater to the specific dietary needs of larvae, ensuring robust growth and survival rates. My skills also extend to the safe handling and maintenance of adult mosquito colonies, where I have developed protocols to simulate mating conditions and manage adult populations efficiently.
My motivation for pursuing PhD stems from a desire to make meaningful contributions to public health. I am confident that I can contribute to the fullest of the project objectives with my experience.
