Curriculum Vitae

Education:

1981: Ph.D., Zoology. University of London, U.K. Dissertation title: Ectoparasites and other arthropod associates of the eastern chipmunk, Tamias striatus (L.), in central Tennessee, USA.

1977: B.Sc., Zoology. Royal Holloway College, University of London, UK.
          Graduation with First Class Honours.

 

Employment:

2003 – present: Assistant Professor, Dept. of Biology, Georgia Southern Univ.

1992-2003: Institute of Arthropodology & Parasitology, U.S. National Tick  Collection, Georgia Southern Univ., Statesboro, GA (Assistant Curator & Assistant Professor, 1992-98; Associate Professor, 1998-2003).

1994-present: Research Associate (honorary position). Department of Mammalogy,  American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY.

1987-present: Research Associate (currently honorary position), Department of Entomology, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.

1990-1992: Research Epidemiologist/Entomologist. Departments of Arboviral Entomology and Epidemiology, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD.

1989-1990: Research Associate, Department of Entomology, Auburn Univ., Auburn, AL.

1982-1987: Research Associate. Department of Cell Biology, Vanderbilt Univ. School of Medicine, Nashville, TN.

Grants:

1978 & 1979: Two separate grant awards from the Central Research Fund of the     University of London to study rodent ectoparasites.

1985: Award from the University of Maryland Medical School (NIH funds) to survey mammal fleas in Indonesia.

1985: Grant award from the National Geographic Society to study mammals, their  ectoparasites and potential disease relationships in Sulawesi, Indonesia.

1989: Grant award from the Smithsonian Institution to catalog and curate the U.S. National Collections of lice (Phthiraptera). Also, to provide identifications of Anoplura on a worldwide basis. 

1990 & 1991: Two separate fellowship awards from the National Research Council to work in the Depts. of Arboviral Entomology and Epidemiology at USAMRIID, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD.

1990-1991: Grant award from the Celebes Fund of the American Museum of Natural History, New York, to study mammal ectoparasites at that institution.

1992-1993: Georgia Southern Univ. Faculty Research Award to study tick ecology on St. Catherines Island, GA.

1992-1994: Edward John Noble Foundation Grant award to study ecology and vector potential of ticks on St. Catherine's Island, GA.

1995-1996: Nature Conservancy Council (NCC) grant award to study woodrats and their ectoparasites at Broxton Rocks NCC site, GA. 

1995-1996: Georgia Southern Univ. Faculty Research Award to study woodrat  ectoparasites.

1996-1997: American Wildlife Research Foundation grant award to study ticks and spirochetes of migrating birds.

1997-1999: Edward John Noble Foundation Grant award to study ticks and tick-borne pathogens of migrating birds.

1999-2000: Georgia Southern Univ. Faculty Research Award to study ehrlichiosis infections in ticks.

1999-2004: National Institutes of Health RO1 grant award (to J. E. Keirans, L. A. Durden & Q.-Q. Fang) to study “Biosystematics of medically important tick vectors.”

2000-2003: Dept. of Interior (NRPP) grant to Keith Langdon (L. A. Durden is Collaborator) for “Complete vertebrate inventory and atlas, Great Smoky Mountains National Park.”  

Honors:

Personal profile in 'New Scientist' (No. 1449, p. 22, 28 March, 1985).

Personal profile in 'The Tennessean' newspaper (pages lb & 3b, 13 July, 1985).

Personal profile in 'Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington' Vol. 92: 368-369, 1990).

Featured on Cable News Network television broadcast about the U.S. National Tick Collection (May, 1992).

Appearance in Smithsonian Institution video, 'Insects: The Little Things that run the World.' (1995).

Personal profile in 'The Atlanta Constitution' newspaper (page M4, 11 May 1997).

Full Graduate Faculty status, Georgia Southern Univ. (1995 - present).

Faculty Award of Excellence in Research and/or Scholarly Activities, Georgia Southern University (2001).

Profile in the “Charlotte Observer” newspaper (June 2003).

Henry Baldwin Ward medal recipient (scheduled) of the American Society of Parasitologists (July 2004). 

Research Interests:

Taxonomy and systematics of hematophagous arthropods, especially ticks, fleas, sucking lice and some groups of parasitic mites.

Pathogen transmission by hematophagous arthropods, especially by ticks, flea and lice.

Emerging Diseases, especially zoonoses.

Ectoparasites of vertebrates, especially mammals.

Tropical Biology, including zoogeography.

Medical and veterinary entomology and acarology, including vector ecology.

Ecology of Lepidoptera.

Curation of biological collections.

 


 

Teaching:

1983, 1984: Biological Laboratory Techniques. Vanderbilt Univ., Nashville, TN.

1985: Medical and Veterinary Entomology. Dumoga-Bone National Park, Sulawesi, Indonesia.

1985: Current Topics in Cell Biology (co-taught). Vanderbilt Univ.

1992-2003: One-hour lectures and tours of the U.S. National Tick Collection for courses (especially GSU 1210), researchers, administrators and interested public, Georgia Southern Univ. (ca. 20/year). 

1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000: Summer Acarology Program - Tick Section (co-taught with W. Burgdorfer, J. E. Keirans, G. R. Needham, R. G. Robbins & J. S. H. Klompen). Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH.

1993-2002: Guest lecturer in the following courses at Georgia Southern University:

            Medical-Veterinary Entomology, Mammalogy, Virology, Biogeography, and Soil Microbiology.

1994, 1995, 1997-2003: "Biological Problems" (BIO 7878), Georgia Southern Univ.

1994-2002: Thesis Research (BIOL 7999), Georgia Southern Univ.

1995: Ticks and tick-borne diseases. Intensive short course for U.S. Army personnel. Georgia Southern Univ.

1997-2003: "Directed Studies" (BIOL 7898). Georgia Southern Univ.

1998, 2001, 2003: "Emerging Diseases" (BIOL 5099/G). Georgia Southern Univ.

2002, 2003: “Undergraduate Research” (BIOL 4890). Georgia Southern Univ.

2003 – “Insects & People (BIOL 1331)” and “Undergraduate Seminar” (BIOL 4620). Georgia Southern Univ.

 

Society affiliations:

American Society of Parasitologists.

American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

American Committee on Medical Entomology.

American Committee on Arthropod-Borne Viruses.

Society for Vector Ecology.

Royal Entomological Society of London.

Entomological Society of America (section D - Medical and Veterinary Entomology).

Amateur Entomologists Society, United Kingdom.

American Society of Acarology.

Association of Systematics Collections.

Association for Tropical Biology.

Sigma Xi.

American Society of Mammalogists.

Fauna Malesiana.

Phi Kappa Phi.

 

Service:

Awards Committee (1982/1983) and Local Arrangements Committee (1983-1984), Tennessee Entomological Society.

Co-editor, Entomological Abstracts and Ecological Abstracts (1988-1989). 

External examiner for Ph.D. degrees:.

              Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC (1990).

              Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt (1996).

Editorial board member, Medical and Veterinary Entomology (1991 - present).

Editorial board member, Folia Parasitologica (1998 - 2002).

Judge for student paper competitions, Entomological Society of America annual meetings in Baltimore, MD (1992) and Nashville, TN (1997).

NIH Grants Review Panel, Tropical Medicine & Parasitology Study Section, Bethesda, MD (1995).

Systematics Resourses Committee member, Entomological Society of America (1995-1997).

Textbook co-editor for "Medical and Veterinary Entomology" published by Academic Press/Elsevier Science (1993 - 2002).

Co-Editor, Systematic and Applied Acarology Special Publications (2001 - Present).

Reviewer for articles (15-40 per year) submitted to professional journals including Nature, Journal of Medical Entomology, Journal of Parasitology, Journal of Vector Ecology, and Medical and Veterinary Entomology.

Co-organizer of "Parasitology Journal Club" in Biology Dept., Georgia Southern Univ. (1995-present). 

Identification of tick specimens submitted by physicians, veterinarians, researchers, and the public from throughout the world (mainly from USA)(several hundred specimens per year). 

 

 

Co-organizer of the "Robert Traub Memorial Issue" of the Journal of Medical Entomology (Vol. 35, No. 4, pp. 345-615, July 1998).

President, Sigma Xi - Georgia Southern University Chapter (1998-99).

On thesis committees of 20 graduate students in Biology Dept., Georgia Southern Univ., Statesboro, GA (1993-present).

State Charitable Contributions Campaign (United Way) volunteer, Georgia Southern University (1993, 1997-1999, 2001, 2002).

Member of 3-person epidemiological team from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, to visit the United Arab Emirates and investigate an outbreak of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (1999).

President, Acarological Society of America (2000-2001).

Local Arrangements Committee, Georgia Entomological Society (2001-2002). 

Also see next section (Symposia chaired).

 

Symposia chaired:

"Ecology and Epidemiology."  Society for Vector Ecology Annual Meeting. Riverside, CA, 20 Nov. 1986 (moderator).

"Vector-borne diseases from a global perspective."  Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting.  Baltimore, MD, 7 Dec. 1992 (organizer and co-moderator).

"Lyme disease and vectors."  American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene/ American Society of Parasitologists joint meeting.  Atlanta, GA, 2 Nov. 1993 (co-chair).

"Parasitology."  Association of Southeastern Biologists 57th Annual Meeting. Statesboro, GA, 11 April, 1996 (chair).

“Emerging diseases associated with ticks and mites.” Acarological Society of  America formal conference, Atlanta, GA, 12 Dec. 1999 (organizer and co-moderator).   

“Acarology Informal Conference.” Acarological Society of America annual meeting, Montréal, Canada, 3 Dec. 2000 (organizer and moderator).

            “Acarology Informal Conference.” Acarological Society of America annual meeting, San Diego, CA, 9 Dec. 2001 (organizer and moderator).

 

Invited presentations:

18 Apr. 1984: Quantitative louse exchange and other relationships between eastern chipmunks and their lice. Department of General Biology, Vanderbilt Univ., Nashville, TN.

28 Feb. 1985: Mammal ectoparasites. Dumoga-Bone National Park, Sulawesi Utara,  Indonesia.              

17 Apr. 1985: Mammal trapping and other adventures in Indonesia. Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN.         

             20 Nov. 1986: Ectoparasites of commensal and endemic rodents in Sulawesi, Indonesia. In 'Ecology & Epidemiology' session of the Society for Vector Ecology Annual Meeting, Riverside, CA.

5 Feb. 1987: Zoogeography in the Indonesian archipelago. Visionaries series seminar, Vanderbilt Univ., Nashville, TN.

22 Oct. 1987: Ectoparasites of Indonesia. Keynote address. Tennessee Entomological Society Annual Meeting, Nashville, TN. 

5 May 1988: Project Wallace: bioendemism, mammal ectoparasites and some other insects from Sulawesi. Entomological Society of Washington meeting, Washington, DC.

12 May 1988: The zoogeography of some mammals and their ectoparasites in the Indo-Australian region. Stelmon Bennet Memorial Seminar, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN.

13 May 1988: Ectoparasite transfer between mammals: lice and chipmunks. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN.

16 Sep. 1988: Medical Entomology in North Sulawesi - ectoparasites. In: 'Insects and the tropical rain forests of south east Asia (Wallacea)' Symposium, Imperial College, London, UK.

8 May 1989: Louse transfer between mammals: mechanisms and implications. College of Veterinary Medicine, Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL.

29 Jan. 1990: An entomological expedition to Indonesia. Auburn Univ., AL.

8 Mar. 1990: The world of lice. F. S. Arant Entomology Club Seminar. Auburn, AL.

 

13 Nov. 1990: Transmission of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus by chicken mites. USAMRIID, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD.

23 Apr. 1991: Ectoparasites of mammals in Sulawesi. USAMRIID, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD.

30 Jul. 1991: Transmission of Eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus by chicken mites. USAMRIID, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD.

13 Sep. 1991: Medical entomology and mammal ectoparasites on a large tropical island. Dept. of Entomology & Economic Zoology, Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, NJ.

12 Nov. 1991: Systematics and host associations of a group of ectoparasites. Georgia Southern Univ., Statesboro, GA.

2 Dec. 1991: Dedication and presentation of the Hoogstraal medal to W. L. Jellison at the 40th annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene, Boston, MA.

9 Nov. 1992: Virus transmission by blood-feeding mites and ticks. Dept. of  Entomology, Auburn Univ., Auburn, AL.

17 Nov. 1992: Virus transmission by blood-feeding mites and ticks. Dept. of Biology, Georgia Southern Univ., Statesboro, GA.

5 Apr. 1993: Conspecificity, vector ability, and ecology of Ixodes scapularis in the South. 2nd International Symposium on Ectoparasites of Pets, Lexington, KY.

7 Sep. 1993: Ecology of Ixodes scapularis in the Southeast. 2nd Workshop on Lyme disease in the

             southeastern United States, Raleigh, NC.

22 Oct. 1993: Tick research at Georgia Southern University. College of Veterinary Medicine, Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA.

8 Nov. 1993: Lyme disease in the Southeast. 28th annual meeting, Ohio Mosquito Control Association, Columbus, OH.

10 Nov. 1993: Vector-borne diseases and mammal ectoparasites in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Dept. of Biological Sciences, Ohio Univ., Athens, OH.    

 19 Jul. 1994: Ecology of Ixodes scapularis and Lyme disease in coastal Georgia, USA. In: "Biology of the Ixodes ricinus complex and Lyme disease" Symposium honoring the memory of Harry Hoogstraal. IX International Congress of Acarology, Columbus, OH. 

4 Oct. 1994: Historical aspects of vector ecology with emphasis on North American workers: Mallophaga and Anoplura - the lice. In: 26th annual conference, Society for Vector Ecology, Gainesville, FL.

8 Feb. 1995: Mammals, ectoparasites and pathogens on an Indonesian Island. Sigma Xi Seminar, Georgia Southern Univ. branch, Statesboro, GA.

6 Nov. 1995: Unique animals and tropical diseases on an Indonesian island. Rotary Club, Statesboro, GA.

11 Jan. 1997: Eulogy and Tribute, Robert Traub Memorial Service, Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church, Bethesda, MD.

21 July 1997: Biodiversity and conservation of ectoparasites. Keynote address, 41st Annual Livestock Insects Workers Conference, San Diego, CA.

15 Oct. 1997: The mammals of Sulawesi. New York Zoological Society Center for Conservation, St. Catherine's Island, GA.

  5 Feb. 1998: Zoogeography of mammal ectoparasites in the Indo-Australian region. Dept. of Entomology & Nematology, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL.

  29 Apr. 1999: Developments and opportunities in emerging Diseases. Keynote address, 3rd annual Tri-Beta Biology Honors Society banquet, Statesboro, GA.

8 Feb. 2000: Biodiversity and ecological importance of ectoparasites. Endowed Weese lecture, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK.

9 Feb. 2000: Investigating an outbreak of hemorrhagic fever in the Middle East. Department of Zoology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK.

 27 Oct. 2000: Louse-borne pathogens. American Society for Microbiology, 2000 Joint Meeting, Southeastern & South Carolina Branches, Statesboro, GA.

 16 Mar. 2001: Zoogeography of mammals and their ectoparasites in the Indo-Australian region. University of South Carolina-Aiken, SC.

 16 Oct. 2001: Parasites can be beneficial. Faculty Research Excellence Award Seminar, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA.

 

10 Apr. 2002: Ectoparasites of vertebrates on islands: endemic, depauperate or strange? Presidential Symposium, Southeastern Society of Parasitologists annual meeting, Boone, NC.

4 Mar. 2003: Bartonella infections: vector ecology and reservoir hosts. Biology Dept., Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA.

14 Apr. 2003: Mammal ectoparasites and bartonellosis, Dept. Of Entomology, Clemson University, SC.

 

Other presentations (partial list):

25 Oct. 1984: Louse infestations of tree shrews and the host attachment mechanism. Tennessee Entomological Society Annual Meeting, Henry Horton State Park, TN.

15 Sep. 1988: Zoogeographical implications from rodent ectoparasites in Sulawesi. In: 'Insects and the rain forests of south east Asia (Wallacea)' Symposium, Imperial College, London, UK.

3 Dec. 1991: Transmission of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus by hematophagous mites. 40th annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene, Boston, MA.

9 Dec. 1991: Transmission of eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus by chicken  mites (Dermanyssus gallinae). Annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Reno, NV.

2 Nov. 1993: Ecological studies of Ixodes scapularis in coastal Georgia: implications for Lyme disease epidemiology in the Southeast. American   Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene/American Society of Parasitologists joint meeting, Atlanta, GA.

15 Nov. 1994: The history of louse-borne diseases. Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA.

11 Mar. 1996: Composition and origin of the ectoparasite community of the eastern woodrat, Neotoma floridana. 57th annual meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists, Statesboro, GA.

             5 Dec. 1996: Ticks, Lyme disease spirochetes and antibody to encephalitis viruses in wild birds from coastal Georgia and South Carolina, USA. American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene annual meeting, Baltimore, MD.

11 Feb. 1997: Mammals, ectoparasites and Wallace's line: zoogeography in the Indo-Australian region. Georgia Southern Univ.

             27 June 1997: Ticks, Lyme disease spirochetes, trypanosomes, and antibody to    encephalitis viruses in wild birds from coastal Georgia and South Carolina. 72nd annual meeting, American Society of Parasitologists, Nashville, TN.

3 Dec. 2000: Ticks and spirochetes recovered from birds on a Georgia barrier island. Acarological Society of America annual meeting, Montréal, Canada.

1 July 2001: Exotic ticks on reptiles imported into the United States. American Society of Parasitologists 76th Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM.

22 July 2002: Relative importance of reptiles, birds and mammals in the life cycle of the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, in coastal Georgia, USA. 4th International Conference on Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens, Banff, Alberta, Canada.

 
Courses

CV

Students

Publications

New Species Described

Home



 



© 2001 Georgia Southern University Biology Department. Last modified January 26, 2003 by Lance Durden.