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Neeta Pardanani
 

Objective

education

training

honors

professional
experience

abstracts

publications

teaching

memberships

Objective:
 Career in research and teaching of medical entomology with an emphasis on vector ecology and spatial epidemiology.

Education:
Sept. 2000 - Present Ph.D. candidate (Entomology)
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
Department of Plant Sciences
Major Professor: Dr. Thomas N. Mather
Currently pursuing a doctoral degree in tick-borne disease ecology. Research includes spatial dynamics and ecological determinants of Ixodes scapularis-associated diseases at the endemic community level
May 1998 Master of Science in Public Health (Parasitology)
Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
Department of Tropical Medicine
May 1996 Bachelor of Science (Biology), cum laude
Lousiana Tech University, Ruston, LA
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Other Training:
March 2002 Environmental Awareness: Waste Management Training
University of Rhode Island
March 2001 Responsible Conduct in Research Using Human Subjects
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
Sept. 2000 Responsible Conduct in Animal Research
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
August 2000 Mosquito Identification Training Course
New York State Department of Health, Slingerlands, NY
West Nile Virus Response Training Program
July 2000 Medical/Veterinary Acarology
Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Summer Acarology Program
Jan. - Mar. 1999 Microsoft Access Training Courses
CompUSA Training Program, Latham, NY
Beginner, Intermediate, and
Advanced Training Courses
Dec. 1999 Emergency Medical Technician - Defibrillator
New York State Certified
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Honor Societies:
Alpha Epsilon Delta National Premedical Honor Society, Member
Gamma Beta Phi National Honor and Service Society, Member

Professional Experience:

Sept. 1998 - August 2000

Senior Laboratory and Field Research Assistant
New York State Department of Health, Slingerlands, NY
Bureau of Communicable Disease Control
Arthropod-Borne Disease Program

· Conducted field collection of small mammals and ticks at seven established sites in New York state as part of the vector ecology component of a Lyme disease study funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
· Prepared tick specimens and mammal tissue for polymerase chain reaction analysis to detect Borrelia burgdorferi spirochetes.
· Conducted tick dissection for B. burgdorferi detection by direct fluorescent antibody assay.
· Prepared mammal saliva samples for species identification by salivary amylase testing.
· Designed and maintained a database to analyze and report laboratory and field data.
· Coordinated laboratory and field collection activities of seasonal assistants.
· Assisted in tick and other arthropod species identification of specimens submitted to the NYSDOH Tick Identification Service from New York State residents and health care providers.
· Collected small mammals in Sullivan County, NY, and prepared rodent blood and tissue specimens for testing after the State's third reported case of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome.
· Conducted field trapping of mosquitoes and mist-netting of house sparrows for West Nile Virus Surveillance in Westchester County, NY.
July-Aug. 1998

Entomological Assistant
New York State Department of Health, Slingerlands, NY
Bureau of Communicable Disease Control
Arthropod-Borne Disease Program

· Conducted field collection of small mammals and ticks at established sites in New York State.
· Assisted in preparation of mammal tissues for spirochete detection efforts as part of the aforementioned CDC-funded Lyme disease study.
Holidays 1992 - 1994 Laboratory Assistant Summers and Academic
Northeastern Clinical Laboratory, Saratoga Springs, NY
· Catalogued specimens submitted by physicians, hospitals, and other laboratories into laboratory database.
· Assisted in blood specimen preparation for hematology microscopy by pathologists and other laboratory technicians.

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Abstracts:
Pardanani, N., R.G. Means, and D.J. White. Effectiveness of the Kness Snap-EÒ mousetrap
for capturing small mammals.
· The 31st Annual Conference of the Society for Vector Ecology (SOVE), Asheville, NC, October 3-6, 1999 [and Poster]
· The New York State Natural History Conference, Albany, NY, April 2000 [and Poster]

Mather, T.N., M.J. Brewer, M.C. Nicholson, N.J. Miller, and N. Pardanani. Identifying
factors that determine patterns of Ixodes scapularis-transmitted disease in the Northeastern United States.
· To be presented at the 4th International Conference on Ticks & Tick-borne Pathogens, Alberta, Canada, July 2002.

Publications:
Oliver, J., J.J. Howard, N. Pardanani, R.G. Means, and D.J. White. A salivary amylase technique for distinguishing species of Peromyscus mice for Lyme disease vector ecology studies in New York State. In Prep.

Pardanani, N., R.G. Means, and D.J. White. Lyme disease vector ecology studies in New York State: Evaluation of a new mammal trap. In Prep.

Pardanani, N., D.J. White, R.G. Means, F. Chu and A. Reddy. Lyme disease vector ecology
studies in New York State: Infection of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) with Borrelia burgdorferi in the Capital District. In Prep.

White, D.J., F.K. Chu, J.J. Howard, R.G. Means, N. Pardanani, J. Oliver and A.V. Reddy.
Lyme disease vector ecology studies in New York State: Geographic and temporal distribution of Borrelia burgdorferi in New York State, 1991-2000. In Prep.

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Teaching Experience:
Sept. 1995 - May 1996 Laboratory Teaching Assistant
Department of Biological Sciences
Louisiana Tech University Ruston, LA
Course: Comparative Anatomy of the Vertebrates
January - May 1996 Laboratory Teaching Assistant
Department of Biological Sciences
Louisiana Tech University Ruston, LA
Course: Biological Principles

Professional Memberships:
Entomological Society of America
Society for Vector Ecology