Mary Killilea

Clinical Professor of Environmental Studies; Program Adviser Environmental Studies

Education

  • 2005 Ph.D. (Environmental Information Science), Cornell
  • 1999 M.S. (Ecology), SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
  • 1994 B.A. (Environmental Studies), Binghamton University

Areas of Research/Interest

The use of GIS, remote sensing and modeling to explore spatial and temporal variability in ecosystems

Research

My current research is focused on the spatial dynamics of Lyme disease and other tick-borne pathogens in two different ecosystems.

Spatial dynamics of ticks and tick-borne diseases in Dutchess County, NY
In Dutchess County, an area where Lyme disease is endemic, we are interested in the spatial distribution of the black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis, and potential environmental correlates. Additionally, we are studying the effects of host communities on Lyme disease and Anaplasmosis.

Sudden Oak Death and Lyme disease in northern California
Forest communities in northern California are being altered by Sudden Oak Death. The change in forest species composition and the creation of canopy gaps may affect the western black-legged tick, Ixodes pacificus, and their hosts. We are studying how tick and host populations are influenced by Sudden Oak Death and the resulting affects on Lyme disease risk.

Teaching

  • Environmental System Science
  • Biostatistics
  • Biogeochemistry of Global Change
  • At the Bench Introduction to Epidemiology
  • Ecological Analysis with GIS
  • Where the City Meets the Sea: Studies in Coastal Urban Environments (taught with John Burt at NYU-AD)
  • Environmental and Molecular Analysis of Disease

Biosketch

Ph.D. 2005 (Environmental Information Science) Cornell University

M.S. 1999 (Ecology) SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

B.A. 1994 (Environmental Studies) Binghamton University

Postdoctoral Research Associate with Richard S. Ostfeld, Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY

Postdoctoral Researcher with Jonathan Adams, Department of Biological Science, Rutgers University-Newark, Newark, NJ

Publications

Google Scholar Profile

  • Brunner, J., L. Cheney, F. Keesing, M. Killilea, K. LoGiudice, A. Previtali, and R. S. Ostfeld. (2011) Molting success of Ixodes scapularis varies among individual blood meal hosts and species. Journal of Medical Entomology 48: 860-866.
  • Whitmer, A., L. Ogden, J. Lawton, P. Sturner, P. Groffman, L. Schneider, B. Halpern, W. Schlesinger, S. Raciti, N. Bettez, S. Ortega, L. Rustad, S. Pickett. M. Killilea. 2010. The engaged university: providing a platform for research that transforms society. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 8: 314-321.
  • Keesing, F., J. Brunner, S. Duerr, M. Killilea, K. LoGiudice, K. Schmidt, H. Vuong and R. S. Ostfeld. 2009. Hosts as ecological traps for the vector of Lyme disease. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 276: 3911-3919.
  • Killilea, M., A. Swei, B. Lane, C. Briggs, and R. Ostfeld. 2008. Spatial Dynamics of Lyme Disease: A Review. Ecohealth 5: 167-195.
  • LoGiudice, K., S. Duerr, M. Newhouse, K. Schmidt, Killilea, M. and R.S. Ostfeld. 2008. Impact of host community composition on Lyme disease risk. Ecology 89:2841–2849.