David S. Denlinger, B.S.
710 Canyon Road # B Logan, UT 84321
7329965376
david.denlinger@aggiemail.usu.edu
Career Objectives
I am looking to further my career in medical entomology by seeking an employment position in the
military, public health, vector biology, or epidemiology fields.
Education
Utah State University, Logan, UT, 2011-Present
Ph.D in Biology, GPA 4.0/4.0
University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 2007-2011
B.S. in Biology and Entomology, magna cum laude, GPA 3.9/4.0
Research Experience
Utah State University, Department of Biology, 2011-present
Doctoral Research
Adviser: Scott Bernhardt, Ph.D.
Thesis: Sand flies and soldiers: understanding the mechanisms of insecticide resistance in Phlebotomus
papatasi and Lutzomyia longipalpis (Dipera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae)
My goal is to understand the genetic mechanisms of insecticide resistance in sand flies. To do this, I am
investigating potential target-site insensitivity and metabolic detoxification mechanisms in two species of
sand flies. I am currently identifying molecular markers in the paralytic and acetylcholinesterase-1 genes
from sand fly colonies that have been exposed to insecticides for several generations. We hope to find
SNP markers that could be used to develop a real-time allele-specific PCR diagnostic to discriminate
insecticide-susceptible and insecticide-resistant sand flies. I am also investigating elevated expression of
proteins involved in resistance using biochemical assays.
Utah State University, Department of Biology, 2011-present
Graduate Research
Skills: Sand fly, mosquito, flea, and tick DNA extraction; polymerase chain reactions (PCR); PCR
cleanups; and sequencing reactions. Protein biochemical assays. Colony maintenance of mosquitoes,
fleas, and sand flies. Insecticide bottle assays and sand fly survival curves using the QCal application.
Sequence data analysis and SNP discovery using Lasergene® software.
University of Delaware, Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, 2009-2011
Undergraduate Research
Adviser: Charles Mason, Ph.D.
Thesis: Does Genetically Engineered Corn Affect Pheromone Production or Larval Development Time in
the European Corn Borer Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner)?
University of Delaware, Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, 2009-2011
Undergraduate Research
Duties: Department Material Safety Data Sheet acquisition and cataloging, European Corn Borer (ECB)
(Ostrinia nubilalis) colony maintenance, ECB pheromone gland extraction, gas chromatograph
utilization, acid washing of glassware
Manuscripts in Preparation
1. Assessing insecticide susceptibility of laboratory Lutzomyia longipalpis and Phlebotomus papatasi
sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae)
2. Blood-feeding Phlebotomus papatasi (Diptera: Psychodidae) in the laboratory with a Parafilm
membrane.
3. Understanding insecticide resistance in sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) analyzing target site
insensitivity and metabolic detoxification.
Presentations
Denlinger, D. S., P. G. Lawyer, K. Saavedra-Rodriguez, and S. A. Bernhardt
Understanding the molecular mechanisms of insecticide resistance in Phlebotomus papatasi and
Lutzomyia longipalpis sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae)
98th annual meeting of the Pacific Branch of the Entomological Society of America Tucson, AZ.
2014
Poster presentation
Denlinger, D. S., P. G. Lawyer, W. C. Black IV, and S. A. Bernhardt
Molecular characterization of insecticide resistance in Phlebotomus papatasi and Lutzomyia
longipalpis sand flies
62nd annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Washington,
D.C. 2013.
Poster Presentation
Denlinger, D. S., P. G. Lawyer, W. C. Black IV, and S. A. Bernhardt
Molecular characterization of insecticide resistance in Phlebotomus papatasi and Lutzomyia
longipalpis sand flies
Invited to the 6th International Congress of the Society of Vector Ecology, La Quinta, CA. 2013.
Oral presentation: 10 minutes
Teaching Experience
Utah State University, Logan, UT, Fall 2011-Present
 Graduate Teaching Assistant: Introductory Biology I
-Laboratory instructor covering basic microscopy, enzymes, genetics, and photosynthesis
 Graduate Teaching Assistant: Introductory Biology II
-Laboratory instructor covering the scientific method and hypothesis testing, phylogenetics,
population genetics, and animal growth
 Graduate Teaching Assistant: Honors Introductory Biology I and II
Introductory Biology I and II with student-led presentations on scientific journal articles
Outreach and Volunteer Activities
Entomology Club vice-president
Entomology Club outreach, Logan, UT
Utah State Univ. Pow Wow, Logan, UT
Utah State Univ. Science Unwrapped, Logan, UT
Technical Skills
Statistical Programming: SAS, R
Sequencing: SeqMan Pro, EditSeq
Survival Curve Analysis: IRMA QCal
Other: Microsoft Office Suite
Current Professional Memberships
Entomological Society of America
Society of Vector Ecology
Awards
Utah State University, Department of Biology, 2011-2012
Nonresident Tuition and In-state Tuition Awards
2014-2015
2012-2014
2012-2014
2011-2014