Alexandra Villiard
Center for Vector Biology
180 Jones Ave
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
401-569-8348
a.villiard@gmail.com
Education
2008 to 2015
PhD
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey,
New Brunswick, NJ- Entomology
2004 to 2008
BS
The University of Delaware,
Newark, DE- Entomology and Plant Protection
Professional Experience
Aug 2008 to May 2015
Rutgers University, Dept. of Entomology
Center for Vector Biology –Doctoral Candidate
New Brunswick, NJ
As a graduate student, I have independently designed and
carried out mosquito biology experiments. This includes
maintaining Aedes albopictus colonies, multiple trapping
methods, identification of container-breeding mosquito larvae,
sex identification of Ae. albopictus pupae, dissection of Aedes
spermatheca, cold-anthrone testing, and limited use of PCR. I
also gained experience in scientific writing, producing three
first-author papers included in my dissertation.
Aug 2009 to May 2015
Rutgers University, Division of Life Sciences
Microbiology Teaching Assistant
New Brunswick, NJ
As a teaching assistant for Microbiology for Health Sciences
and Intro Microbiology Lab, I have been responsible for
teaching two sections of a 1-credit course each semester. This
included making decisions on how points were distributed and
assigning final grades for the class, as well as writing and
grading of homework assignments, tests, and quizzes. I have
also been responsible for inoculating cultures used in class and
proctoring lecture exams. The summer course included work
with bacteriophage and plasmid and competent cell
preparation.
Aug 2008 to May 2009
Rutgers University, Division of Life Sciences
General Biology Teaching Assistant
New Brunswick, NJ
As a teaching assistant for general biology lab, I was
responsible for teaching two sections each semester. This
included the writing and grading of homework assignments,
tests, and quizzes. The content of the course was broad,
including introductory genetics, phylogeny, anatomy and
evolution.
Summer 2007-Spring 2008
University of Delaware, Dept. of Entomology
Senior Thesis-Undergraduate Researcher
Newark, DE
As an undergraduate researcher, I participated in the Senior
Thesis program. I worked in close association with a Master’s
student and his graduate advisor, to develop a research
project, and I successfully obtained funding through an NSF
scholarship. I investigated that impact of alien plants on
predacious and parasitoid insects. I was responsible for
making field collections, as well as identifying all collected
predator and parasitoid insects to family. This gave me the
opportunity to improve my skills in the identification of microHymenopteran families. I was also responsible for analyzing
and presenting the data collected at the defense of my senior
thesis.
Summer 2006
University of Rhode Island- USDA Biological Control Lab
Research Intern
As a research intern at the URI Biocontrol Lab, I was
responsible for maintaining colonies of Galerucella beetles and
parasitoid wasps, making field releases of biological control
agents, and collecting and maintaining host plants and insects.
I also assisted in collecting field data from release sites and test
plots. My internship allowed me to become familiar with
current research on the control of purple loosestrife and lilyleaf beetle.
Fall 2004-Fall 2005
USDA Beneficial Insect Research Lab, Newark, DE
Laboratory Assistant
As a laboratory assistant for the Beneficial Insect Lab, I was
responsible for a number of tasks, including maintaining
colonies of Glyptopantelis parasitoid wasps, gypsy moths,
brown marmorated stink bugs, and tarnished plant bugs. I was
also responsible for maintaining host plants, and assisting in
dissections. My internship also required adhering to protocol
for working in a BSL-II lab environment.
Summer 2005
Brown University, Dept. of Evolutionary Genetics
Laboratory Assistant
As a laboratory assistant at Brown Univ., I was responsible for
daily maintenance and data collection for colonies of
Drosophila melanogaster. I also assisted a graduate student
perform dissections of Drosophila females, in order to count
the number of ovarioles. This included taking wing
measurements with the use of a stage micrometer.
Conference Participation- Paper Presentations
Rutgers Entomology Dept. Seminar- October 2011 “Carbohydrate Access and the Fitness of Male
Aedes albopictus”
Entomological Society of America- Annual Meeting- November 2011 “Carbohydrate Access effects
the fitness of male Ae. albopictus through multiple mechanisms”
President’s Prize- First Place Ten-Minute Paper
ESA Eastern Branch-March 2012-“Carbohydrate Access and the Fitness of Male
Aedes albopictus”
New Jersey Mosquito Control Annual Meeting- March 2012-“Carbohydrate Access and the
Fitness of Male Aedes albopictus”
American Mosquito Control Annual Meeting-February 2013-“Daylength and Dietary Choices
in Female Aedes albopictus”
Entomological Society of America- Annual Meeting- November 2013- “Daylength and the
Dietary Choices of Aedes albopictus”
ESA Eastern Branch- March 2014- “Daylength and the Diet of Aedes albopictus”
First Place Poster
Publications
Villiard, A. and R. Gaugler. 2015. Long-term effects of carbohydrate availability on mating
success of newly eclosed Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) males. Journal of Medical
Entomology. In press.
Villiard, A. and R. Gaugler. Day-length affects dietary choices in female Aedes albopictus
(Diptera: Culicidae). Journal of Medical Entomology. Submitted.
Scholarships, Honors, and Awards
ESA-Eastern Branch -PhD Poster- First Place, 2014
President’s Prize, Entomological Society of America, 2011
Daniel M. Jobbin’s Scholarship, NJMCA
NSF EPSCoR Life Science Scholarship
John P. Neild’s Scholarship
General Honors Award, Univ. of Delaware
Honors Degree with Distinction, Univ. of Delaware
Extension and Outreach
Rutgers Day. New Brunswick, NJ. Volunteer at Entomology Educational Displays for the general
public. April 2009-2013
Blessed Sacrament School, Providence, RI. Educational presentation on general entomology.
June 2009 & 2010
Rutgers Camp- Rutgers Univ.- educational presentation to campers on general entomology.
June 2010
LaSalle Academy, Providence, RI. Presentation on vector biology to high school students.
March 2010
Blessed Sacrament School, Providence, RI. Middle School Science Fair- volunteer judge.
Feb 2009
Professional Associations
TreasurerMemberMemberMemberMemberMemberAlumni-
Graduate Entomology Student Association, Rutgers University
Entomological Society of America, Eastern Branch
New Jersey Mosquito Control Association
Northeastern Mosquito Control Association
American Mosquito Control Association
Rhode Island Beekeeper’s Association
Alpha Zeta; Honors Agriculture Fraternity