About the Infectious Disease Ecology Across Scales Lab

Our research is driven by a different way of seeing—one that connects science, systems, and lived experience.

The IDEAS Lab is shaped by a path that crosses disciplines, perspectives, and scales, bringing together ecology and public health through a deeply curious lens. Here, rigorous research coexists with creativity, care, and a commitment to doing science differently. It’s a space where humanity strengthens the questions we ask and the impact of the work.

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A dense forest with tall trees covered in green moss, with a dark and moody atmosphere.
Silhouette of a bed bug on a light-colored background.
A dirt street in a small neighborhood with makeshift houses made of bricks and wood, power lines overhead, and a single black cat walking across the street.
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meet the pi

Jennifer K. Peterson, PhD

Jennifer Peterson is a scientist and writer driven by a deep curiosity about how tiny organisms—especially insects and parasites—connect all living things.

As an Assistant Professor of Medical Entomology at the University of Delaware, she studies Chagas disease through the lens of the triatomine “kissing bug,” using these remarkable insects as a window into the hidden worlds of disease transmission. With training in disease ecology, epidemiology, and modeling, her work takes a cross-disciplinary approach to uncover the complex relationships between organisms, environments, and human communities.

At its core, her research is grounded in a sense of wonder—revealing that even the smallest creatures can unlock some of the biggest questions in science and public health.

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Meet the IDEAS team!

  • A woman is outdoors in a wooded area, holding a tool or glove, smiling at the camera, wearing glasses, a green jacket, and a pearl necklace.

    Hanna Cortes

    Masters student, Entomology

    Hanna is studying the use of harmonic radar to track the movement of kissing bug species Triatoma sanguiga in Florida. Originally from New Jersey, Hanna earned a BSc in Insect science and Wildlife Conservation in 2022 from the University of Delaware. In her free time, Hanna enjoys camping and hanging with her two cats.

  • A man with a beard and sunglasses on his cap is examining a model of a bed bug made of plastic and metal at an indoor educational display. He is wearing a dark gray long sleeve shirt and beige pants.

    Alex Kelley

    Masters student, Entomology

    Alex is investigating Triatoma sanguisuga in Delaware, with particular interest in how landscape urbanization and host community composition affect Trypanosoma cruzi infection prevalence. He has a professional background in mosquito control in Colorado and Florida and joined the IDEAS lab in 2024 to shift his focus to kissing bugs. In his spare time, Alex enjoys hiking, camping, and salsa dancing.

  • A man with curly blonde hair, wearing a white t-shirt with illustrations of various insects, is sitting at a table with a booklet and a wooden display case containing mounted insects. There are trash bins behind him, one brown and one blue with a blue trash bag.

    Hunt Kinnaird

    Research assistant

    Hunt hails from Pennsylvania, where he and his wife manage the family farm. In the IDEAS lab, Hunt studies Triatoma sanguisuga in the Mid-Atlantic. Hunt completed a B.S. in Environmental Science at UD in 2025. He enjoys playing guitar and tending to his flock of chickens, especially Jerk the rooster and Nugget, who started off as a runt and beat the odds.

  • Stacy Mowry

    Post-doctoral researcher

    Stacy is developing mathematical models to understand human risk of Chagas disease in Delaware. Prior to joining the IDEAS lab, she completed her PhD at the University of Notre Dame where she used modeling to study tick-borne diseases. In her free time, Stacy enjoys running marathons, reading, and exploring Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where she lives with her husband, daughter, and their dog, Koda

  • A person wearing a Cotopaxi hat, black jacket, light gray pants, and hiking shoes, holding a small black object in their hand while squatting on a stone staircase outdoors.

    Sarah Sharp

    Undergraduate researcher

    Sarah is an undergraduate student studying entomology. Her work in the IDEAS lab has included setting up the insectary, orienting technology for the rearing of insects, preserving vector species, and more! In her spare time, Sarah enjoys exploring new hiking trails, camping, and reading.

Check out the lab in action

SHOUT OUT to our Project collaborators!

Rod‍ ‍Suepaul,
DVM

University of the West Indies, St. Augustine

Nicole Gottdenker, DVM, Ph.D.

University of Georgia

Simone Sandiford,  Ph.D.

University of the West Indies, MONA

Norm        Beatty,        M.D.

University of Florida

join the ideas Lab

Hidden within parasites are entire worlds of ecology, equity, sustainability, and disease.

By combining rigorous science with a sense of curiosity and connection, we bring attention to a long-overlooked disease and work toward solutions that protect both people and the environments they live in.

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