Yale University · BiologyVector Evolution Lab
Jeffrey R Powell · New Haven, Connecticut
Research Focus
Dr. Jeffrey R. Powell's lab at Yale University focuses on understanding the origins and genetic diversity of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, a key vector for serious human diseases like dengue and Zika. The lab conducts multidisciplinary research on populations from Indian Ocean islands, exploring how these ancestral mosquitoes are related to current populations worldwide and their potential role in disease transmission. Through techniques like genetics and virome analysis, the lab aims to discover new species and understand how these mosquitoes evolved to become effective carriers of viruses.
Aedes aegyptipopulation geneticsvirome analysisarbovirusesdisease transmission
Research Aims
5AIM 01Characterize the genetic diversity of Aedes aegypti populations from Indian Ocean islands.
AIM 02Identify potential new species within the Aedes genus.
AIM 03Analyze the blood meal sources of these mosquitoes.
AIM 04Investigate the presence of novel viruses in Aedes aegypti populations.
AIM 05Understand the transmission capabilities of these ancestral mosquitoes.
Skills the Lab Values
DNA sequencingpopulation geneticsphylogenetic analysisblood meal analysisfield sampling techniques
Output against the department
Publications282top 21% of dept.213th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations17ktop 23% of dept.238th of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.