I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology at the Creighton University. Prior to taking this position, I was an Assistant Professor of Public Health at the University of Nebraska at Kearney from 2012-2014. My laboratory uses a multi-disciplinary approach to study the molecular mechanisms underlying the ability of Lyme and relapsing fever Borrelia to infect their tick vectors and mammalian hosts. Additionally, we are performing active surveillance for ticks and tick-borne pathogens in eastern Nebraska. This effort is part of a collaboration with individuals from the University of Nebraska-Kearney, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska Medical Center, and Nebraska Health and Human Services.