As a plant pathology graduate student with a background in agronomy and crop consulting, the health and yield of crops have been the central focus of many field decisions. Although my current research focuses on fungal diseases in the perennial tissue of grapevines, I still regularly encounter a variety of plant pathogens in the vineyards I sample as part of my study. The Biology of Vector Borne Disease course at the University of Idaho greatly expanded my knowledge of the interactions between hosts, diseases, and their vectors. This course improved my understanding of plant diseases and their vector-host interactions while also introducing me to current research on vector-borne diseases affecting animal and human health across the globe. This course facilitated conversations with people who worked across various industries. These discussions further solidified new concepts learned during this course while promoting new research ideas to further benefit human, animal, and plant health.
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