Dr. Uelmen is a Wisconsin Native and Triple Badger (B.S. Biology, M.S. Entomology, M.S. Epidemiology). He received his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois (Epidemiology) and completed postdoctoral studies at the University of Michigan and University of South Florida. Prior to coming to the University of Wisconsin, Dr. Uelmen was the Assistant Director for the Triangle Center for Evolutionary Medicine (TriCEM) at Duke University. Dr.Uelmen’s research focuses on evaluating and forecasting zoonotic disease risk in humans and animals, particularly at the nexus of changing climates and environments. Under a One Health lens, I leverage a multidisciplinary approach to identify disease hotspots, forecast risk, and devise targeted interventions to break disease transmission cycles. He uses a myriad of statistical methods and advanced tools, such as spatiotemporal modeling, GIS, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, to identify key pieces in a complex, ecological puzzle. Ultimately, his research aims to improve our understanding of the complexities of disease ecology to increase preparedness and mitigate the global health burden on humans, animals, and ecosystems, while also promoting long-term and sustainable conservation efforts. Through innovative research and collaborative efforts, He is committed to advancing our understanding of disease dynamics and developing pragmatic solutions to safeguard the health of our planet and its inhabitants.
Dr. Uelmen thrives working in collaborative, interdisciplinary research groups, and employs several unique techniques and methods to find innovative solutions to global issues. I believe in the power of creative and appealing data visualizations as an efficient and effective method to teach and communicate findings. I work with colleagues from various fields, spanning from Public Health, Epidemiology, and Entomology, to Geography, Statistics, Veterinary and Human medicine.
Title of Talk: Mosquitoes, Bats, and Beyond: Integrating Climate and Ecology to Understand Emerging Disease Threats
Climate change is reshaping the ecology of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases, altering transmission dynamics in ways that challenge traditional public health approaches. My work focuses on integrating climate, ecological, and epidemiological data to forecast the emergence and spread of pathogens at the human–animal–environment interface. In the United States, I investigate how warming temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns are driving the northward and westward expansion of Culex and Aedes mosquitoes. Ongoing research in Las Vegas demonstrates how rapid urbanization, extreme heat, and water availability intersect to expand the range of Aedes aegypti and facilitate West Nile virus persistence in arid environments.
Internationally, my lab collaborates with partners in South Asia and Latin America to address high-consequence pathogens. In Bangladesh, we are deploying mobile viral testing and sequencing units to better detect Nipah virus in Pteropus bat populations and monitor spillover risks. In Colombia, we are applying syndromic surveillance and remote sensing to study Oropouche virus alongside malaria, dengue, and Zika, identifying how deforestation, land-use change, and climate variability amplify human exposure. Together, these projects illustrate how a One Health approach—integrating disease ecology, climate modeling, and community-based surveillance—can provide critical foresight into where and when the next outbreak will emerge.
Time: Oct. 23rd, 2025 12:00 PM Eastern Time
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