Research Interests
My research focuses on epidemiology, specifically the mathematical and statistical modeling of disease, with an emphasis on control. I am particularly interested in the ways that data can be used for real-time response to disease.
Education
epidemiology, PhD, Cornell University
biosecurity and risk analysis, MS, Kansas State University
veterinary, DVM, Cornell University
Courses Taught
I teach Principles and Methods of Epidemiology, PATH 517, every fall. I also lead the discussion-based Epidemiology/Parasitology Seminar, PATH 527, most springs, with a changing topic each semester. I co-facilitating a new course on Global One Health: Infectious Diseases, being held in Fall 2019 under PATH 494. I am also available for independent studies related to epidemiology and disease modeling.
Additional Campus Affiliations
Professor, Pathobiology
Professor, Biomedical and Translational Sciences
Professor, Health and Kinesiology
Professor, Center for the Study of Global Gender Equity
Professor, National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA)
Professor, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology
Affiliate, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute
Affiliate, Social & Behavioral Science Institute
Recent Publications
Bajwa, M. R., Adegbole, C. A., & Smith, R. L. (2026). Temporal trends of Shigella outbreaks in the United States, 2009–2022. Frontiers in Public Health, 14, Article 1740303. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1740303
Bhowmick, S., Irwin, P., Lopez, K., Fritz, M. L., & Smith, R. L. (2026). A mathematical model of Culex population abundance and the impact of vector control interventions in a patchy environment. Ecological Modelling, 520, Article 111705. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2026.111705
Burgunder, B., Yang, J., Uelmen, J., Smith, R. L., Palmer, J., Irwin, P., & Fritz, M. L. (2026). Molecular surveillance supports differing roles for Culex pipiens and Culex restuans (Diptera: Culicidae) in West Nile virus transmission in Chicago, Illinois. Journal of medical entomology, 63(1), Article tjaf190. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjaf190
Caffrey, M., Paprotny, I., & Smith, R. (2026). Challenges and progress toward real-time detection of airborne viral pathogens. Critical Reviews in Biotechnology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/07388551.2026.2628597
Chakraborty, S., Hussain, A., Mahakapuge, T. A. N., Kumsa, B., Sander, W., & Smith, R. (2026). Measuring the trends in tick and tick-borne pathogen studies and their impact on tick-borne disease surveillance in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Ethiopia: a comparative analysis. Journal of medical entomology, 63(1), Article tjaf193. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjaf193