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
Associate Professor, Pathobiology
Associate Professor, Biomedical and Translational Sciences
Associate Professor, Kinesiology and Community Health
Associate Professor, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology
Associate Professor, Center for Digital Agriculture, National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA)
Associate Professor, National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA)
Affiliate, Center for Social & Behavioral Science
Associate Professor, Center for the Study of Global Gender Equity
Recent Publications
Chakraborty, S., Lyons, L. A., Winata, F., Mateus-Pinilla, N., & Smith, R. L. (2025). Methods of active surveillance for hard ticks and associated tick-borne pathogens of public health importance in the contiguous United States: a comprehensive systematic review. Journal of medical entomology, 62(3), 675-689. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjaf031
Dariotis, J. K., Eldreth, D. A., Kim, S., Berdychevsky, L., Park, Y. R., & Smith, R. L. (2025). “Covid Was a Worldwide Pandemic That Caused Trauma for Everyone... There Were Also ‘Silver-linings’” – Adult and Youth Qualitative Perspectives. American Journal of Qualitative Research, 9(2), 176-206. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/16281
Dariotis, J. K., Eldreth, D. A., Sloane, S. M., Noor, I., & Smith, R. L. (2025). Distrust, trauma, doubt, and protective reactions to coronavirus disease 2019: cautionary tales and lessons to learn for future pandemics: a case report. Journal of Medical Case Reports, 19(1), Article 131. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-025-05162-w
Hussain, A., Varga, C., Allan, B. F., Mateus-Pinilla, N., & Smith, R. L. (2025). Spatial distribution and clustering of medically important tick species in Illinois: Implications for tick-borne disease risk. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, 16(5), Article 102533. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102533
Pratt, A., Prezioso, T., Mateus-Pinilla, N., Pepin, K. M., & Smith, R. L. (2025). Interactions Between Humans and White-Tailed Deer in Illinois: A Cross-Sectional Survey. EcoHealth, 22(1), 147-160. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-024-01694-7