Evlyn Pless

Evlyn is a PhD student in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department. She obtained her B.S. and M.S. in Biology from Stanford University, where she studied decision-making in red harvester ants. Before coming to Yale she worked at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA and at the Audubon Society in Washington, D.C.

Evlyn is interested in molecular evolution especially in the contexts of invasive species, disease vectors, and conservation. Her current work focuses on Aedes aegypti, the primary vector of dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya. She uses population genetics and spatial data to determine what environmental and anthropogenic factors affect the mosquito’s gene flow at different scales. She is also involved in ongoing research investigating the spread of Aedes aegypti on the West Coast of the US.