Members
Paul Leisnham
Principal Investigator
leisnham@umd.edu
I have research expertise in socio-ecological systems, mosquitoes, vector-borne disease, community ecology, and invasion biology. I serve as the Department of Environmental Science and Technology (ENST) Director of Undergraduate Studies and regularly teach courses. I supplement my classroom teaching by advising undergraduate students on independent research projects and advising graduate students with their Masters and PhD work through ENST and the Marine Estuarine Environmental Sciences Program. I am also the instructor of Advanced Ecosystem Health and Natural Resource Management, which is the core course of the ENST graduate specialization by the same name. I collaborate with numerous researchers, extension professionals, and community partners on projects funded by state and federal grants, including those from NSF, USDA-NIFA, EPA-STAR, and NOAA.
Morgan Hawkins
Master’s Student, ENST
mphawk@umd.edu
I’m a master’s student studying how social and environmental factors shape mosquito populations and community-based mosquito control. My thesis examines how different mosquito traps, from simple designs to advanced technologies, interact with neighborhood conditions, resident knowledge, and environmental features in University Park, MD. Using field trapping, source-reduction surveys, community interviews, and bloodmeal analysis, I explore how technology can support long-term, community-led mosquito management. I’m interested in how human behavior, neighborhood environments, and ecological processes influence mosquito abundance, host choice, and disease risk, and how these relationships feed back into one another, while also considering implications for both human and animal health. Before joining the Leisnham Lab, I earned a B.S. in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, and Bioinformatics from Towson University and conducted research in conservation genomics, vertebrate regeneration, and sensory ecology, including an internship at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute.
Zoe Baber
Undergraduate Student, ENST
zbaber@terpmail.umd.edu
Hello! My name is Zoe and I am a fourth-year Environmental Science & Technology student at the University of Maryland, with a concentration in Ecosystem Health. As a pre-med student, I’m particularly interested in the intersection between environmental and human health. My clinical experience as a medical assistant in an allergy and asthma practice has exposed me to the ways environmental factors directly influence patient outcomes, especially for those with chronic respiratory conditions. In parallel, my research and fieldwork collecting and analyzing water samples from rural villages in Varanasi, India have deepened my understanding of how environmental exposures impact community health on a global scale. These experiences have motivated me to pursue opportunities that connect environmental health, public health, and equitable access to care. Beyond academics and professional experiences, my passion for environmental health is deeply rooted in my personal connection to nature. I have always been drawn to spending time outdoors, whether hiking, exploring new landscapes, or simply being present in natural spaces. These experiences have fostered a strong appreciation for the environment and a recognition of how closely human well-being is tied to the health of our ecosystems. This perspective continues to influence both my academic interests and my long-term goals. Looking ahead, I hope to pursue a career in medicine that allows me to address health disparities while also considering the broader environmental contexts that shape patient health. I am particularly interested in working with underserved communities and contributing to solutions that promote both environmental sustainability and improved health outcomes.
Haley Pinto
hpinto@umd.edu
Hello! I’m Haley, and I’m a senior in the Science and Technology program at Eleanor Roosevelt High School. My interest and passion for environmental science has persisted throughout my life thanks to my constant proximity to natural spaces, which I’m incredibly grateful for. I hope to aid in the ongoing effort to ensure the health and survival of our environment through research and field work when I get to college. I am currently working under Dr. Leisnham and Morgan Hawkins on a Research Practicum centered around the relationship between resident-deployed mosquito control technology and university-led source reduction techniques. Through this project and my internship, I hope to enrich my understanding of community based mosquito intervention, and the intersection between humans and our environment as a whole.
High School Intern
