Dr. Catalina Alfonso-Parra has been a researcher at the Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical – CES University since 2015. She earned her PhD in Biochemistry and Biophysics from Texas A&M University and completed postdoctoral research at Cornell University, first in developmental biology with Dr. Natasza Kurpios and later in vector biology with Dr. Laura Harrington. Currently, Dr. Alfonso-Parra’s research focuses on the biology and ecology of mosquito vectors, particularly Aedes species. One of her main research interests is understanding mosquito reproductive processes and how emerging vector control strategies, such as Wolbachia-based approaches and the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), may affect mosquito biology and reproduction. Understanding these effects is important for improving the implementation and success of vector control programs. She is also involved in additional projects studying insecticide resistance and the prevalence of Wolbachia in mosquito populations in Medellín.
