The Enemy of My Enemy: Do Predators Protect Humans from Lyme Disease?

Research Location: San Francisco, California
Conservation Partners: Alliance for Predator Exchange (APEX). This group is composed of researchers from San Francisco State University, UC Davis, Audubon Canyon Ranch, True Wild, the Golden Gate National Park Conservancy, UC Santa Cruz, and William & Mary

Faculty Mentor

Dr. Heather Broughton and Dr. Sapana Lohani

Past Student Researchers

Allison Heib '28, Majors: Biology and Biochemistry
Alessandra Pezzimenti '28, Majors: Biology and Chemistry

Skills and Prereqs

Background in microbiology and/or biology and lab experience is helpful, but not required.

Travel

Students will travel from Virginia to California during the summer research period, with ground travel to multiple research and field sites across the San Francisco Bay Area. Students should be prepared for air and ground travel, outdoor fieldwork in varied terrain, potentially long or variable field days, and activities such as tick sampling, camera trapping, scat collection, and wildlife-related data collection.

Notes for Applicants

This project is a good fit for students interested in wildlife ecology, disease ecology, One Health, predator conservation, and spatial analysis. Students should be comfortable with hands-on outdoor fieldwork, including working in areas where ticks and wildlife may be present, and should bring flexibility, attention to safety, curiosity, and a willingness to learn field, laboratory, and analytical methods.

Number of Students

Two

Project ID - Format

26-002-26 - CRP Year

Interested in this project?

Review the CRP application requirements and submit your application by October 25, 2026