Research interests include Arthropod vector-host interactions, specifically evolution of blood-feeding mechanisms at the vector-host interface and how this relate to evolution of protein structure and function. Specific focus areas include evolution of blood-feeding in ticks, tick salivary gland protein families, their functions and their potential for therapeutics or as vaccine candidates, tick systematics and its implications for evolution of blood-feeding behavior, evolution of tick-borne parasites in regard to the arthropod vector and the vertebrate host, parasite-vector and parasite-host specificity and diversity, the carrier-state of parasites in the vector and the vertebrate host, diagnostics of blood-borne pathogens. Current parasite focus includes the Piroplasmida Babesia and Theileria.