101 - Following My Passions, a tribute to the teachings and lessons of Dr. Bill Walton

Abstract: I was privileged to be a graduate student in the lab of Dr. William (Bill) Walton) for over 10 years as I completed both my Masters and PhD. I could not have asked for a better mentor, teacher and researcher to not only learn from but help guide me over all those years. I aspire to continue his work now in my own career in Vector Control. Bill allowed me the freedom to explore my own avenues of research, learn new techniques and develop my projects in my own way. My Masters degree focused on evaluating a fish native to Southern California, the arroyo chub, Gila orcutti, as a potential alternative biological control agent to the Western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis. The project then morphed into looking at the chemical ecology interactions between the Western encephalitis mosquito, Culex tarsalis, and aquatic predators found in the same habitats. My PhD work marched deeper into the realm of chemical ecology as I worked to tease apart the behavioral responses of Cx. tarsalis to the chemicals exuded from Gambusia affinis. With Bill’s guidance and support, I identified two compounds of interest in Gambusia affinis exudate water that the mosquitoes reacted to. I will forever be indebted to Bill for his kindness, tireless patience and warmth through all these years.