Daibin Zhong

Biography

Daibin Zhong, Ph.D., is an Associate Project Scientist in the Program in Public Health at the University of California, Irvine. His research focuses on vector biology, genomics, and molecular epidemiology of mosquito-borne and parasitic diseases, with particular emphasis on malaria vectors and schistosomiasis transmission systems.

Over the past two decades, Dr. Zhong has conducted multidisciplinary research across Africa, Asia, and the Americas investigating insecticide resistance evolution, vector population genomics, malaria parasite diversity, and transmission dynamics. His work integrates field epidemiology with high-throughput genomic and transcriptomic approaches, including whole-genome sequencing, RNA sequencing, quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, and molecular surveillance tools to understand the genetic mechanisms underlying vector adaptation and disease transmission.

Dr. Zhong has made significant contributions to understanding pyrethroid resistance mechanisms in major malaria vectors, including Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles funestus, Anopheles stephensi, and Anopheles sinensis. His recent research has focused on the emergence and spread of invasive malaria vectors in Africa, particularly Anopheles stephensi in Ethiopia, and on genomic approaches for identifying resistance-associated loci and biomarkers relevant to vector control programs.

In addition to mosquito genomics, Dr. Zhong has contributed to studies on host–parasite interactions and schistosome resistance genetics in freshwater snails, advancing knowledge of the molecular basis of parasite compatibility and transmission biology. His collaborative research supports the development of evidence-based strategies for vector surveillance and disease control in endemic regions.

Dr. Zhong received his Ph.D. in Plant Genetics and Breeding from the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Beijing, China, and conducted doctoral research at the International Rice Research Institute. He subsequently transitioned into vector biology research at the University at Buffalo before joining University of California, Irvine. He serves as a reviewer for numerous international journals and funding agencies in the fields of vector biology, parasitology, genomics, and tropical medicine. His research aims to bridge molecular genomics and public health applications to improve surveillance and control of vector-borne diseases in endemic regions worldwide.

Education

• Ph.D. in Plant Genetics and Breeding, Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 2000
• M.S. in Plant Genetics and Breeding, Southwest Agricultural University in China, 1992
• B.S. in Agronomy, Southwest Agricultural University in China, 1989

Distinctions

• International Scholarship Award, International Rice Research Institute, Philippines, 1998-2000
• Achievement Award for Science and Technology Progress, The Zhejiang Science and Technology Commission of China, 1997
• Achievement Award for the Agriculture Harvest Project, Guizhou Department of Agriculture of China, 1996
• The Best Paper Award of Chinese Society of Zhejiang Nature Science, 1997