Dr. Serge Poda | Malaria | Best Researcher Award
Dr. Serge Poda, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la SantƩ, Burkina Faso.
Dr. Serge Poda, a distinguished malaria researcher, has dedicated his career to studying malaria transmission dynamics and effective control strategies, particularly in endemic regions across Africa. His impactful research focuses on identifying transmission hotspots, assessing antimalarial drug efficacy, and advancing vector control measures. With numerous peer-reviewed publications and collaborations with global health organizations, Dr. Podaās work continues to shape malaria eradication efforts and improve public health policies worldwide. Recognized with the Best Researcher Award, Dr. Poda’s contributions are invaluable to the fight against malaria and improving healthcare outcomes in vulnerable communities.
Profile:
Education
Dr. Serge Poda earned his Ph.D. in Applied Biological Sciences with a focus on Medical Entomology in 2021 from the University Joseph KI-ZERBO (formerly University of Ouagadougou) in Burkina Faso. He holds a Masterās degree in Microbial and Cellular Biotechnology (2014) and a Bachelorās degree in Fundamental and Applied Biology, specializing in Biochemistry and Microbiology (2011). Dr. Podaās academic foundation was built upon his Baccalaureate in Natural Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry (2007), equipping him with the multidisciplinary expertise essential for his research in malaria and disease prevention.
ExperienceĀ
Dr. Serge Poda is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands, where he investigates in-flight mating behaviors in sympatric swarms of Anopheles malaria mosquitoes and their hybrids. Previously, as a Ph.D. student (2017ā2021) at IRSS (Burkina Faso), MIVEGEC-IRD, and CNRS (France), he researched long-range chemical and visual cues used by Anopheles females to locate male swarms. His postgraduate fellowship at IRSS (2014ā2017) focused on how irradiation impacts the reproductive success and vector competence of An. arabiensis. For his Masterās thesis (2013ā2014), Dr. Poda evaluated the effectiveness of insecticide-treated paint against pyrethroid-resistant malaria vectors in Burkina Faso. Additionally, his graduate internship (2012ā2013) at IRSS allowed him to develop essential skills in malaria and dengue entomological techniques, laying a strong foundation for his career in medical entomology.
Skills
Dr. Serge Poda possesses a range of skills that support his expertise in malaria research. He is fluent in French and has an intermediate command of English. Proficient in data analysis tools like R and GenePop, he also utilizes Trackit 3D for video tracking and recording. His technical abilities include designing bioassays for insecticide and behavioral testing, rearing mosquitoes, conducting mosquito swarm studies, and performing field, semi-field, and laboratory research. Additionally, Dr. Poda is skilled in molecular techniques such as PCR and ELISA, as well as in Volatile Organic Compound extraction, GC-MS and GC-EAG analyses, and 3D trajectory recording and analysis.
Grands and Scholarships
Dr. Serge Poda has been awarded several prestigious grants and scholarships throughout his career. As Principal Investigator of the Africa Talent Programme grant from Wageningen University & Research (ā¬291k, 2022ā2025), he secured funding for a postdoctoral fellowship to study in-flight mating behaviors in sympatric swarms of Anopheles mosquitoes and their hybrids. He also served as Co-Investigator for the LAMIVECT grant (ā¬3k, 2020), a micro-project aimed at developing diets with local ingredients to optimize Aedes and Anopheles mosquito production for genetic control research. Dr. Podaās scholarships include the UEMOA Excellence Scholarship (2019ā2020), awarded for his exceptional academic achievements, the ARTS Ph.D. Scholarship from the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD, 2017ā2020), and the Burkina Faso government Ph.D. scholarship (2017ā2021), both of which supported his doctoral studie
Top Note Publications
Title: Mosquitoes integrate visual and acoustic cues to mediate conspecific interactions in swarms
Authors: Gupta, S., Cribellier, A., Poda, S.B., Muijres, F.T., Riffell, J.A.
Journal: Current Biology
Year: 2024
Title: Adult mosquito predation and potential impact on the sterile insect technique
Authors: BimbilĆ© Somda, N.S., MaĆÆga, H., Mamai, W., Yamada, H., Bouyer, J.
Journal: Scientific Reports
Year: 2022
Title: Local adaptation and colonization are potential factors affecting sexual competitiveness and mating choice in Anopheles coluzzii populations
Authors: Nignan, C., Poda, B.S., Sawadogo, S.P., Roux, O., DiabatƩ, A.
Journal: Scientific Reports
Year: 2022
Title: No evidence for long-range male sex pheromones in two malaria mosquitoes
Authors: Poda, S.B., Buatois, B., Lapeyre, B., DabirƩ, R.K., Roux, O.
Journal: Nature Ecology and Evolution
Year: 2022
Title: Malaria vectors diversity, insecticide resistance and transmission during the rainy season in peri-urban villages of south-western Burkina Faso
Authors: Soma, D.D., Poda, S.B., Hien, A.S., Moiroux, N., DabirƩ, R.K.
Journal: Malaria Journal
Year: 2021