Dr. Hillyer received his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison under the mentorship of Dr. Ralph M. Albrecht and Dr. Bruce M. Christensen, respectively.  He then completed a post-doctoral fellowship under the mentorship of Dr. Kenneth D. Vernick (now at Institut Pasteur) at the University of Minnesota.  In 2007 Dr. Hillyer moved to Nashville, TN where he established Vanderbilt University's mosquito immunology and physiology laboratory as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Science.

Dr. Hillyer's long-term interests lie in the biology of pathogens in the mosquito hemocoel, focusing on aspects of physiology and immunology that limit systemic infections.  In this quest, the Hillyer lab employs molecular and imaging techniques in efforts to expand our understanding of the biology of mosquito hemocytes, pericardial cells, and hemolymph propulsion in the mosquito hemocoel.  This research is expected to contribute to the development of novel pest and disease control strategies, and is of interest to vector biologists, insect physiologists, comparative immunologists, and evolutionary biologists.

In addition to research, Dr. Hillyer is committed to furthering Vanderbilt’s teaching mission.  He designed and currently teaches undergraduate courses in Parasitology and in Epidemiology and Control of Infectious Diseases.  Dr. Hillyer also mentors graduate and undergraduate students in the research laboratory.

For a list of Dr. Hillyer’s publications click HERE.

RECENT AWARDS:

1. •Vanderbilt University Jeffrey Nordhaus Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, 2011.
   

2. •Recognition Award in Insect Physiology, Biochemistry & Toxicology; Southeastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America, 2012.
   

Invited academic seminars:

1. •60th annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Philadelphia, PA, 12/8/2011.
   

2. •University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 9/29/2011.
   

3. •National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 5/26/2011.
   

4. •Western Kentucky University, Department of Biology, Bowling Green, KY, 2/4/2011.
   

5. •Penn State University, Department of Entomology, State College, PA, 10/22/2010.
   

6. •George Washington University, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, Washington, D.C., 9/1/2010.
   

7. •Johns Hopkins University, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Baltimore, MD, 3/18/2010.
   

8. •Vanderbilt University Pediatric Global Health Program Seminar Series, 2/25/10.
   

9. •Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Department of Entomology, Blacksburg VA, 10/15/09.
   

10. •VU’s Young Scholar's Medical Program Global Health Day, 7/20/2009.
    

11. •Meharry Medical Center, Nashville TN, 3/13/2009.
    

12. •Vanderbilt University’s Institute for Global Health’s Tennessee Global Health Forum, 2/27/2009.
    

13. •University of South Florida, Department of Global Health, Tampa FL, 2/17/2009.
    

14. •Vanderbilt University Medical Center Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, I.D. Grand Rounds, 2/4/2009.
    

15. •Vanderbilt University Department of Microbiology and Immunology Seminar Series, 10/28/2008.
    

reviewer for journals and funding agencies:

1. •Applied and Environmental Microbiology
   

2. •BMC Genomics
   

3. •Cell & Tissue Research
   

4. •Cellular Microbiology
   

5. •Czech Science Foundation
   

6. •Developmental and Comparative Immunology
   

7. •Florida Entomologist
   

8. •Histochemistry and Cell Biology
   

9. •Infection and Immunity
   

10. •Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
    

11. •Insect Molecular Biology
    

12. •International Journal of Tropical Insect Science
    

13. •Invertebrate Biology
    

14. •Journal of Chemical Ecology
    

15. •Journal of Experimental Biology
    

16. •Journal of Insect Science
    

17. •Journal of Medical Entomology
    

18. •Journal of Parasitology
    

19. •Journal of Visualized Experiments
    

20. •Malaria Journal
    

21. •Medical & Veterinary Entomology
    

22. •Methods in Ecology and Evolution
    

23. •Micron
    

24. •Microscopy & Microanalysis
    

25. •National Science Foundation: IOS/OEI
    

26. •National Science Foundation: IOS/SDS
    

27. •PLoS Pathogens
    

28. •U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation
    

29. •Veterinary Parasitology
    

Scientific Society membership and service:

1. •American Society of Parasitologists
   

1. a.Student Award Committee, 2006-2008.
   

2. b.Henry Baldwin Ward Medal Committee, 2008-2010.
   

3. c.Nominating Committee, 2009-2010.
   

4. d.Ashton Cuckler New Investigator Award Committee, 2010- present.
   

5. e.Session Chair at Annual Meeting, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011.
   

6. •American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
   

1. a.Young Investigator Award Committee, 2009-2011.
   

2. b.Session Chair at Annual Meeting, 2009, 2010, 2011.
   

3. •Entomological Society of America
   

4. •Microscopy Society of America
   

5. •Sigma Xi