Laura is currently a PhD Genetics candidate at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. Laura’s PhD research is on the future of vaccines in tick control. She is characterizing the immunological profile induced in bovines by different vaccine formulations against R. microplus infestation. Laura is also investigating the impact of vaccination on the host-parasite interaction by determining the gene expression profiles in the skin of vaccinated and control bovines prior to and following R. microplus infestation. Finally, Laura is identifying and validating protective epitopes in a vaccine antigen in a South African strain of R. microplus. Previous MSc research includes screening for SNPs associated with acaricide resistance in R. microplus populations as well as the development of a potential rapid diagnostic test to streamline acaricide resistance screening. Laura also completed a MSc in Applied Health Economics (University of South Wales) where she reviewed available economic evaluations for Lyme disease interventions utilising a systematic approach.