Benny Rice, PhD

Summer Undergraduate Research Experience | HHMI The Cech Fellows Program is a paid, nine-week summer research experience empowering the next generation of scientific leaders.

Calling all rising juniors & seniors: Interested in biological or biomedical research? Applications for our ’26 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience Program are now open! Nine weeks, hands-on research, & mentorship from some of the nation’s top scientists — learn more: bit.ly/CechFellows

18.11.2025 14:44 — 👍 65    🔁 81    💬 0    📌 11

Ancient origin of an urban underground mosquito Understanding how life is adapting to urban environments represents an important challenge in evolutionary biology. In this work, we investigate a widely cited example of urban adaptation, Culex pipie...

How does life evolve to adapt to modern cities?

Out now in Science, my PhD work with @lindymcbr.bsky.social uncovers the ancient origin of the “London Underground mosquito” – one of the most iconic examples of urban adaptation.

🧵(1/n)
@science.org
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ady4515

25.10.2025 04:45 — 👍 247    🔁 100    💬 8    📌 8

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Club EvMed - Extreme Weather and Malaria Control. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting. Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Club EvMed - Extreme Weather and Malaria Control. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

Benny and Estelle about talking about malaria and cyclones on Wednesday 8th at 12:00 EST: duke.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

06.10.2025 18:41 — 👍 6    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0

Evolutionary history, longevity and terrestriality predict Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in free-ranging non-human primates Evidence from captive populations indicates that lemurs are particularly vulnerable to toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii.…

🚨🚨 New Paper alert! 🚨🚨 :

Evolutionary history, longevity and terrestriality predict Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in primates 🌳🐈‍⬛️🦠🐒. #zoonosis #conservation #primates #wildlife #Madagascar #lemur #parasites

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

03.10.2025 22:27 — 👍 11    🔁 4    💬 1    📌 0

I'm super excited to have joined @ubcmath.bsky.social
and @ubcmicroimmuno.bsky.social !! Please get in touch if you might be interested in graduate studies or postdoctoral research opportunities!

02.09.2025 03:29 — 👍 50    🔁 14    💬 7    📌 0

Excited, surprised and proud to share the news about my @MaxwellHanrahan Award in Field Biology! The award recognizes my work in infectious disease ecology and wildlife conservation in #Madagascar. To learn more about the award: www.maxwell-hanrahan.org/programs/fie...

18.07.2025 03:37 — 👍 8    🔁 5    💬 1    📌 1

Many thanks for all co-authors, participants, and the support from friends and family that made this project possible

17.07.2025 22:10 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Newly available malaria vaccines may be of use during disaster aftermath

17.07.2025 22:10 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

Extreme weather events are common in high burden malaria settings. E.g., tropical cyclones (blue lines) in SE Africa (higher malaria burden areas shown in warmer colors)

17.07.2025 22:10 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

Vaccination to mitigate climate-driven disruptions to malaria control in Madagascar Extreme weather is common in high malaria burden areas and is likely to increase in severity owing to climate change–related severe weather events. Yet, data on infection rates after these events and ...

Out today in Science: Our work on tropical cyclones and malaria in Madagascar. Work inspired by many and done in collaboration with many www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

17.07.2025 22:10 — 👍 39    🔁 17    💬 1    📌 1

screenshot of a flyer containing post details

A chameleon in Montagne des Francais

A mini chameleon from Montagne d'Ambre

Furcifer oustaleit chameleons from Diego

We are recruiting again! Looking for a student or students interested in a survey of chameleon parasite diversity in northern Madagascar 🇲🇬🇲🇬🇲🇬

Please see the link for full details. Taking the opportunity to add some chameleon photos from the proposed field sites

Link:
github.com/bennyrice/ch...

21.11.2024 17:45 — 👍 7    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

map of Analavelona

Work led by Estelle Raobson and in collaboration with the University of Antananarivo and others

28.10.2024 20:14 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

creek through Analavelona Forest

Application instructions: Send a CV and letter of motivation to b.rice@princeton.edu and estelleraobson@gmail.com

Deadline: November 15th

Applications accepted in Malagasy, English, or French

28.10.2024 20:11 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

grasslands bordering the edge of Analavelona Forest

Objective: To better understand insect vectors and the transmission of wildlife diseases in Madagascar

Localities: Analavelona and Makay Massif

Anticipated start: December 2024 or January 2025

28.10.2024 20:09 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

flyer showing details for recruitment

We are recruiting a student or students for a disease ecology pilot study in SW Madagascar 🇲🇬🇲🇬🇲🇬. See thread for details and photos of the remarkable Analavelona forest!
Link to details: github.com/bennyrice/an...

28.10.2024 20:06 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0