Norah Saarman, Ph.D.

Norah Saarman's picture
Postdoctoral Fellow in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Address: 
21 Sachem St, New Haven, CT 06511-3706
(203) 432-7394

My research in population genomics uses leading-edge technology and methodology to solve problems at the human-nature interface. Several such problems include the health and economic burdens imposed by fly-transmitted trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) in sub-Saharan Africa, and mosquito-transmitted viral infections in the Americas.  I am particularly interested in identifying the genetic basis of adaptive traits and using population and landscape genomics to improve vector and disease control.

Okeyo W*, Saarman NP*, Bateta R, Dion K, Mireji P, Okoth S, Ouma JO, Ouma C, Ochieng J, Murilla G, Aksoy S, Caccone A (2018). Genetic diversity and population structure of the tsetse fly Glossina pallidipes (Diptera: Glossinidae) in southern Kenya: implications for vector control. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, In press. *Co-first authors. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.18-0154
Saarman NP*, Burak M*, Opiro R†, Echodu R, Opiyo EA, Dion K, Haylard A, Aksoy S, and Caccone A (2018). A spatial genetics approach to inform vector control of tsetse flies (Glossina fuscipes fuscipes) in Northern Uganda. Ecology and Evolution, ece3.4050. *Co-first authors. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.4050
Harencar JG, Lutgen GA, Taylor ZM, Saarman NP, Yost, JM (2018). How population decline can impact genetic diversity: a case study of eelgrass (Zostera marina) in Morro Bay, California. Estuaries and Coasts, s12237-018-0421-8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-018-0421-8
Saarman NP, Kober KM, Simison WB, Pogson GH (2017). Sequence-based analysis of thermal adaptation and protein energy landscapes in an invasive blue mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis). Genome Biology and Evolution, 9(10): 2739-2751.https://doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evx190
Okeyo W*, Saarman NP*, Mengual M, Dion K, Bateta R, Mireji P, Okoth S, Ouma JO, Ouma C, Ochieng J, Murilla G, Aksoy S, Caccone A (2017). Temporal patterns of genetic variation in Glossina pallidipes tsetse fly populations in Kenya. Parasites and Vectors, 10:47. *Co-first authors. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-017-2415-y
Kamidi C*, Saarman NP*, Dion K, Mireji P, Collins O, Murilla G, Aksoy S, Schnaufer A, Caccone A. Multiple evolutionary origins of Trypanosoma evansi in Kenya (2017). PLoS Neglected Tropical Disease, 11(9): e00058950. *Co-first authors. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0005895
Saarman NP, Gloria-Soria A, Evans BR, Pless E, Anderson EC, and Powell JR. Effective population sizes of a major vector of human diseases, Aedes aegypti (2017). Evolutionary Applications, 10 (10): 1031-1039. https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.12508
Opiro R*, Saarman NP*, Echodu R, Opiyo E, Dion K, Haylard, Aksoy S, and Caccone A (2017). Genetic diversity and population structure of the tsetse fly Glossina fuscipes (Diptera: Glossinidae) in Northern Uganda: Implications for vector control. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 11(4): e0005485. *Co-first authors. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0005485
Opiro R, Saarman NP, Echodu R, Opiyo EA, Dion K, Haylard A, Aksoy S, and Caccone A (2016). Evidence of temporal stability in allelic and mitochondrial haplotype diversity in populations of Glossina fuscipes fuscipes (Diptera: Glossinidae) in northern Uganda. Parasites and Vectors, 9: 258-263. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-016-1522-5