Biography
Dr. Kulkarni is an Associate Professor in the School of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Ottawa. She holds a PhD in Medical Entomology (2006) and a BSc in Environmental Biology (2001) from McGill University, and has worked extensively on malaria biology, epidemiology and control in sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to joining the University of Ottawa, Dr. Kulkarni held positions as an Epidemiologist in the Centre for Food-borne, Environmental and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases at the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), and Health Specialist at the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
Dr. Kulkarni’s research program investigates the socio-ecological determinants of infectious disease emergence and risk in global settings, with a focus on malaria and other vector-borne and zoonotic diseases, and maternal and child health. Her current research applies population survey methods, entomological field sampling, molecular analyses and GIS to examine spatiotemporal patterns and investigate the impacts of climate and environmental changes on disease transmission, and identify populations at risk. Dr. Kulkarni is also interested in evaluating and optimizing vector control interventions for mosquito- and tick-borne diseases to improve the effectiveness of disease prevention efforts, and capacity building in resource poor settings. She was awarded an Early Researcher Award from the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation and is a Member of the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists. Her research has received grants from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), among others, and her international research collaborations have been supported by the UK MRC/Wellcome Trust and The Global Fund. Dr. Kulkarni also serves as the Assistant Dean of Global Health in the Faculty of Medicine’s International and Global Health Office (IGHO) and as a member of the CIHR Institute for Infection and Immunity Advisory Board.