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Faculty Profile
About
Education
- Ph.D. in Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Illinois, 2007
- D.V.M., Colorado State University, 1998
- B.S. in Evolution & Behavior, University of Minnesota, 1991
- B.A. in chemistry, University of Missouri, 1990
Professional Responsibilities and Activities
- Coordinator
- Veterinary Parasitology (VMED 676), UNL (Fall)
- Special Topics: Spanish for Veterinarians (VMED 596), UNL (Spring)
- Fundamentals of Biology II (LIFE 121), UNL (Spring)
- Breeds, Signalment, and Vitals of Domestic Animals (VBMS 250 / PVET 250), UNL (Spring) - Guest Lectures
- Wildlife Diseases (VBMS 425/NRES 425), UNL, Spring 2022.
- Ticks of Nebraska, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR- Brazil), August 12, 2020.
- Ecology of Ticks, Fundación Universitaria San Martín, Cali, Colombia, October 28, 2020.
- Introduction to Veterinary Medicine (PVET 101) (Fall 2018 – 2021)
- Special Topics: Introduction to the Principles of Biosecurity and Disease Transmission (VMED 596 / VBMS 496 & 596), UNL (Fall 2017, Spring 2020)
- Veterinary Public Health, UNL, Spring 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022. - Student Advising
- Undergraduate Student Advising: Thirty-three (33) enrolled students, January 2022.
- Graduate Student Advising: Currently one M.S. and one Ph.D. student.
- UCARE Undergraduate Research Mentor: Summer 2021 and 2022. - Current Academic and Professional Service
- Chair, Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, SVMBS, UNL.
- Co-Chair, Pre-Vet Coordinating Committee, CASNR, UNL.
- Tick and Tick-Borne Disease Working Group, UNL.
- Nebraska One Health Group, UNL.
- PPVM Academic Standards Committee, SVMBS, UNL.
- Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Faculty Senate, UNL.
- Diversity and Inclusion Committee, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University.
- New and Transfer Student Enrollment, SVMBS, CASNR, UNL.
- Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS), Faculty Advisor, UNL.
- American Association of Veterinary Parasitology, Constitution and Bylaws Committee.
- American Association of Veterinary Parasitology, Electronic Media Committee.
Publications
Little, S. and R. Cortinas. Mites. In: Sykes, J.E., editor. Greene’s Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat, 5th Edition. Elsevier. In press. August / September 2022.
Nielsen, L. E., Cortinas, R., Fey, P. D., Iwen, P. C., & Nielsen, D. H. First records of established populations of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) collected from three Nebraska counties. Journal of Medical Entomology, 57(3): 939-941; 2020.
Maegli, A., J.D. Loy, and R. Cortinas. Note on Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia ewingii, and “Borrelia lonestari” infection in lone star ticks (Acari: Ixodidae), Nebraska, USA. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, 7(1): 154-158; 2016.
Presentations
Cortinas, R. Battling tick-borne disease using the One Health approach. 2021 Livestock Emergency Disease Response System (LEDRS) Annual Conference, Broken Bow, Nebraska, August 10, 2021.
Cortinas, R. Is it getting warm here? Potential effects of climate change on the occurrence of vector-borne disease in the Midwest. National Environmental Health Association Region IV Conference, Omaha, Nebraska, September 25, 2019.
Cortinas, M.R. Ectoparasites of Wildlife Pests. The 26th Annual Nebraska Urban Pest Management Conference, Lincoln, Nebraska, February 14, 2018.
Cortinas, M.R. La tormenta perfecta: factores antropogénicos asociados con la emergencia de enfermedades parasitarias zoonóticas. Una Salud: Un enfoque integrador renovado ante los crecientes riesgos globales a la salud, Centro Nacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria, La Habana, Cuba, October 13, 2017.
Grants
- Co-Principal Investigator, “Nebraska Extension Implementation Program / Public Health Integrated Pest Management (One Health IPM)”, USDA NIFA, 9/1/2014 – 8/31/2017.
- Principal Investigator, “Assessment of Various Essential Oils and Their Constituents for Activity versus Northern Fowl Mites (Acari: Macronyssidae)”, National Center for Veterinary Parasitology, 12/1/2014 – 4/30/2016. $15,000.00.
- Co-Investigator, “Herd Management to Improve Bison Health,” Sitting Bull College, USDA NIFA Institute of Family, Youth and Community, Division of Community and Education, Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program,9/1/2013 – 8/31/2015.
- Co-Investigator, “Increasing IPM Adoption in Nebraska,” USDA NIFA, 9/01/2013 - 8/31/2014.
- Co-Investigator, “Control of Dark Beetles in Chicken,” Nebraska Department of Agriculture, 07/01/2012 - 06/30/2013.
- Principal Investigator, “Ecology of ticks and tick-borne microorganisms in Nebraska,” University of Nebraska-Lincoln Research Council Faculty Seed Grant, Jane Robertson Layman Fund, 1/1/2011 – 12/31/2011. $9,995.00.
Awards and Honors
Gamma Sigma Delta Award for Excellence in Teaching, UNL, January 25, 2015
Faculty of the Year, UNL-ISU PPVM, Class of 2013, April 2, 2011
Faculty of the Year, UNL-ISU PPVM, Class of 2012, April 17, 2010
Worth Watching List, Pest Management Professional, June 2009
Other
Synergistic Activities
Chairperson, Teaching and Learning Improvement Council, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, August 2013 – July 2014.
Peer Review of Teaching Project Fellow, University of Nebraska Peer Review of Teaching Project, 2011-2012.
Faculty Advisor
Zoo, Exotic, Wildlife and Companion Animal Medicine Club
Nebraska Pre-Veterinary Club
No Kill Advocacy Club
Colombian Organization at UNL
Location
1880 N 42nd St
East Campus Loop and Fair Street
Lincoln, NE 68583-0905
Appointment
Research Areas
- Parasitology
Professional Interests
- Veterinary parasitology
- Vector-borne disease ecology
- One Health/environmental medicine
- Herbal/ethnoveterinary botanical medicine with focus on parasite control
- Integrated parasite management in organic livestock production
Professional Society Memberships
- Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association
- Society for Vector Ecology
- Entomological Society of America
- American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists