Division of Environmental Health
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Email: mnikbakhtzadeh@sdsu.edu
Education
- PhD, Chemical Ecology, University of Bayreuth, Bayern, Germany (2004)
- MS, Medical Entomology, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran (1998)
- BS, Plant Protection, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran (1995)
Biography
Dr. Nikbakhtzadeh is a faculty of Environmental Health Science (EHS) and the EHS Program Coordinator at the CSU San Bernardino. He is a Medical Entomologist and also a Chemical Ecologist. After graduating with his second PhD in Chemical Ecology (Universität Bayreuth, Germany), he pursued towards a postdoctoral research position at the Ohio State University. In his career journey, he has been a scientist at the UC Davis and worked as a vector biologist for the state of Vermont. He is also an adjunct assistant professor in the School of Public Health, San Diego State University.
He is an active member of several esteemed professional societies, including the Entomological Society of America, the American Mosquito Control Association, and the German Society of General & Applied Entomology. Furthermore, Dr. Nikbakhtzadeh serves as a valued member of the editorial boards of several scholarly journals, including the CSU Journal of Sustainability and Climate Change, SM Journal of Biology, Journal of Public Health & Surveillance Systems, and MERLOT Biology. He has contributed significantly to journals within his areas of expertise, including the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association, Journal of Medical Entomology, Vectors & Parasites, PLOS ONE, Journal of Venomous Animals & Toxins, and the Asia-Pacific Journal of Tropical Diseases.
His extensive educational and fieldwork experiences spanning the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the United States provide his students with a global perspective.
Beyond his academic pursuits, Dr. Nikbakhtzadeh is an avid nature photographer and a staunch advocate for environmental protection and wildlife conservation.
Teaching
Dr. Nikbakhtzadeh is a passionate educator who finds immense joy in teaching and collaborating with his students. His dedication extends beyond the classroom, as he is deeply committed to conducting research on vectors and vector-borne diseases. Dr. Nikbakhtzadeh’s exceptional commitment to his students goes beyond his official responsibilities, as he actively supports and assists them in their academic and professional growth.
Research
Dr. Nikbakhtzadeh is actively engaged in research and oversees two laboratories: the Vector Behavior Lab and The Mosquito Rearing Facility.
His research projects, funded both internally and externally, concentrate on exploring the impact of agrochemicals on various aspects of mosquito behavior, development, survival, oviposition, and fitness for the transmission of pathogens. The lab group comprises both undergraduate and graduate students.
If you have an interest in his research, feel free to reach out to him directly.
