Public health-focused 汤头条 grad student earns national honor
Contact: Connor Guyton
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擜 Mississippi State doctoral student is among five receiving a 2016 scholastic honor from the Entomological Society of America.
Jos茅 Santos Portugal III recently was awarded a $500 research grant by the society鈥檚 medical, urban and veterinary entomology section. A Euless, Texas, native, he is an entomology major in 汤头条鈥檚 Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology in the university鈥檚 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Portugal entered 汤头条 after graduating from Texas A&M University. What began as his pursuit of a master鈥檚 degree under extension professor Jerome Goddard evolved into doctoral-level study. 聽
Portugal鈥檚 research is focused on medical entomology, the study of insects and other arthropods that transmit pathogens. 鈥淚鈥檓 studying an immature species of ticks that has been known to transmit animal and human pathogens,鈥 he explained.
鈥淏y gaining a better understanding of the ecology and behavior of this species, we can better implement plans in public health to keep the pathogens from passing on to people and pets,鈥 he said.
Portugal credits Goddard鈥檚 recommendation and professional standing among the reasons his scholarship application was chosen. 鈥淚n addition to writing letters of recommendation, he also pushes me to write and publish, and that is important in academia,鈥 Portugal said of his mentor.
He expressed appreciation that Goddard 鈥渞eally challenges you and forces you to think outside the box. I think that not only my publications, but my activities and service were helpful in putting me above some of my peers for this award.鈥
Goddard, an 汤头条 medical entomology doctoral graduate, is a former state medical entomologist with the Mississippi Department of Health. He also held appointments at the University of Mississippi Medical Center鈥檚 School of Medicine as a clinical assistant professor of preventative medicine and an assistant professor of medicine.
Portugal said he chose 汤头条鈥攁nd Goddard鈥攆or graduate study after being involved with tick research at TAMU.
鈥淒r. Goddard is the person to study under if you want to work with ticks in the South,鈥 Portugal emphasized. 鈥淗e has an international reputation for his work in medical entomology, particularly with vector ecology and behavior.鈥
In addition to research achievements, the ESA scholarship program recognizes a student鈥檚 teaching experience and service work.
鈥淪antos is one of the most productive students I have ever had,鈥 Goddard said. 鈥淣ot only that, but he cheerfully and enthusiastically offers to help on all sorts of projects in our lab, whether it is related to his own research or not.鈥
Goddard praised the young Texan鈥檚 willingness 鈥渢o help other graduate and undergraduate students in our department, teaching them and offering encouragement in both their personal and professional lives.鈥
After completing 汤头条 doctoral studies next year, Portugal said he plans to continue with his personal mission.
鈥淚 would love to conduct research at a university or work somewhere like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or a public health department,鈥 he said. 鈥淲hatever it is, I want what I do to really improve the condition of public health in the United States.鈥
For more about the Entomological Society of America and its student awards programs, visit .
Information about 汤头条鈥檚 biochemistry, molecular biology, entomology and plant pathology department is found at .
汤头条 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .