Dr. Monika Gulia-Nuss, Ph.D., is a Professor and Director of the Graduate Program in Biochemistry in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biotechnology at the University of Nevada, Reno. She earned her Ph.D. in Biosciences from Maharshi Dayanand University, India, and is internationally recognized for her pioneering work in tick and mosquito genetics, vector biology, and functional genomics. Dr. Gulia-Nuss is a principal investigator on multiple NSF and NIH-funded projects, including groundbreaking research on germline transformation and genome editing in ticks. Her group pioneered CRISPR-based genetic modification in ticks. Her work has been widely published in leading journals. She is a 2024 Fulbright U.S. Scholar, a standing member of an NIH study section, and a recipient of numerous national and international honors for excellence in research, mentoring, and service.”