Portfolio
Nigeria
Drone Mapping and Schistosomiasis Control with Health In Your Hands
A 2025 expedition to Ogun State, Nigeria for prevention of the neglected tropical disease schistosomiasis through medication administration, drone mapping using spatial epidemiology, and the introduction of new diagnostic methods, primarily the Foldscope
Head of Research William McCarthy training community health workers on schistosomiasis detection with the Foldscope and a smartphone
Local children looking out at the Oyan River, one of the most prevalent areas for schistosomiasis transmission in the world
Local children at Imala Odo gathering to watch microscopy and the diagnosis process
Local NTD researcher IfeOluwa George using a traditional compound microscope to detect schistosomiasis presence in urine samples
Villagers gathering at Imala Odo for administration of praziquantel, the primary medication prescribed for schistosomiasis
Bird's eye view of Imala Odo and trails to water access sites
The Planktoscope, designed by Manu Prakash, being field-tested for schistosomiasis detection for the first time by Vaibhav Shokeen
Luhani, as seen from above
Mexico
Microplastics Above Mexico: A High-Altitude Search for Pollution
A 2024 expedition to North America’s highest volcano, Pico de Orizaba (18,491 ft) in Puebla, Mexico to assess atmospheric microplastic deposition in high-altitude environments
(In collaboration with Dimitri Deheyn of Scripps Institution of Oceanography and team members Simon Birk, Jake Bartz, and Will McCarthy of UTHealth McGovern Medical School)
Arrival in Mexico City
Cumbres de Monterrey National Park, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon
Leaving Mexico City
South aspect of Pico de Orizaba from Santa Cruz Texmalaquilla
Jake Bartz enjoying the view from Sierra Negra (15,026 ft)
SW aspect of Sierra Negra (left) and Pico de Orizaba (right) at sunrise
Pico de Orizaba looming behind papel picado in Tlachichuca, Puebla
Will McCarthy collecting snow samples at the summit of Sierra Negra (15,026 ft)
Jamapa Glacier, the most distinct and most frequently climbed glacier on Pico de Orizaba
Will McCarthy pondering the mountain from Tlachichuca, Puebla
Memorial cross at Pico de Orizaba base camp
Will preparing sample tubes for snow and saliva collection during the ascent of Pico de Orizaba
West aspect of Pico de Orizaba
Alaska
