Expert in veterinary entomology to take helm of respected research publication
David B. Taylor, Ph.D.
Annapolis, MD; July 20, 2021—David B. Taylor, Ph.D., retired research entomologist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service and adjunct professor, emeritus, at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, has been named the next editor-in-chief of the Journal of Medical Entomology, a bimonthly scientific journal of the Entomological Society of America.
The ESA Governing Board approved Taylor's selection in June after an open search was conducted. Taylor will replace William "Bill" Reisen, who has served multiple editor roles for the journal, the most recent as editor-in-chief beginning in 2014. Today, the journal receives more than 500 submissions per year and has 38 subject editors covering a wide range of subdisciplines.
"The Journal of Medical Entomology serves a growing, global audience and is a trusted, foundational publication of the medical and veterinary entomology community," says ESA President Michelle Smith, BCE. "My colleagues and I on the ESA Governing Board are pleased to welcome Dr. Taylor into this role, and we are deeply thankful to Dr. William Reisen for his longstanding service to the society."
Originally launched by the Bishop Museum in 1964, the journal moved to the Entomological Society of America in 1987. Today, it reports on all phases of medical and veterinary entomology and acarology, especially the biology, ecology, and systematics of arthropods of public and veterinary health significance.
A 40-year member of ESA, Taylor's research has focused on mosquitoes, screwworms, stable flies, blow flies, genetics, and mass-rearing technologies. His initial training was in medical entomology, but he has spent the bulk of his career focusing on veterinary entomology with the USDA.
Marianne Alleyne, Ph.D., ESA vice president-elect and chair of the search committee, praised Taylor's unique vision and expertise. "He is an established expert in the field of veterinary entomology, and he has also done a great deal of journal editorial work," she says. "Even better, he is bringing a lot of ideas to help the journal grow and adapt to the ever-evolving scholarly publishing landscape."
Taylor will begin a four-year term in January 2022. As part of its deliberation, the search committee determined that a co-editor arrangement would provide enhanced representation across the journal's many disciplines. As a result, the search committee will reconvene to commence a search for a co-editor whose skills, background, and professional expertise will complement Taylor's.
"I'm excited for this opportunity to lead the Journal of Medical Entomology," Taylor says. "Dr. Reisen and the editorial board have the journal well positioned—a respected leader in its field. My primary goals will be to maintain the high quality and standards that they have put in place and to continue to make the journal a welcoming resource for ESA members and other international scholars."
Taylor received his B.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame, where he worked on mosquito biosystematics. He then spent 12 years on screwworm genetics, colonization, and rearing with the USDA, followed by another 28 years working on stable fly and filth fly biology and management. Along the way, he produced 78 peer-reviewed publications, 70 formal presentations, and nine technical reports. He has held a variety of consultant and leadership positions for organizations around the globe, in countries including Australia, Argentina, Mexico, and Costa Rica. He has served as a subject editor for the Annals of the Entomological Society of America since 2011.
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CONTACT: Joe Rominiecki, jrominiecki@entsoc.org, 301-731-4535 x3009
ABOUT: ESA is the largest organization in the world serving the professional and scientific needs of entomologists and people in related disciplines. Founded in 1889, ESA today has more than 7,000 members affiliated with educational institutions, health agencies, private industry, and government. Headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, the Society stands ready as a non-partisan scientific and educational resource for all insect-related topics. For more information, visit www.entsoc.org.
The Journal of Medical Entomology publishes reports on all phases of medical entomology and medical acarology, including the systematics and biology of insects, acarines, and other arthropods of public health and veterinary significance. For more information, visit https://academic.oup.com/jme, or visit www.insectscience.org to view the full portfolio of ESA journals and publications.