Rasambainarivo receives Maxwell/Hanrahan award
The Department of Biology proudly congratulates Dr. Fidisoa “Fidy” Rasambainarivo on receiving the prestigious Maxwell/Hanrahan Award in Field Biology. This honor recognizes Dr. Rasambainarivo’s outstanding contributions to understanding the ecological drivers of infectious diseases
and his commitment to advancing both public health and biodiversity conservation. We look forward to the many ways his work will continue to shape and inspire the field of biology in the years ahead.
Dr. Fidy Rasambainarivo
With the support of this award, Dr. Rasambainarivo will expand his research on the dynamics of disease transmission among Madagascar’s wildlife, particularly endangered lemurs and carnivores. Drawing on his unique background in veterinary medicine and ecology, he employs diverse field methods—from camera trapping in remote forests and capture-and-release sampling for biomedical analysis, to placing GPS collars on animals to track their movements and interactions, and using advanced next-generation sequencing to identify new pathogens. His upcoming projects will integrate advanced field monitoring, community engagement, and policy collaboration to strengthen conservation strategies. A long-time advocate for education and training, Dr. Rasambainarivo is passionate about mentoring students at ECU and building scientific capacity in Madagascar. Through his leadership at Mahaliana, a molecular lab in Antananarivo, he hopes to expand cultural exchange opportunities, enabling ECU students to conduct fieldwork in Madagascar and Malagasy scientists to
Pictured is a fossa, a carnivorous mammal native to Madagascar and the island’s largest predator, with lemurs as its primary prey.
collaborate in North Carolina—empowering the next generation of conservation leaders while protecting the health of both wildlife and human communities.