Insects serve as models for the study of symbiotic interactions with microbes and as important vectors of viral and microbial disease that impact human and animal health in addition to agriculture.  Metagenomic sequencing provides a means to assess relationships between insects and their microflora and to determine if insects are carrying agents of disease.  We seek to recruit students who can participate in the collection and analysis of "bugsplatter" samples from vehicles.  Data mined from this project will be used to gain basic insight into insect-microbe associations and to provide information on the seasonal emergence, location and prevalence of insect-transmitted diseases, such as West Nile Virus.  Participants will obtain training and experience in laboratory techniques and computational biology.