Several infectious disease faculty within the College of Science at
Virginia Tech are currently recruiting motivated and enthusiastic students
with interest in disease ecology, epidemiology, and evolution. Infectious
disease ecology is a rapidly expanding area of interest at Virginia Tech
with multiple opportunities for cross-cutting interdisciplinary training.
Recruiting faculty are members of multiple departments and interested
students should contact specific advisors to discuss project and
opportunities within those labs.
Kate Langwig
<https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#m_-6117558285458711265_Langwig>,
Biological Sciences
Dana Hawley
<https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#m_-6117558285458711265_Hawley>,
Biological Sciences
Lisa Belden, Biological Sciences
Leah Johnson
<https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#m_-6117558285458711265_Johson>,
Statistics & Biological Sciences
Lauren Childs
<https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#m_-6117558285458711265_Childs>,
Mathematics
Stanca Ciupe <https://www.math.vt.edu/people/stanca/>,
Mathematics
Virginia Tech combines world-class research opportunities with a high
quality of life. The cost of living is relatively low in Blacksburg, VA,
and there are ample opportunities for outdoor recreational activities
(hiking, kayaking, mountain biking etc.).
*------------------------------*
*Langwig Lab*
The Langwig lab in the Department of Biological Sciences at Virginia Tech
is currently recruiting enthusiastic and motivated Ph.D. students beginning
in fall 2019. Students are expected to develop independent projects in
disease ecology and evolution that complement work in the lab. Ongoing
projects include both theoretical and empirical work on both human and
wildlife disease systems, and a primary system of focus is white-nose
syndrome in bats. Potential research projects include heterogeneity in
host-pathogen interactions, mechanisms of host-pathogen persistence, and
wildlife disease ecology and conservation.
Interested applicants should have a strong interest in disease ecology and
evolution, and a passion to positively influence science, conservation, and
global health. Students are expected to obtain quantitative skills, and
learn some programming. Students with previous experience in math,
statistics, engineering, and computer science are especially encouraged to
apply.
More details about work in the Langwig lab can be found here
<https://scholar.harvard.edu/klangwig/opportunities>. Prospective students
should include a statement of research interests in the email text, a CV,
and list of at least three references to klangwig AT vt.edu with the
subject "Prospective Graduate Student".
*------------------------------*
*Hawley Lab*
The Hawley lab in the Department of Biological Sciences at Virginia Tech (
https://www.biol.vt.edu/faculty/hawley/) is looking for motivated
individuals interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in vertebrate disease ecology.
Research in the Hawley Lab takes an integrative approach to disease ecology
and evolution, addressing topics such as the host microbiome and disease
dynamics, bidirectional interactions between host behavior and disease, the
ecology and evolution of host tolerance, and the evolution of pathogen
virulence. Ph.D. students are generally expected to develop their own
projects within the lab’s general focus. For Fall 2019, the Hawley lab is
looking for a Ph.D. student interested in addressing the role of the host
microbiome in disease dynamics, using house finches and the
naturally-occurring bacterial pathogen Mycoplasma gallisepticum as a model
system. Although candidates are encouraged to pursue extramural funding
opportunities, accepted Ph.D. students are guaranteed 5 years of funding
(including summers) through a combination of teaching assistantships and
graduate research assistantships. Students in the Hawley Lab are also
eligible to apply for the Interfaces of Global Change program (
http://www.globalchange.vt.edu/igc/), an exciting interdisciplinary Ph.D.
program only offered at Virginia Tech.
The Hawley lab seeks a diversity of graduate students and strives to be a
safe space for all individuals. Interested students should contact me
directly ([email protected]) and include a brief summary of your past research
experience and interests, your CV, and a sample of scientific writing (this
could be a manuscript in preparation, an undergraduate thesis, or simply a
research paper from a class). Preference will be given to applicants who
have prior experience with independent research, preferably in ecology or a
related field. Formal applications are due to the graduate school by Dec 1st,
but I will begin reviewing informal applications (those sent directly to
me) on Oct 10th and I will notify students as to whether or not they should
formally apply by Nov 10th.
*------------------------------*
*Belden Lab*
In the Belden Lab (https://www.belden.biol.vt.edu/) at Virginia Tech we
primarily study community ecology, with a focus on understanding how
complex communities influence disease dynamics in natural systems. Most of
our work has focused on addressing these questions in the symbiotic
microbial communities that reside on amphibian skin and in communities of
freshwater trematode parasites. However, our work has expanded in recent
years to include some new and exciting systems, including song birds, honey
bees and wheat. I will be recruiting 1-2 students to join the lab in fall,
2019. At least one of these positions will be to work on honey bees and
their Nosema parasites. Interested students can send me an email (
[email protected]), and attach a CV with GRE scores (the GRE scores are for the
University to make sure you meet the minimum requirements) and a 1 page
outline of a few project ideas that you would be interested in if you were
to join the lab, a summary of your past research experience and a little
bit about your career goals. I use that to gauge where your specific
interests and skills fit with both my interests and with other students
already in the lab.
*------------------------------*
*Johnson (QED) Lab*
The Quantitative Ecological Dynamics lab (QED Lab ---
http://leah.johnson-gramacy.com/QED/) we seek to answer biological
questions using quantitative tools, including mathematical, statistical,
and computational modeling. We work on a broad range of ecological and
biological problems, with a current primary focus on the ecology of
vector-borne infections (such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya, blue tongue,
and citrus greening). Other recent and current project include foraging and
bioenergetics of albatrosses, the thermal ecology of chytridiomycosis, and
statistical inference for ecosystem models.
Students in my lab may pursue PhDs in quantitative biology (through the
biology department) or applied statistics (through the statistics
department). Students in the PhD biology track may also purse a concurrent
Masters of Arts in Statistics through the DAAS program (
http://analytics.cs.vt.edu/edu-daas.php). Alternative individualized
pathways are possible through Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs at
Virginia Tech. Students in the QED Lab are also eligible to apply for the
Interfaces of Global Change program (http://www.globalchange.vt.edu/igc/).
Prospective students should have either a strong mathematical background
(especially those interested in the Statistics PhD option) or be willing to
develop quantitative (mathematical and statistical) skills as part of their
PhD. Students typically design their own research projects within the broad
interests of the lab and are funded over 5 years by a combination of
teaching and research funding. The specific funding available depends on
the program of study.
Students interested in joining my lab should contact me directly via e-mail
at lrjohn AT vt.edu and include a brief statement of research interests and
experience, CV, and indicate which program you are most interested in
(i.e., Biology or Statistics). I will begin reviewing informal applications
in mid-October and notify students about making a formal application by
mid-November.
*------------------------------*
*Childs Lab*
The Childs lab in the Department of Mathematics at Virginia Tech is looking
for motivated individuals interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in mathematical
biology (through the Mathematics Department or the interdisciplinary
graduate program GBCB: Genomics, Bioinformatics, and Computational
Biology). Research in the Childs Lab focuses on developing and analyzing
mathematical and computational models of infectious disease dynamics within
individual hosts and at a population level. Special attention is given to
tropical infectious diseases including malaria, dengue, Zika and Ebola.
Interested applicants should have a strong quantitative background and an
interest in addressing applied questions delving into biological
applications. Students will be expected to design their own projects in
line with research interests of the lab. Candidates are strongly encouraged
to pursue extramural funding opportunities (e.g. NSF Graduate
Fellowship).Accepted
students to the Mathematics Ph.D. program (requires a masters’ degree) are
guaranteed 4 years of funding through a combination of teaching
assistantships and graduate research assistantships. Accepted Ph.D.
students to the GBCB program are funded primarily through graduate research
assistantships.
Prospective students should send an email to lchilds AT vt.edu with the
subject “Prospective Graduate Student” including in the text a short
statement of research interests; and in an attachment a CV, an unofficial
transcript, and a list of references. Preference will be given to
applicants who have prior experience with independent research. Formal
applications are due to the graduate school (
https://graduateschool.vt.edu/admissions/how-to-apply.html). Applications
to the Mathematics Department and the GBCB program are due by Jan 1st.
*------------------------------*
*Ciupe Lab*
The Ciupe lab in the Department of Mathematics at Virginia Tech is looking
for motivated individuals interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in mathematical
biology (through the Mathematics Department or the interdisciplinary
graduate program GBCB: Genomics, Bioinformatics, and Computational
Biology). Research in the Ciupe Lab focuses on developing and analyzing
mathematical models with applications to biology and medicine. We focus on
characterization of immune system onset and reaction against viral diseases
such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection, Hepatitis B and Dengue
virus infections, on understanding the possible homeostatic mechanisms
regulating lymphocyte population sizes and diversity, and on understanding
the molecular pathways responsible for cellular decision making. The
techniques we use derive from dynamical systems, information and model
selection theory as well as sensitivity, perturbation and numerical
analysis.
Interested applicants should have a strong quantitative background and an
interest in biological applications. Accepted students to the Mathematics
Ph.D. program (requires a masters’ degree) are guaranteed 4 years of
funding through a combination of teaching assistantships and graduate
research assistantships. Accepted Ph.D. students to the GBCB program are
funded primarily through graduate research assistantships.
Prospective students should send an email to stanca AT vt.edu with the
subject “Prospective Graduate Student” including in the text a short
statement of research interests and passed experiences with research; and
in an attachment a CV, an unofficial transcript, and a list of references.
Formal applications are due to the graduate school (
https://graduateschool.vt.edu/admissions/how-to-apply.html). Applications
to the Mathematics Department and the GBCB program are due by Jan 1st.
