Graduate Student Positions
Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology (VMP) and the
Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health frequently
recruit traditional graduate students through individual
labs. This page is intended to direct inquiries from
prospective students to labs that have self-identified
as being in the process of recruiting students. Faculty
who are not listed on this page may also be recruiting
students, but you will need to contact them individually
about training opportunities. For more information about
the different graduate student program options, please
see our
Graduate & Training Programs page. If you have any
questions about this process, please contact Dr. Douglas
Call (drcall@wsu.edu)
Nipah and Hendra viruses are among the deadliest
animal and human viruses, with mortality rates
approaching 75% in humans. Their high stability in
aerosols makes these neurologic and respiratory viruses
suitable as bio- and agro-terrorism agents. Our
research group has uncovered and continues to uncover
novel determinants that these viruses use to enter
mammalian cells. We are also developing molecular,
biochemical, and immunological tools to dissect and
inhibit essential entry steps for these deadly
pathogens.
My research focuses on the use of molecular
epidemiological tools and data analysis to describe
pathogen transmission routes between animal and human
populations. Multi-drug resistant zoonotic pathogens and
factors that influence emergence and dissemination of
antimicrobial resistance are included in that focus. As
we develop an Infection Control program in the
Veterinary Teaching Hospital there will be opportunities
to ask these questions in that setting, as well as to
compare animal hospital-acquired infections to those in
human hospitals and communities. Epidemiologic data
analysis is a major component of my research program.
http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/people-vmp/faculty/Nicola.aspx
The long-term goal of my laboratory is to understand the
molecular processes that herpesviruses use to gain entry
into host cells. A better understanding of how herpes
simplex virus interacts with the cell will identify novel
targets for intervention. We utilize a combination of
cellular, molecular, biochemical, and microscopic approaches
to delineate the step-by-step itinerary of the incoming
virus.
http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/people-vmp/faculty/shah.aspx
Salmonella and
Campylobacter cause majority of bacterial
food-borne infections in the United States with
contaminated poultry and poultry products being the
major sources of infection. Research in my laboratory is
primarily focused on understanding molecular pathogenic
aspects of Salmonella and developing
intervention strategies including vaccine, probiotics or
immunotherapeutics to reduce Salmonella and
Campylobacter infections in poultry. I am also
interested in studying molecular aspects of
anti-microbial drug resistance and epidemiology in
food-borne pathogens.
Plague is a fulminant often fatal zoonotic disease that
is caused by the Gram-negative bacterial agent Yersinia
pestis. Dissemination of the disease in humans and wild
rodent species is facilitated by flea-borne transmission.
Using the oriental rat flea as a model and current molecular
biology and next generation genomic approaches - research in
my lab focuses on identifying and understanding the
molecular and genetic mechanisms that underlie persistence
and the biological means of transmission of Y. pestis
from fleas.
