Honce Lab
Honce Lab
Housed at the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at the University of Vermont
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Viewing Zoonosis through a One Health Lens
Viewing Zoonosis through a One Health Lens
Animal
Animal
Understanding reservoir species and their biology during infection is essential to predict, prevent, and mitigate virus emergence.
Human
Human
Human health is directly linked to animal and environmental conditions—zoonotic outbreaks often begin where these boundaries blur.
Earth
Earth
Changing ecosystems alter how diseases spread, making environmental health key to global health and vital for pandemic preparedness.
We work at the intersection of virology, immunology, ecology, and metabolism to answer fundamental questions around host-viral interactions in reservoir and spillover hosts to increase our pandemic resiliency.
Virology
Virology
At the root of all we do is a fascination with zoonotic RNA viruses of pandemic potential.
Immunology
Immunology
We dig into how immune responses shape—and are shaped by—viral infections.
Ecology
Ecology
Our goal is to bridge field and lab research to make tangible impacts on global health.
Metabolism
Metabolism
We explore how viruses rewire cellular metabolism to drive acute & persistent infections.
We are a collaborative and supportive team where students, trainees, and staff all play important roles in moving our science forward. We respect each other, the work we do, and the organisms we steward for this work, and we aim to create a space where everyone can contribute to our shared goals.
We are building a research program that weaves together field-based research regarding viral reservoir biology and lab-based research on the molecular mechanisms of viral pathogenesis to craft new therapeutics for high-priority pathogens and high-risk individuals—both human and animal.
We are passionate about sharing science beyond the lab through outreach, education, and volunteer efforts in our local and broader communities. Whether it's leading hands-on activities, visiting classrooms, or creating accessible resources, we’re committed to making science engaging, understandable, and available to everyone.
Work Illustrations by StorySet
Going Wild minireview published in Journal of Virology
Going Wild minireview published in Journal of Virology
Bekah was selected to the inaugural class of JVI's New Voices in Virology and her minireview, Going Wild: prioritizing experimental models of rodent-borne viruses to decode zoonotic spillover and pandemic risk was published in May. Check out the associated webinar at the JVI website!
Field trip sponsored by the ASM Career Development Grant for Postdoctoral Women
Field trip sponsored by the ASM Career Development Grant for Postdoctoral Women
In collaboration with Joseph Cook and Jon Dunnum at the Museum of Southwestern Biology, Bekah joined her postdoc mentor Jason Botten and his postdoc Kanayo Ikeh in gaining additional skills on how to safely trap and sample from small mammals.
Open Positions
Open Positions
Recruiting PhD student for Spring 2027 start
Recruiting PhD student for Spring 2027 start
We are recruiting a PhD student for a Spring/Summer 2027 start date. This student will work on understanding the metabolic regulation of immunity in laboratory models of acute and persistent viral infection and potentially translate these findings to field specimens and develop their own related research questions. The ideal candidate will have experience in mammalian cell culture, animal husbandry and handling, A/BSL2 and/or A/BSL3 virology, immunology assays including flow cytometry, and in-field experience with the trapping and sampling of small mammals or livestock. Interested parties should contact Dr. Honce directly with the following materials:
CV including education, research experience, relevant coursework and technical skills, and any publications, presentations, or posters
Contact information for 2-3 references including name, position, relationship, and email or phone number
A 1-page research interest statement. In no more than 500 words, please describe:
What scientific problem are you most interested in solving during your PhD? Why do you think this problem matters?
How do you see your interests connecting to the work conducted in my laboratory?
What skills or perspectives would you like to develop during graduate school?
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