People

Principal Investigator and Assistant Professor of One Health

Bekah is originally from West Virginia. She attended West Virginia Wesleyan for her undergraduate degree in Biology, where she was active in outdoor recreation and college athletics. After graduating with her BS, she joined the Integrated Program in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and received her PhD in 2020. Her doctoral work was mentored by Dr. Stacey Schultz-Cherry at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and focused on understanding influenza virus pathogenesis and evolution in high-risk hosts. Bekah completed her postdoctoral work with Dr. Jason Botten in the UVM Larner College of Medicine, working on the cellular regulation of arenavirus defective interfering particles. Since moving to the Green Mountain State, she has enjoyed summitting the “Vermont 5” (3/5!) and visiting all the local coffee shops (but only for tea). 

Personal Website | Google Scholar | Storygraph | Spotify

AMP in Animal Biosciences

Animal Sciences

Jackie is an Animal Science major on the pre-veterinary track at UVM. She grew up on the seacoast of New Hampshire, where she attended Animal and Veterinary Science classes at Dover Career Technical Center. She was an intern at her local animal shelter, which sparked her interest in pursuing a job working inside a shelter after veterinary school. In her free time, Jackie enjoys reading, traveling, going to the beach, ice skating, and snowboarding. She is excited to continue to learn about animal medicine and explore more of Vermont as she continues her time at UVM. Jackie is helping in our quest to understand species-specific responses to zoonotic influenza viruses.

Animal Sciences

Sarah is an Animal Science major on the pre-veterinary track at UVM. She was born and raised in New Jersey and attended the PCTI STEM Academy in Wayne, where she discovered her passion for science and the medical field. Sarah currently aspires to become a clinical veterinarian, while remaining open to exploring new opportunities within the field. In her free time, she enjoys reading and playing club water polo at UVM. Sarah is excited to continue exploring animal health and medicine through both academic study and hands-on experiences. Sarah is helping in our quest to understand species-specific responses to zoonotic influenza viruses.

Biology & Honors College

Kate is a Biology major with a Spanish minor on the pre-med track at UVM and is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is interested in understanding the biological mechanisms responsible for human health and development. At UVM, she is also a member of the pep band where she plays the flute and works as a peer mentor for the UVM Think College Program. She loves Vermont winters especially, when she can ski and enjoy the snow! Ultimately, Kate wants to become a developmental-behavioral pediatrician but wants to explore various aspects of biology and learn as much as she can about our world along the way. Kate is working on understanding the epidemiology of zoonotic viruses in animal and human hosts in Vermont.

Biological Sciences & Honors College

Nona is a pre-medical Honors student at UVM studying Biological Sciences, with minors in Neuroscience and Chemistry. She is a labor and delivery doula and works in the pediatric unit at the UVM Medical Center, bringing a deep commitment to patient-centered care, ensuring patients feel safe, seen, and heard. With previous research experience under Dr. Bryan Ballif studying genomics and proteomics, she is focusing primarily on LCMV in the pregnant population in collaboration with the L&D unit, a perfect convergence of her clinical work, passion for women's and pediatric health, and her excitement to be in research that directly connects to people's lives. Nona genuinely loves trying new things and is excited to grow through the learning process this role offers. Originally from Brooklyn, NY, when she is not in the lab, she is running, cooking/baking, cold plunging, traveling, or planning her next trip somewhere new!

Animal Sciences & Wildlife Biology

Addy is a Wildlife and Fisheries Biology and Animal Science major at UVM. She is from Erie, Pennsylvania where she interned at Tamarack Wildlife Center where she worked with and rehabilitated orphaned and injured animals which grew her love for wildlife conservation. Addy aspires to be a wildlife biologist working in conservation in regions such Africa and South America. In her free time, Addy loves to be outside skiing, hiking, camping, rock or ice climbing, or riding her horse, Annie! Addy is excited to continue learning and experiencing as much as possible through her time in Vermont. She is focusing on the interactions of rodent-borne viruses with their wild hosts in Northern New England.

Biological Sciences

Sofia is working on understanding the epizoological characteristics of rodent borne viruses in their natural hosts.