Funding Opportunities
IIZD invests in the next generation of scientific discovery through competitive pilot awards and fellowships. These funding opportunities provide critical support for trainees and investigators pursuing high-impact questions in zoonotic infectious diseases and mRNA technologies.
Infectious Disease Fellowship Program
IIZD is committed to preparing the next generation of research scientists and biomedical leaders to address zoonotic infectious diseases. To support this mission, IIZD offers fellowships for predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees conducting innovative research on infectious diseases in humans, agricultural and companion animals, or wildlife. Fellowships provide $35,000 annually for up to two years, with renewal after the first year contingent on satisfactory progress and funding availability.
The fellowship program is supported through two distinguished funds: the Pamela and Martin Winter Fellowship Fund (established 2021), which supports emerging experts in infectious disease research, and the Ceva Fellowship Fund for One Health (established 2026), which provides two years of financial support and industry mentorship to graduate students pursuing advanced studies in parasitology or vaccine development.
Meet the 2026 Martin and Pamela Winter Infectious Disease Fellows
Theresa Astmann, VMD/PhD Candidate
Mentor: Nicole Marino, PhD; Assistant Professor, Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Defining how integrative and conjugative elements shape antiphage immunity in carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae
Klebsiella pneumoniae causes a wide range of infections and poses major treatment challenges due to extensive multidrug resistance. A promising therapeutic option for drug-resistant Klebsiella infections is phage therapy, which leverages viruses that naturally infect and lyse bacteria. However, Klebsiella strains carry numerous antiphage defense systems that serve as important barriers to phage infection. Many of these defenses are encoded on integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs), a class of mobile genetic elements that drive the spread of virulence genes and other adaptive traits in Klebsiella. My research investigates a cluster of antiphage systems found on an ICE that is broadly conserved in the globally dominant lineage of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. The goals of this work are to elucidate how this conserved set of defenses collectively shape phage resistance in this critical-priority lineage and determine how phages can overcome this multi-layered immunity. These findings will inform future efforts to engineer phages with expanded host range and therapeutic potential.
Maria Maltepes, PhD Candidate
Mentor: Louise Moncla, PhD; Assistant Professor, Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
H3Nx influenza virus evolution is driven by host-specific patterns of reassortment and selection
I investigate the evolutionary history of H3Nx influenza A viruses (IAV), a project inspired by the 2023 canine influenza outbreak in Philadelphia. Like most IAVs, canine H3N2 influenza is avian-derived, highlighting how adaptation after a cross-species transmission event has led to sustained circulation in a new host. Given that H3Nx viruses infect a wide range of species, this virus is a fitting system for uncovering the evolutionary mechanisms that enable the emergence of novel host clades. To do this, I use phylogenetic methods to assess how host type impacts adaptive substitution and reassortment rates, with the goal of better surveilling future zoonotic spillovers.
Drake Philip, PhD
Mentor: Kellie Jurado, PhD; Presidential Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Understanding maternal and fetal immune responses to Oropouche virus infection
Oropouche virus is an emerging congenital pathogen causing adverse pregnancy outcomes in Latin America. However, the mechanisms by which maternal and fetal immune responses counteract Oropouche virus infection remain unexplored. I found that maternal and fetal immune responses to Oropouche virus are dynamic and depend upon the time of maternal infection. My postdoctoral work explores how these immune pathways are differentially controlled as gestation progresses to promote maternal and fetal health during viral infection.
Qiqi Yang, PhD
Mentor: Louise Moncla, PhD; Assistant Professor, Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Assessing outcomes of future avian influenza vaccines in poultry in the United States
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has resulted in the culling of over 166 million poultry in the US since 2022. While future poultry HPAI vaccines are on the way, we ask the important yet challenging question: what level of immunity efficacy, breadth, and coverage would the vaccine need to achieve the desired outcome at the population level? To answer this, I’m building a prediction framework for the HPAI poultry vaccine, using a combination of phylogenetic and spatial epidemiological models. The models characterize the timing and intensity of HPAI introductions from wild birds to poultry and recover the spatial dynamics of HPAI outbreaks among poultry. This knowledge can inform early outbreak preparedness, including when and where interventions and controls should be implemented. Furthermore, should trial data for vaccine candidates become available, our prediction framework can help clarify their population-level outcomes.
Meet the 2026 Ceva One Health Fellows
Fenglin Li, PhD Candidate
Mentor: Yi-Wei Chang, PhD; Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania & Boris Striepen, PhD; Professor, Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Structure and signaling control of Cryptosporidium male gamete for fertilization
Cryptosporidium is a major cause of diarrheal disease in young children and livestock, and its sexual reproduction is essential for parasite persistence and transmission, making it an attractive target for new therapies and vaccines. We now have identified key molecular components of the male gamete fertilization machinery, but how this machinery is assembled, activated, and regulated remains unknown. My project integrates parasite molecular genetics with state-of-the-art cryogenic structural biology to uncover the mechanisms that prepare male gametes for fertilization. Using cryo-confocal microscopy, volume cryo-scanning electron microscopy, cryo-electron tomography, and inducible genetic perturbations of the male-specific cAMP signaling pathway, I will define both the native architecture of the fertilization machinery and the signaling mechanisms that regulate its assembly and function. Numerous drugs target phosphodiesterases; this work will rigorously test the essentiality of this enzyme in the Cryptosporidium male gamete.
Lauren Olenick, PhD Candidate
Mentor: Michael Hogan, PhD; Assistant Professor, Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Investigating the role of IL-1 signaling in immunity to mRNA-LNP vaccines
While billions of doses of mRNA-LNP vaccines have been administered worldwide, the innate immune mechanisms responsible for their adjuvanticity and reactogenicity remain incompletely understood. My project aims to dissect which immune pathways within the cytokine milieu contribute to undesired vaccine side effects but are dispensable for adaptive immunity, with a focus on the IL-1 cytokine axis. These findings will establish whether IL-1 signaling can be selectively targeted to improve vaccine tolerability without compromising key correlates of protection in the face of future pandemics.
Past Fellows
Breezy Brock, VMD/PhD Candidate
Mentors: Drew Weissman, MD, PhD; Roberts Family Professor in Vaccine Research, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. Edward Kreider, MD, PhD; Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.
A tell-tail sign: Cytoplasmic tail modifications of an HIV-1 glycoprotein immunogen to enhance antigen surface expression and localization in an mRNA vaccine
Surface expression and spatial organization of the HIV Envelope protein (Env) are critical for B cell precursor engagement but are often limited by internalization motifs within the cytoplasmic tail (CT), which reduce antigen availability. My project aims to develop a next-generation HIV vaccine immunogen by introducing CT mutations into a stabilized trimeric Env protein to enhance surface expression and localization to specialized plasma membrane microdomains. These modifications, delivered via mRNA to express membrane-bound HIV Env de novo, aim to enhance antigen availability and microdomain localization to improve early B cell priming and antibody responses, ultimately guiding future immunogen design for HIV and other complex viruses.
Clara Malekshahi, PhD Candidate
Mentor: Louise Moncla, PhD; Assistant Professor, Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.
Identifying the role of reservoir movement in highly pathogenic avian influenza transmission
In late 2021, a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus of clade 2.3.4.4b was detected in North America. It has since caused the deaths of thousands of wild birds and hundreds of millions of domestic birds. This North American HPAI outbreak is maintained in wild reservoir hosts (ducks, geese, and swans), and viral spread is likely linked to the four major flyway routes used by migratory wild birds in North America. My work explores the role of reservoir host ecology in the transmission and movement of HPAI in North America. I use phylodynamic and phylogeographic methods to model the geographic spread of HPAI across North America and assess the degree of correlation with the migration of particular host species. My work can be used to quantify spillover risk, strengthen agricultural biosecurity, and establish protections for a range of wildlife.
Maria Maltepes, PhD Candidate
Mentor: Louise Moncla, PhD; Assistant Professor, Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.
Characterizing the evolutionary mechanisms that shape host-switching in H3Nx influenza A viruses
I am investigating the evolutionary history of H3Nx influenza A viruses (IAV), a project inspired by the 2023 canine influenza outbreak in Philadelphia. Like most IAVs, canine H3N2 influenza is avian-derived, highlighting how adaptation after a cross-species event has led to sustained circulation in a new host. Given that H3Nx viruses infect a wide range of species, this virus is a fitting system for uncovering the evolutionary mechanisms that enable the emergence of novel host clades. To do this, I am using phylogenetic methods to assess whether adaptive substitution and reassortment rates vary by host. My research aims to analyze how host adaptation shapes IAV evolution, providing critical insights to predict and prevent future zoonotic spillovers.
Jaydeen Sewell, PhD Candidate
Mentor: Sunny Shin, PhD; Professor of Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.
Understanding the mechanism by which Coxiella burnetii effector protein CBU1314 interacts with the human polymerase associated factor 1 complex
Coxiella burnetii is an obligate intracellular bacterium that evades many cell-intrinsic innate immune defenses. Due to this, we label it as a stealth pathogen. Coxiella is a huge burden to farmers as it typically infects livestock such as dairy cows, goats, and sheep. What is even more detrimental is that in humans who are infected with Coxiella, chronic Q fever can develop, requiring 2-3 years of antibiotic treatment. My work focuses on understanding how Coxiella uses its unique repertoire of proteins to evade multiple immune defense mechanisms. Specifically, we have identified an effector CBU1314 that modulates inflammatory gene expression and interacts with the host transcription machinery. My goal is to understand how CBU1314 uses this interaction to suppress the inflammatory response and potentially identify a target for improving Q fever treatment.
Mate Vadovics, PhD
Mentor: Norbert Pardi, PhD; Associate Professor of Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Development of an mRNA–lipid nanoparticle-based platform for delivering antimicrobial peptides
Fungal infections are an increasingly serious global health concern. With a background in fungal pathogenesis from my PhD and my current postdoctoral research in mRNA–lipid nanoparticle (mRNA-LNP) vaccines and delivery systems, I aim to develop a platform that uses mRNA-encoded antimicrobial peptides, encapsulated in LNPs, to target drug-resistant Candida and potentially other emerging zoonotic fungal infections. This project bridges fundamental research in immunology and microbiology with translational strategies to combat infectious diseases.
Nuriban Valero-Pacheco, PhD
Mentor: Montserrat Anguera, PhD; Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.
The inactive X chromosome: A protective factor for females in SARS-CoV-2 infection in mice
Sex-based differences in the severity of zoonotic respiratory viruses like SARS-CoV-2 remain poorly understood, despite consistent evidence that females experience milder outcomes. My project explores how X chromosome–linked regulatory mechanisms in females influence lymphocyte responses during viral infections. We found that epigenetic differences can alter lymphocyte gene expression, potentially enhancing female antiviral defense. This research aims to reveal key insights into sex-specific immunity.
Raegan Petch, University of Pennsylvania
- Project Overview: I am working to develop a second-generation recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus vaccine for Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus (rVSV-SFTSV). First-generation vaccines are highly attenuated in cell culture, which makes it difficult to produce sufficient vaccine for clinical trials. I am introducing mutations to the glycoprotein of SFTSV that we hypothesize will increase the replication capacity of the virus in vitro and in vivo and improve the immunogenicity of the vaccine candidate in animal models.
- Mentor: Paul Bates, PhD; Professor of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Daana Roach, University of Pennsylvania
- Project Overview: Lipocalin-2 (LCN2), initially identified as a neutrophilic protein for innate immunity, has broader roles. Our lab found LCN2 expression in the intestinal epithelium of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, not in healthy subjects. The impact of epithelial-specific LCN2 on function and physiology is less understood. Goblet cells, a secretory cell type in the intestinal epithelium, express LCN2 and secrete mucus, including antimicrobial peptides like LCN2, affecting the epithelium-luminal contents interaction. LCN2 also influences immune cell activity. In IBD, chronic inflammation occurs due to persistent intestinal epithelium injury and repeated exposure of mucosal immune cells to luminal contents. The effect of epithelial-specific LCN2 on immune cell activity in IBD and at homeostasis is unclear. The project aims to understand how goblet-cell expression of LCN2 influences cell function in IBD and epithelial-immune interaction.
- Mentor: Kate Hamilton, PhD; Assistant Professor of Pediatrics (Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition), Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania
Helen Stillwell, University of Pennsylvania
- Project Overview: In 2012, wild-type MERS-CoV spilled over from camels into humans in Saudi Arabia, causing severe lower respiratory tract disease with a mortality rate of 36%. In northern Africa, related clade C MERS viruses circulate in camels but do not appear to cause disease in humans. Helen is studying the differences in the innate immune response to these viruses in human and camelid primary nasal epithelial air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures to better understand this divergence in pathogenicity.
- Mentor: Susan Weiss, PhD; Professor of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Abigail Daniels, University of Pennsylvania
- Project: Investigating the molecular mechanisms of gamete interaction in Cryptosporidium
- Mentor: Boris Striepen, PhD; Mark Whittier and Lila Griswold Allam Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Christien Patrick M. Exconde, University of Pennsylvania
- Project: Uncovering and characterizing the mechanism of Toxoplasma gondii-induced pyroptosis
- Mentor: Cornelius Taabazuing, PhD; Assistant Professor, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Kevin Mears, University of Pennsylvania
- Project: Investigating the role of interferon lambda in protection against severe Clostridioides difficile infection
- Mentor: Michael C. Abt, PhD; Assistant Professor, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Matthew Martinez, University of Pennsylvania
- Project: Defining invasion strategies of malaria parasites
- Mentor: Yi-Wei Chang, PhD; Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.
Khabadire Tlotleng, Botswana University of Agriculture & Natural Resources
- Project: Identification of canine parvovirus variants
- Mentor: Eman Anis, DVM, MVSc, PhD, ACVM; Assistant Professor of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Pilot Award Program
IIZD has created a pilot award program designed to catalyze innovative studies and foster interdisciplinary collaborations that advance our understanding of zoonotic infectious diseases and mRNA-based technologies.
Awards are generally up to $50,000 for infectious disease research projects and up to $150,000 for basic or translational mRNA research projects. Principal Investigators must hold a faculty appointment at the University of Pennsylvania, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, or the Wistar Institute, and the PI or Co-Investigator must be a Penn Vet faculty member.
| Year | Title | PI(s) | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | The extracellular matrix (ECM) modulates filovirus infectivity | Ron Harty, Paul Janmay | $50,000 |
| 2024 | Surveillance for infectious agents in cases of fatal canine pneumonia in the greater Philadelphia area | Katie Mulka, Stephen Cole | $50,000 |
| Year | Title | PI(s) | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | A comparative analysis of colonization rates and antimicrobial resistance patterns of bacteria isolated from human clinical, agricultural, environmental, and animal husbandry settings in Botswana. | Laurel Redding, Naledi Mannathoko | $50,000 |
| 2023 | Role for X-chromosome inactivation in female-biased enhancement of immune responses to influenza | Montserrat Anguera | $50,000 |
| 2023 | Exploring the threat of tick-borne diseases on the Galápagos Islands: A community-based initiative on San Cristóbal Island. | Ricardo Castillo-Neyra, Daniel Beiting | $27,397.50 |
| 2023 | Estimated prevalence, taxonomic diversity, and zoonotic implications of gastrointestinal helminths isolated from free-ranging mustelids in the mid-Atlantic, USA. | Kevin Niedringhaus, Caroline Sobotyk | $22,602.50 |
| Year | Title | PI(s) | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Development of an organoid model system to study SARS-CoV-2 in white-tailed deer | Elizabeth Lennon, Susan Weiss | $50,000 |
| 2022 | Evaluation of free-ranging deer as a reservoir for SARS-CoV-2 | Eman Anis, Erick Gagne, Brendan Kelly, Susan Weiss, Rick Bushman | $15,000 |
| 2022 | Evaluation of UV-C disinfection technology for veterinary settings | Stephen Cole | $35,000 |
| 2022 | Metagenomic control of mRNA vaccine efficiency | Norbert Pardi, Thomas Schaer, Christoph Thaiss | $50,000 |
| 2022 | Modeling COVID-19 comorbidities with novel humanized ACE2 mice | Andrew Vaughan | $25,000 |