Dr. Kurt Vandegrift

Biography

Kurt Vandegrift is an Associate Research Professor at the Eberly College of Science, Pennsylvania State University. He has a strong focus on the ecology of infectious diseases, particularly those related to parasites and small mammals. His research investigates the critical roles of host species in the transmission of diseases, the influence of community dynamics on parasite interactions, and the diversity of viral agents within small mammal populations. Vandegrift completed his Ph.D. in Biology at Pennsylvania State University in 2008, working under Dr. Peter J. Hudson. He also holds a Master of Science in Poultry Science from the same institution and a Bachelor of Science in Biology Psychology from Juniata College. In addition to his academic qualifications, he undertook postdoctoral training at EchoHealth Alliance in New York, focusing on critical public health issues involving zoonotic diseases. His contributions to the field include investigating how gastrointestinal nematodes impact population cycles in host species and exploring the implications of unknown viral diversity in small mammal reservoirs on disease transmission to humans via vector-borne parasites.

Research Interests

Experience