Summer 2026 IRES: Molecular Fieldwork in Bat Disease Ecology in Vietnam
University of North Carolina at Charlotte·Charlotte, NC·2026 cycle
Closed for cycleBiomedicalIntegrative Biology✓ verified
Bats host more zoonotic viruses than any other mammal species. Zoonotic outbreaks will become more prevalent as humans encroach on the habitat of wild flora and fauna. At the same time, bats are essential to maintaining ecosystem health through seed dispersal, pollination, and insect control. This paradox emphasizes the urgent need to understand the disease ecology of bats in the interest of global health. Understanding how to monitor, characterize, and disseminate information about pathogen spillover is critical to global public health and Southeast Asian countries are at the highest risk of wildlife zoonotic transfer events due to immense biodiversity found in this region. The urgency of these circumstances requires training of the future generation of scientists to connect and collaborate with scientists and high-need regions. At the same time, scientists, educators, and public health officials in these regions lack the necessary training to monitor wildlife in a genomic and evolutionary framework. The goals of this IRES proposal are to train participants in fieldwork methods and analytical approaches for studying pathogens in wildlife reservoirs using affordable and portable biotechnology. Participants will also be trained in education and science communication techniques necessary for sharing information related to these topics. The program will host 4 students for four weeks in summer 2026 at the Center for Biodiversity and Endangered Species (CBES) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Two of these weeks will involve active sampling in national parks inventorying the bat biodiversity, ectoparasites, and microbial hosts within the region. Participants will receive a stipend of $700 per week and all travel is covered by the program. Undergraduates, post-baccalaureates, community college students, and 1st year graduate students are eligible. A U.S. passport is required. The program is run by UNC Charlotte but the entirety of the program will take place in Vietnam.
molecular genetics, genomics, bats, mammalogy, fieldwork, bioinformatics, disease ecology, science communication
Must-haves: A rabies vaccination/titer. Proof of vaccination will be required. There is no funding from this award to support rabies vaccination. Demonstrated academic achievement and research potential appropriate to stage in career (transcripts and two faculty recommendation letters required). Interest in evolution, ecology, disease ecology, or wildlife management as evidenced by coursework, research projects, or extracurricular activities. Nice-to-haves Previous wet-lab experience in molecular biology Fieldwork or animal handling experience Experience in bioinformatics or sequence analysis Interest in science communication, podcasting, etc. Flexibility and resilience in adapting to international settings, new environments, and cross-cultural experiences. All candidates will benefit from addressing both required and preferred qualifications when determining their fit and preparing application materials. AI-written application components will immediately disqualify the candidate.