Jayne Ellis

Dr. Jayne Ellis, DVM, serves as Adjunct Faculty in the College of Natural Science and Mathematics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). She concurrently works as an On-Call Wildlife Veterinarian for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and teaches the necropsy laboratory for second-year veterinary students at UAF.

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Conservation Biology, Colorado State University
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), UAF-CSU Joint Program
• Dual residency training in Anatomic Pathology and Toxicology, Michigan State University (2 years)
• Fellowship year in Wildlife Pathology, University of California, Davis

Research Interests

Dr. Ellis’s investigative work centers on wildlife disease ecology and pathogenesis, with particular emphasis on viral infections affecting avian and mammalian species. Her recent projects investigate the spillover of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) from birds into wild terrestrial mammals, as well as emerging respiratory viruses in Alaskan moose populations. Additional interests span toxicologic pathology, infectious disease surveillance in raptor populations, and comparative anesthesia protocols for endangered equids.

Publications & Scientific Contributions

Across 15 peer-reviewed articles and conference presentations from 2018-2023, Ellis has advanced understanding of viral transmission at the wildlife–domestic animal interface, described novel bacterial pathogens in wild birds, and refined anesthetic techniques for exotic ungulates. Her work integrates field surveillance, molecular diagnostics, and classic pathology to inform conservation and public health policy.

Professional Licenses & Qualifications

• State of Alaska Veterinary License (active)
• Residency-trained and board-eligible in Anatomic Pathology

Teaching & Outreach

At UAF, Dr. Ellis leads hands-on necropsy laboratories that train future veterinarians in systematic post-mortem examination techniques essential to wildlife disease investigation. She also provides diagnostic pathology support to state wildlife agencies and collaborates with multi-institutional teams to monitor emerging zoonoses.