Kurt Vandegrift

Kurt Vandegrift is an Associate Research Professor of Biology affiliated with the Hudson Lab at Pennsylvania State University, with research expertise in the ecology of infectious diseases and parasites in small mammals. His work bridges parasitology, virology, and computational biology to investigate disease transmission dynamics, host-pathogen interactions, and zoonotic risks.

• Ph.D. in Biology, Pennsylvania State University (2008)
• M.S. in Poultry Science, Pennsylvania State University (2003)
• B.S. in Biology and Psychology, Juniata College

Research focuses on identifying key hosts for parasites and diseases, analyzing hotspots of transmission, exploring parasite community interactions, and investigating the role of gastrointestinal nematodes in host population cycles. Recent work includes SARS-CoV-2 spillover in white-tailed deer, computational modeling of viral binding affinity, and discovery of novel viral diversity in small mammals.

Notable trends in his publications include cross-disciplinary approaches combining molecular simulations, machine learning, and field ecology to study zoonotic disease emergence, with a focus on urban wildlife interfaces, virome assembly, and host susceptibility factors.

He is affiliated with the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences and conducts research at the Millennium Science Complex in University Park, PA. His work emphasizes predictive frameworks for disease ecology and leverages eco-phylogenetic models to understand pathogen transmission in changing landscapes.