This $240,000 Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) supports postdoctoral research to investigate the environmental drivers of fungal pathogen spread, with a focus on Coccidioides immitis, the fungus that causes Valley Fever. The research aims to uncover the roles of landscape structure and local climate in shaping the distribution of this soil-borne fungal pathogen. The fellowship will use whole genome sequencing and experiments to identify the influence of factors like landscape barriers, wind dispersal, and temperature on the spread of C. immitis. The research results will be translated to improve disease surveillance and mitigation efforts by partnering with the California Department of Public Health. The fellowship also includes a component to broaden participation in STEM through student mentorship. This award runs from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027.
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