Viruses shape the health of humans, animals, plants, and ecosystems, making virology one of the most dynamic and consequential areas of modern science. Virology@PSU brings together researchers across Penn State who study viruses from many perspectives—from molecular mechanisms and structural biology to ecology, evolution, and disease modeling—creating a collaborative community that advances discovery, training, and interdisciplinary connection.
Mission
Virology@PSU brings together Penn State researchers who study viruses across disciplines, with the goal of connecting groups working on all aspects of virology—from molecular and cellular studies to virus-host interactions in ecosystems and microbiomes, as well as mathematical models of disease spread. The program also emphasizes trainee development by creating opportunities for networking, public speaking, feedback on works in progress, and cross-campus collaboration.
30
Interdisciplinary Groups
11
Penn State Departments
3
Penn State Colleges
Focus Areas
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Molecular and cellular virology
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Virus-host interactions in ecosystems and microbiomes
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Mathematical modeling of infectious disease spread
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Viral genomics and evolution
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Structural virology and viral capsid dynamics
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Viral pathogenesis and host response
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Virus ecology
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Diagnostics, detection, and viral surveillance
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Viral vectors and vaccine-related research
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Undergraduate, graduate, and trainee engagement in virology research and communication
Research Interests
Research interests represented across Virology@PSU include plant viruses and plant viral disease systems, virome connectivity, viruses of fungi, and vectors of plant viruses.
Faculty also study flaviviruses such as West Nile virus, dengue, and Zika; influenza virus; coronavirus; paramyxoviruses; herpes simplex viruses; Marek’s disease virus; myxomavirus; HIV; hepatitis C virus; and arboviruses.
Additional strengths include bacteriophages, virus ecology, viral evolution, viral enzymes, viral protein folding, structural virology using cryo-EM, mass spectrometry of viral capsid dynamics, comparative immunogenomics, and modeling links between human behavior, movement, and viral infections.
Virology@PSU also supports work at multiple scales, from viruses infecting bacteria, plants, animals, and humans to broader questions about infectious disease ecology and transmission.
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