Ecology of Infectious Diseases

1 Credit · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

This module will cover the basic topics in the ecology and evolution of emerging infectious diseases, including the dynamics and diversity of pathogens originating and circulating in wildlife. We will review the major emerging diseases of the past decade, and the ecological drivers underlying their emergence. We will cover how disease dynamics are determined at the organismal scale (immunity, behavior) and at the macroecological scale (coevolution), and the role that global change plays in driving emerging disease. Current research will be used to highlight exciting avenues and possible career paths related to disease ecology, with direct connections to global health, wildlife conservation, and even foreign policy.