SEER Lab has an active graduate training program and SEER Lab students are active in research, teaching, international training (GIS and epidemiology) and field research. Get to know our graduate students.
Current PhD Students
Tan Minh Luong. Tan joins SEER Lab with a decade of experience in epidemiology and disease prevention working with the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) in Hanoi. Tan will be working on a large collaborative effort between SEER Lab, NIHE, and the Department of Animal Health (DAH) to study the ecology, distribution, knowledge and perceptions, and risk of anthrax and brucellosis across 6 provinces in Vietnam.
Current MS Students
Morgan C. Metrailer. Morgan joins SEER Lab with an undergraduate degree in Biology from Northern Arizona University and two years experience as a BSL-2 laboratory technician there. Morgan will be working on a large collaborative effort between SEER Lab, NIHE, and the Department of Animal Health (DAH) to study the ecology, distribution, knowledge and perceptions, and risk of anthrax and brucellosis across 6 provinces in Vietnam.
Past SEER Lab Students
Emily Dinh, PhD 2019. Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Transmission Risk in North Florida free-Ranging Ranched and Wild White-Tailed Deer.
Current position: Michigan State Veterinary Office, State Medical Entomologist.
Anni Yang, PhD 2019. Multi-scale Modeling for Zoonosis Transmission: Exploring Two Indirectly Transmitted Pathogens in Southwestern Montana.
Current position: USDA/CSU Fort Collins, Postdoctoral Fellow in Wildlife modeling animal contact and disease transmission.
*Sheldon Waugh, PhD 2018. Investigating Spatial Dynamics of Zoonoses between Animal and Human Populations: A One-Health Perspective. *Sheldon was an Epidemiology student, but co-advised by Blackburn, with all data and resources to study brucellosis (2 of 3 studies in the dissertation) funded by Blackburn and SEER Lab.
Current position:Epidemiologist, US Army Public Health Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground.
Ian T. Kracalik, PhD 2017. Impact of Zoonotic Diseases Control Policies: An Evaluation of Three Countries of the Former Soviet Union.
Current position: past CDC Epidemiological Intelligence Service (2017 – 2019). Currently, Uniformed Officer in Public Health Service with the CDC-Atlanta.
Dawn Nekorchuk, PhD, Geography 2017. Modeling Indirect Transmission Disease Risk: Anthrax in Bison in Southwestern Montana.
Current position: past Staff Medical Geography Scientist, SEER Lab through June 2017. Currently, Postdoctoral Associate, University of Oklahoma EcoGRAPH Group.
Alassane Barro, PhD, 2016. Integrating Geographical Information Systems and the Ecological Niche Modeling Framework to Characterize the Spatial Ecology of Anthrax in Australia.
Current position: past Spatial Epidemiologist, State Department of Health, Texas (2015 – 2018). Currently with the US Government.
Lillian R. Morris, PhD, 2016. Wildlife Movement and Disease Risk: Anthrax Transmission in Montana.
Current position: Spatial Epidemiologist, State Department of Health, Washington.
Jocelyn C. Mullins, PhD, 2013. Combining Genetic Diversity and Spatio-temporal Data to Characterize the Spatial Ecolog of Anthrax Across Multiple Scales.
Current position: past CDC Epidemiological Intelligence Service (2013 – 2015); Currently on faculty at St. Joseph’s School of Public Health in Connecticut and the State Public Health Veterinarian in Connecticut.
Master’s Students (as advisor; committee chair)
Morgan Walker, MS, 2019. Ungulate Use of Locally Infectious Zones (LIZs) in a Re-Emerging Anthrax Risk Area.
Current position: past SEER Lab TEAMS BioScientist II. Currently, Spatial Epidemiologist for Vietnam Projects.
Lillian R. Morris, MS, 2013. Informing surveillance for the lowland plague focus in Azerbaijan using a historic dataset.
Current position: Spatial Epidemiologist, State Department of Health, Washington. (completed a PhD in SEER Lab, 2016)
Jake Hightower, MS, 2012. Examining the Distribution of Francisella tularensis, the Causative Agent of Tularemia, in Ukraine Using Ecological Niche Modeling.
Current position: past Enrolled in UF Geography PhD Program, 2012.
Timothy Andrew Joyner, 2010. Ecological niche modeling of a zoonosis: A case study using anthrax outbreaks and climate change in Kazakhstan.
Current position: past Earned PhD from LSU. Currently, faculty at Eastern Tennessee State University.
Ian T. Kracalik, MA (CSU Fullerton), 2009. Spatial and temporal analyses of anthrax: an exploratory retrospective and prospective examination of outbreaks in Kazakhstan.
Current position: past Moved to UF as Research Program Coordinator for SEER Lab 2009 – 2015, PhD Student 2015-2017 (see above).
Past CSUF SEER Lab Students
Prior to joining the faculty at UF, Dr. Blackburn managed the SEER Lab when it was housed at Cal State Fullerton (2007-2009). During that period, Dr. Blackburn advised several students and served on several MA thesis committees.
Pamela Rittelmeyer (2011). M.A. Cal State Fullerton, Blackburn Courtesy Advisor (after moving to UF)
Thesis title: Predicting the potential geographic distribution of three highly migratory pelagic fishes using ecological niche modeling
Ian T. Kracalik (2009). M.A. Cal State Fullerton
Thesis title: Spatial and temporal analyses of anthrax: An exploratory retrospective and prospective examination of outbreaks in Kazakhstan