We are pleased to announce the 2026-2027 trainees selected for the Interdisciplinary Program in Microbe-Host Biology T32 training program. Bridget Bowman, Carter Dwyer, Miranda Hilt, and Michael Parthun have been named this year's T32 predoctoral fellows, and Drs. Jana Cable, Nicholas Christman, and Andrew Schwieters have been selected as the T32 postdoctoral fellows.
As emerging microbial diseases continue to threaten public health, opportunistic infections increase, multidrug-resistant microbes multiply, and microbial evolution undermines the effectiveness of existing vaccines, the need for interdisciplinary training in microbe-host interactions has never been greater. Addressing these complex challenges requires scientists who are equipped with broad expertise spanning multiple disciplines and cutting-edge research methodologies.
Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), this training grant supports the development of the next generation of infectious disease researchers through rigorous interdisciplinary education and mentorship. Combining clinical and basic sciences with guidance from an accomplished team of faculty mentors, the program provides specialized training in viral pathogens, host defense, and microbial communities. In addition to the five NIH-funded trainee positions, the IDI and the College of Medicine each support an additional predoctoral position (IDI) and a predoctoral/postdoctoral position (COM).
The grant is led by principal investigators Dr. Rajendar Deora, professor, Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, College of Medicine, and IDI Discovery Theme faculty member, and Dr. Daniel Wozniak, professor, Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, College of Medicine, and co-director of the IDI's Microbial Communities thematic program.