Postdoctoral Researchers
A strong preference is given to applicants who have, or are willing to apply for, their own funding. There are great opportunities through Emory’s FIRST program, NSF’s Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology program, NIH’s Ruth L. Kirschtein National Research Service Awards scheme and the Human Frontier Science Program.
Prospective postdoctoral scholars should contact Dr. Gillespie with a synopsis of their research interests, a sense of where they feel they would fit into our efforts, and a current CV. Feel free to contact us mid-way through your doctoral research to ensure adequate time to secure funding for a position.
Graduate students
Graduate students join our lab through Emory’s PBEE graduate program or Environmental Health Sciences graduate program. Prospective students are encouraged to apply to the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program the year before they intend to begin study at Emory. Interested students should apply to one or both of the Emory graduate programs listed above. When applying, students should ask to be considered for applicable Emory fellowships (i.e. Woodruff, Diversity). Prospective students should contact Dr. Gillespie with a synopsis of their research interests, a sense of where they feel they would fit into our efforts, and a current CV.
Undergraduate students
We welcome undergraduate students willing to dedicate at least 10 hours a week to apply to join our lab. Students with an excellent academic history, strong work ethic, and willingness to make a 4-plus-semester commitment to the lab are strongly preferred. There are many different ways to conduct undergraduate research in our lab, including volunteering, work-study, research for credit through the track, honors, and the SIRE program. Students from any university, including Emory, can apply to work in our lab over the summer through the SURE program.
Research opportunities include laboratory (Emory, Rollins, and CDC) and field-based activities (domestic and international). International and CDC opportunities are only available to students that have proven themselves through two or more semesters pursuing work in our Emory/Rollins labs or related to our domestic fieldwork. Previous students have worked in the CDC’s Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Center for Global Health, and Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology; at collaborating labs at the Robert Koch Institute in Germany; or on field-based research in Madagascar, Mexico, or Uganda.
Interested students should email Dr. Gillespie a brief description of why they are interested in the lab and attach an unofficial transcript and current resume.
Visiting Scholars
We welcome visiting scholars interested in training and collaboration. We typically host 2-3 scholars per year. Previous scholars have hailed from Africa, Europe, Latin America, and North America and have typically stayed one month to one semester. Affordable short-term housing is available through Villa International located within walking distance of our lab and office facilities. Prospective scholars should contact Dr. Gillespie with a synopsis of their research interests, a sense of where they feel they would fit into our efforts, and a current CV.