Virginia Commonwealth University

What you'll study

The PhD programme combines advanced coursework in epidemiology and biostatistics with sustained original research focused on veterinary and zoonotic public health topics. Core study areas typically include:

• Advanced epidemiologic methods: causal inference, study design, longitudinal and case–control methods.
• Biostatistics and data science: generalized linear models, survival analysis, mixed models, reproducible data workflows and applied statistical computing.
• Infectious disease epidemiology and modelling: transmission dynamics, mathematical and agent‑based models, outbreak investigation methods.
• One Health and zoonoses: ecology of spillover, foodborne illness surveillance, antimicrobial resistance in animal populations.
• Surveillance systems and applied field methods: diagnostic test evaluation, syndromic surveillance, sample design for animal populations.
• Geospatial methods and environmental drivers: GIS for disease mapping, spatial statistics and environmental risk factor analysis.
• Research skills and professional development: grant writing, scientific communication, ethics in human and animal research and teaching practicum.

The programme is research intensive: students complete advanced coursework in the first phase, pass qualifying/comprehensive examinations, and then conduct an independent dissertation project under one or more faculty supervisors. Students also participate in seminars, journal clubs and collaborative projects with public health practitioners.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a bachelor’s degree and, for many projects, a relevant master’s degree (for example in public health, epidemiology, veterinary medicine, biomedical sciences or a related discipline). Competitive candidates typically have:

• Strong academic record in relevant undergraduate and/or postgraduate study.
• Foundational coursework in epidemiology, biostatistics, or quantitative biology (or equivalent experience).
• Research experience, demonstrated by a thesis, publications, technical reports or significant project work.
• Letters of recommendation from academic or professional referees who can speak to research potential.
• A clear statement of research interests that aligns with faculty expertise and public health priorities.
• International applicants must meet English language proficiency requirements.

Specific application components and any test requirements are listed by the university; prospective applicants are advised to contact potential faculty supervisors to discuss fit and available projects before applying.

Career prospects

Graduates of this emphasis enter a range of roles where expertise in veterinary epidemiology and public health is needed. Common career paths include:

• Academic research and faculty positions in veterinary medicine, public health or epidemiology departments.
• Government agencies and laboratories (for example state and national public health or animal health departments, regulatory agencies, and diagnostic laboratories).
• International and non‑governmental organisations working on zoonoses, food safety and One Health programmes.
• Research institutes and think tanks conducting policy‑relevant infectious disease work.
• Industry roles in pharmaceutical, biotech and agricultural companies focusing on vaccine development, surveillance tools or antimicrobial stewardship.
• Consultancy and applied surveillance roles that design and evaluate disease control programmes.

Doctoral training also prepares graduates for leadership in multidisciplinary teams, grant leadership, and roles that bridge animal and human health sectors.

Why study at Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia Commonwealth University offers a research‑driven environment with interdisciplinary collaboration across public health, biomedical and clinical units, which is valuable for One Health and veterinary epidemiology research. The university’s urban location provides access to state public health agencies, clinical partners and surveillance data, supporting applied projects and translational impact.

Students benefit from faculty mentorship in epidemiologic methods, opportunities to work with external public health stakeholders, and training that emphasises both quantitative skills and practical field methods. The programme supports professional development through teaching opportunities, grant writing workshops and seminar series, preparing graduates for research and leadership roles across academia, government and industry.