Raina Plowright, PhD, MS, BVSc

Faculty member

Department of Public & Ecosystem Health

Rudolf J. and Katharine L. Steffen Professor of Veterinary Medicine

Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability

Cornell Atkinson Scholar
 

Bozeman Disease Ecology Lab

Bat One Health Research Group


Department of Public & Ecosystem Health
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
Ithaca, NY 14853

Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability
200 Rice Hall | 340 Tower Road
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853

Email: rkp57@cornell.edu

Research and Practice Interests

Dr. Raina Plowright’s research program develops the science of pandemic prevention through transdisciplinary leadership, innovation, and translation. Her work advances a One Health approach by bridging the best available science in disease dynamics with effective public health practice and meaningful policy. Her systematic and interdisciplinary approach focuses on five areas of inquiry: Transmission of pathogens between species, Links between land-use change and pathogen spillover, Dynamics and drivers of viral pathogens in reservoir host populations, Prevention of epidemics, and Implementation of science for the protection of ecosystem and human health.

Education

  • 2009–2014 - David H. Smith Postdoctoral Research Fellow, and Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University

  • 2007 - Ph.D. Ecology, University of California, Davis     

  • 2005 - M.S. Epidemiology, University of California, Davis

  • 1997 - B.V. Sc. Hons I, University of Sydney, (Bachelor of Veterinary Science, First Class Honors; DVM Equivalent).

Biography/Professional Experience

  • 2022–present - Professor of Disease Ecology, Cornell University

  • 2022 – Professor of Epidemiology, Montana State University

  • 2020–2022 - Associate Professor of Epidemiology, Montana State University

  • 2014–2020 - Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, Montana State University                          

  • 2014–2022 - Adjunct Faculty, Washington State University School of Veterinary Medicine

  • 2014–2019 - Adjunct Research Fellow, James Cook University, and Griffith University, Australia                                                          

  • 2009–2014 - David H. Smith Fellow in Conservation Research, and Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University. Based at USGS Northern Rockies Science Center, Bozeman, Montana

  • 2008–2009 - Part Time Research Scientist, Consortium for Conservation Medicine

  • 2001–2007 - Graduate Research Scientist, University of California, Davis                                        

  • 1998–2002 - Clinical Veterinarian and Field Wildlife Veterinarian

Publications

Complete list of publications:  https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=LOYc-5UAAAAJ&hl=en

Selected publications:

Awards and Honors

  • 2022 - Elected as Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

  • 2022 - Charles and Nora Wiley Award for Meritorious Research, Montana State University.

  • 2022 - Visiting Scientist Fellowship, Montpellier Advanced Knowledge Institute on Transitions, France.

  • 2019 - Coppoc One Health Lectureship, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine.

  • 2018 - RR Parker Memorial lectureship, 73rd International Conference on Diseases in Nature Communicable to Man.

  • 2018 - Nominated for the Director’s Award by DARPA Biological Technologies Office.

  • 2017 - Kopriva Lectureship, Montana State University.

  • 2017 - Excellence in Teaching Award, Washington-Idaho-Montana-Utah (WIMU) Regional Program in Veterinary Medicine.

  • 2016 - DARPA Young Faculty Award, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

  • 2009 - David H. Smith Fellowship in Conservation Research, Society for Conservation Biology.

  • 2002 - Veterinary Graduate Academic Program Fellowship in Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis.                                                                        

  • 2001 - Fulbright Graduate Fellowship, Australian-American Fulbright Commission.

  • 2001 - Centenary Scholarship, Foundation for Young Australians.           

  • 1997 - First Class Honors, Bachelor of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney.

  • 1997 - J.D. Stewart Prize in Veterinary Science, University of Sydney.

  • 1997 - Wesley College Overseas Study Program Leadership Fellowship, University of Sydney.

  • 1996 - Lonsdale Prize for Clinical Studies, University of Sydney.              

  • 1993 - Wesley College Overseas Study Program Inaugural Scholarship, University of Sydney.

  • 1992 - Bryant Grainger Scholarship, Wesley College, University of Sydney.           

Professional/Academic Affiliations

  • American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
  • Society for Conservation Biology
  • Ecological Society of America
  • Wildlife Disease Association
  • Australasian Bat Society