Hello, current Global Disease Biology students! My name is Jackson Barr Stuart; I am currently a second year Pathobiology Ph.D. student at University of Washington, and in my former life I was the first peer adviser for GDB and a member of the 2017 graduating class. I have been so thrilled and proud to see our program grow and develop over the years, and I look forward to seeing the continued successes of all current and future students! After graduating, I was lucky enough to work full-time as a Research Assistant in the same lab I performed my GDB practicum research in, which allowed me to better prepare for applying to Ph.D. programs the following year. Graduating can be a stressful experience in and of itself, but know that your GDB degree really does do a great job at preparing you for whatever path you decide to take. I truly believe our major is unparalleled in terms of the breadth of careers possible to us and the breadth of knowledge we gain by taking interdisciplinary classes. I encourage everyone to take full advantage of the many opportunities provided to GDB students, and to use the practicum in particular as an exciting chance to dip your toes into a field that you find interesting - whether that's epidemiology, virology, or any of the other fascinating disease-related fields. 

Here at UW, I study how antibodies that target dengue and Zika virus neutralize each virus. Not only did GDB prepare me for the research itself, but the major provided an excellent framework by which I even considered these viruses in the first place. Pathogens do not solely exist in a "laboratory vacuum", but rather they are the result of complex socio-political, economic, and ecological influences. And while my Ph.D. research may be niche and focused, GDB provided me with a much more comprehensive understanding of dengue and Zika virus - a perspective I likely would be lacking in a more "traditional" major.  

If you have any questions for me, feel free to reach out at jbstuart@uw.edu!