VIBS Welcomes Hamer as a Faculty Member

Dr. Sarah Hamer, formerly of the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University, recently joined the Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (CVM) as an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology.

Hamer completed a PhD in 2010 from Michigan State University within the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, and in the Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior program. She also received an MS in Natural Resources and Environmental Science from University of Illinois. In recognition of the need for ecologists and medical researchers to work together to manage emerging disease threats, Hamer completed a DVM at Michigan State University in 2011.

Hamer is primarily interested in the ecology, evolution, and epidemiology of diseases that emerge at the interface of wildlife, domestic animals, and human populations.  In particular, she is interested in vector-borne zoonotic diseases, especially tick-borne diseases. In her new position, Hamer will mentor students in her own laboratory and will teach undergraduate, graduate, and veterinary students.

"I am particularly excited about integrating field and laboratory experiences with traditional classroom teaching to immerse students in the process of research," Hamer said. "I am eager for my students to learn alternative ways to use their medical training to address some of society's most pressing public health and conservation concerns."

Her research has earned top honors from professional organizations including the Wildlife Disease Association, The Wildlife Society, and American Mosquito Control Association.

During her off time, Hamer enjoys hiking and birdwatching with her husband, Gabriel, and son, Oskar.