Kelli L. Barr, PhD

Dr. Kelli Barr is an Associate Professor of Microbiology with over 15 years’ experience in virology and infectious disease research. She has a B.S. in English Literature and Classical Studies from Iowa State University and received her Ph.D in Insect, Plant, and Microbial Sciences from University of Missouri-Columbia in 2008. She completed postdoctoral training in Molecular Virology at Florida Gulf Coast University and Global Health Virology at University of Florida.

Current Research Interests

Dr. Barr is currently focusing on defining the epidemiology of vector-borne diseases in the context of climate and social change, with particular emphasis on diagnostic practices and public health surveillance systems. Her current work includes investigating physician testing patterns and decision-making factors for arboviral encephalitis, which represents a critical gap in understanding diagnostic practices that directly impact public health surveillance and outbreak detection.

Dr. Barr’s research combines epidemiological analysis with real-world public health applications. She is passionate about improving diagnostics for detecting and preventing the emergence of infectious diseases, with particular expertise in vector-borne and zoonotic viruses. Her collaborative work spans from diagnostic capacity building to field-based studies in international settings, including partnerships that have established WHO-designated regional diagnostic centers for emerging pathogens. She is also open to developing research projects examining occupational exposures of first responders to emerging and healthcare-associated infections.