Kendra Gilbertson, Postdoctoral Researcher

“How can our understanding of disease systems be used to protect public health?"

Kendra Gilbertson is a disease ecologist specializing in zoonotic spillover prediction and prevention. Her research integrates disease modeling with human health systems analysis to identify critical intervention points. Her quantitative expertise includes machine learning, geospatial analysis, and hierarchical modeling, applied to diverse health systems from foot-and-mouth disease in livestock, to fragile X syndrome outcomes, and zoonotic spillover in the South Caucasus. Dr. Gilbertson brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective, combining her MPH in Global Epidemiology, three years as a CDC ORISE Fellow, and clinical coordination experience to bridge the gap between disease ecology theory and practical public health implementation.

Doctor of Philosophy, 2025
Graduate Degree Program in Ecology
Colorado State University

Master of Public Health, 2016
Global Epidemiology
Emory University

Master of Science, 2012
Forensic Archaeology
University College London

Bachelor of Arts, 2011
Anthropology
University of California, Irvine