Biography

Dr. Barr is an Associate Professor at the College of Public Health at the University of South Florida.  She holds undergraduate degrees in Classical Studies and English Literature and PhD in Plant, Insect, and Microbial Science. Dr. Barr joined the faculty at the University of South Florida College of Public Health in 2021. Her research program studies viruses in order to develop better control and interventions for preventing infections in humans and animals.  Her research is focused on epidemiology and pathogenesis of vector-borne and zoonotic viruses, specifically the flaviviruses and alphaviruses. Dr. Barr’s research focuses on defining the epidemiology of arboviruses in respect to movement of humans and animal. She is also deeply interested in viral pathogenesis and is utilizing human organoids and stem cells to understand the progression and establishment of viral infections in the brain.