Dr. Alex J. Veglia, Principle Investigator

Hello! I’m Dr. Alex Veglia, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez and the Principal Investigator at the Virus Diversity and Bioinformatics (ViDaB) Lab.

My journey in environmental virology began with studying seawater cyanophages during my undergraduate studies at Roger Williams University. This interest deepened during my Master's in Marine Science at UPRM, where I investigated cyanophage diversity within coral reef invertebrates. It further expanded during my Ph.D. at Rice University, where I explored the roles of viruses in coral reef health and disease. My previous work also includes experience in animal genomics and transcriptomics, shaping my current focus on exploring marine invertebrate genome-virome interactions.

In our lab, we combine field research, laboratory work, and computational analysis to understand virus-host interactions and their impacts on ecosystems across environmental contexts. Our goal is to enhance knowledge in environmental virology and contribute to the informed conservation of diverse habitats.

Join us at the ViDaB Lab as we explore the diverse landscapes of virology, aiming to make significant contributions to environmental understanding and conservation.