News in the Virology lab
1. Zelimir Schmidt Award for Outstanding Research
Dr. Ali received the Zelimir Schmidt Award for Outstanding Research from the Dean of Engineering and Natural Sciences
2. US Fulbright fellowship
In 2017, Dr. Ali earned a US Fulbright fellowship to work at the University of Okayama, Japan. Dr. Ali was on sabbatical
leave in fall 2017 and worked in Japan mainly on mycoviruses infecting Fusarium Poae.
3. Presidential Graduate Assistantship Award
Caleb Paslay graduated with an MS in Virology in 2023 under the supvision for Dr. Ali. He was awarded the Presidential Graduate
Assistantship Award to continue his PHD at the University of Tulsa.
4. Best presentation award
Dulanajnai Wijayasekara, a PhD student in Dr. Ali Lab was awarded a certificate of Honorable Mention for
her best presentation in the 21th Annual Student Research Colloquium held at the University of Tulsa from April 02-05, 2018.
5. ASV travel award
Kathryn Stuppy, a PhD student in Dr. Ali lab was awarded a travel award by the American Society
of Virology (ASV). She will present her results in the 37th Annual meeting of ASV meeting to be held in Maryland
from July 14-18, 2018.
Research opportunities in the Virology lab
Are you interested in virology research. Want to know how viruses impact people
directly and indirectly? If so, consider joining the virology lab.
Most of the time, I like to help motivated undergraduate students to do research in my lab. I do get various grants
and sometime needs undergraduate on hourly basis too to carry out various research activities. It would be great to
contact me before the semester so that we can talk about how to set up a project and discuss possible ways to be
part of the Virology team. You can be part of the virology lab by the following various ways.
1. Tulsa Undergraduate Research Challenge (TURC) program
If you are an undergraduate student at Tulsa University, and willing to work during the summer. Then apply for
TURC program which is a competitive program for undergraduate student and I will be bale able to accommodate you in the lab.
2. Independent Study
If you are an undergraduate student at Tulsa University, and willing to work during the summer. Then apply for TURC
program which is a competitive program for undergraduate student and I will be bale able to accommodate you in the lab.
3. Junior TURC
This is a competitive program for the high school junior where a motivated student apply online to JTURC
(https://utulsa.edu/research/turc/turc-junior-scholars-program/) Once selected, the student will work in the summer from
June-July or July-Aug. The students will have experiences in various molecular techniques and cutting edge research in the
lab setting before graduating from high school.