Dr. Phillip Gauger obtained his doctorate in Veterinary Microbiology in the Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, at Iowa State University, in 2012. He is currently a professor in the VDPAM department, section leader of the molecular, bioinformatics, and HATS section at the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, and a diagnostic pathologist. His research interests primarily focus on viruses of animal production, including the influenza A virus in swine.