Dr. Messer completed his Ph.D. in ecology in 2003 under the mentorship of Dr. Tom Whitmore in the Department of Geography and in the lab of Dr. Aravinda de Silva in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at UNC Chapel Hill. His dissertation focused on the evolution of dengue virus serotype 3 and the emergence of dengue hemorrhagic fever in Sri Lanka. After completing his M.D. and residency and his residency in internal medicine at UNC in 2008, he joined the lab of Dr. Ralph Baric where he took primary responsibility for the dengue virus research program, supported by the Southeast Regional Center for Excellence in Biodefense. In May, 2012, following completion of his fellowship in infectious diseases, Dr. Messer was appointed clinical assistant professor in the Department of Medicine in the UNC School of Medicine. In November, 2012, Dr. Messer joined the faculty in the departments of medicine and molecular microbiology and immunology at Oregon Health & Sciences University as an assistant professor where he continues to study dengue virus genetics.