From Field Training to PhD: How APCOVE Shaped a Career in Disease Ecology
Thuy Hoang first joined the APCOVE Field Epidemiology Training in 2022 while working as a research assistant at Vietnam’s National Institute of Veterinary Research. Since then, the training has become a stepping stone in a journey that has taken her from field surveillance in Vietnam to a fully funded Master’s degree in Ireland, and now to a PhD at the University of Sydney’s Disease Ecology Lab. Here, Thuy shares how APCOVE shaped her path in One Health epidemiology. Thuy’s journey is a testament to how foundational training in field epidemiology can open doors to meaningful careers in One Health.
Tell us a bit about yourself
My background is in veterinary medicine and ecology, with a strong interest in understanding how diseases emerge at the interface between wildlife, livestock, and people. Before pursuing further studies, I worked as a research assistant at the National Institute of Veterinary Research in Vietnam, where I was involved in research and surveillance activities related to animal diseases.
In 2022, I had the privilege of being selected to undertake the APCOVE Field Epidemiology Training. The program strengthened my interest in epidemiology and motivated me to continue developing my research skills in this field.
I am currently a PhD student at the Disease Ecology Lab within the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sydney. My research focuses on avian influenza at the wild bird–domestic poultry interface, using a multidisciplinary approach to better understand and predict spillover risks.
What was the most important thing you learned from APCOVE?
APCOVE helped me see more clearly the role of epidemiology in disease control and decision-making. The training sparked my curiosity about how epidemiological tools can help us understand complex disease systems, which eventually motivated me to pursue epidemiology research in my current work.
How have you applied these skills in your work?
When I undertook the APCOVE training, I was working with the GCRF One Health Poultry Hub in Vietnam, conducting pathogen surveillance and designing questionnaire interviews across the poultry supply chain. Studying the APCOVE modules alongside my field work helped me reflect more critically on what I was observing, particularly through the case studies on avian influenza in Vietnam. It gave me a clearer understanding of how field observations, epidemiological tools, and surveillance data connect to better understand disease risks.
Some practical skills were directly applicable. For example, the module on questionnaire design guided my contribution to wildlife health surveillance projects, where I was involved in designing interviews related to captive wildlife health monitoring.
The leadership module also had a meaningful influence. Through an essay on the role of young veterinarians in addressing zoonotic diseases and advancing One Health, I was able to articulate my motivation to work at the wildlife–domestic animal interface. This essay later contributed to my selection for the Ireland Fellows Programme, which supported my fully funded Master’s degree.
During my Master’s research, I explored ecological drivers of zoonotic spillover, focusing on how human activities influence viral diversity. The risk analysis concepts introduced during APCOVE provided an important foundation for this work.
The APCOVE experience also strengthened my PhD application to the University of Sydney, where I was awarded the Postgraduate Research Scholarship in Disease Ecology and Epidemiology. I am now conducting research on avian influenza risk in Vietnam, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches to strengthen surveillance systems while supporting biodiversity conservation.
What advice would you give to current APCOVE trainees?
APCOVE offers a valuable opportunity to strengthen both technical and practical epidemiology skills. My advice to trainees is to connect the learning modules with real disease challenges in their own regions. Applying the concepts to priority diseases such as avian influenza, African swine fever, or other locally relevant diseases can help translate theory into practical disease control strategies.
I would also encourage trainees not to overlook the leadership and communication modules. In real outbreak situations, communicating risk clearly to farmers, local authorities, and colleagues is often just as important as analysing the data.
For those participating in the field project component, it is worth investing time in developing a strong project idea. APCOVE provides a great opportunity to refine your study design, receive feedback from mentors, and develop a solid proposal. A well-designed project can not only contribute to solving local animal health problems but may also become a strong foundation for future research or funding opportunities.
In the newer versions of the APCOVE program, additional components such as study design workshops and report writing boot camps have been introduced. These opportunities were not available during my training, but they are extremely valuable additions. They provide practical guidance on proposal development, scientific writing, and communicating research findings, which can help participants transform their field projects into conference presentations or scientific publications.
Finally, take the opportunity to build connections with fellow trainees and mentors across the region. These networks can become an important source of collaboration and support throughout your career in veterinary epidemiology.
