Emily Cornwell

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Paul Bowser
Current Position: Associate Veterinarian, Muddy Branch Veterinary Center

Brief Biography
I was born in Panama and grew up in various places in Colorado, Michigan, and Oregon.  I completed my B.A. in Biology and Spanish Language and Literature at Kalamazoo College in 2007 and subsequently traveled to Australia as a Fulbright scholar to investigate salinity tolerance in an Australian mollusk.  My interest in aquatic animal medicine stems from an internship at the Hatfield Marine Science Center where I looked at ways to mitigate mortality during the transport of marine ornamental fish.  I fell in love with research while investigating the hormonal control of osmoregulation in teleosts at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory.  Not wanting to choose between those two passions, I am currently in the DVM/PhD program at Cornell.  I completed the PhD portion of the program in July 2012 and am now in veterinary school; my thesis work focused on the infection dynamics of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus in the Great Lakes.  In addition to fish, I enjoy hiking, running, and bicycling around Ithaca and beyond.

Education
DVM, Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, 2015
Ph.D., Infectious Diseases, Cornell University, 2012
B.A., Biology and Spanish Language and Literature, 2007; Kalamazoo College, USA
Honors Degree, Biological Sciences, 2008; Deakin University, Australia

Research Interests
I am interested in the pathology, epidemiology, and population dynamics of emerging infectious diseases.  My PhD work focused on the infection dynamics of an OIE-reportable fish disease, viral hemorrhagic septicemia, caused by viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV).  Specifically, I led multi-state surveillance efforts for determining the distribution of the etiologic agent of this disease, which expanded its known distribution and identified risk factors for infection.  I determined the laboratory susceptibility of multiple fish species to this disease.  I developed non-lethal sampling techniques for detecting VHSV, which allowed me to design a longitudinal study to study the biology of the virus within a reservoir species identified from infection surveillance.  I also investigated the effects of temperature changes and previous exposure on the susceptibility of fish to VHSV infection.  After finishing my PhD, I began a part-time postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Bowser where I am continuing to determine the role of round gobies in the spread of VHSV throughout the Great Lakes as well as to explore the biological significance of genetic differences between isolates of VHSV.

Publications & Presentations
(*indicates high-school, undergraduate, or veterinary student mentored coauthor):

Cornwell, ER, CA Bellmund*, GH Groocock, P Wong*, KL Hambury*, RG Getchell, and PR Bowser. 2013.  Fin and gill biopsies are effective non-lethal detection methods for viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus type IVb.  Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation. 24:203-209.

Cornwell, ER, SL LaBuda*, GH Groocock, RG Getchell, and PR Bowser. 2013. Experimental infection of koi (Cyprinus carpio koi) with viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus type IVb.  Journal of Aquatic Animal Health. 25:36-41.

Groocock, GH, RG Getchell, ER Cornwell, SA Frattini, GA Wooster, PR Bowser, SR LaPan.  2013.  Iodophor disinfection of walleye eggs exposed to viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus type IVb. North American Journal of Aquaculture.  75:25–33.

Cornwell, ER, GB Anderson, GA Wooster, RG Getchell, GH Groocock, JW Casey, MB Bain, and PR Bowser.  2012.  Low prevalence of cyprinid herpesvirus-3 found in common carp collected from nine locations in the Great Lakes.  Journal of Wildlife Diseases.  48:1092–1096.

Groocock, GH, SA Frattini, ER Cornwell, LL Coffee, RG Getchell, and PR Bowser.  2012.  Experimental infection of four aquacultured species with viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus Type IVb.  Journal of the World Aquaculture Society.  43:459–476.

Cornwell, ER, GE Eckerlin, RG Getchell, GH Groocock, TM Thompson, WN Batts, RN Casey, G Kurath, JR Winton, PR Bowser, MB Bain, and JW Casey.  2011.  Detection of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus by quantitative RT-PCR from two fish species at two sites in Lake Superior.  Journal of Aquatic Animal Health.  23:207–217.

Evans, DH, KA Hyndman, E Cornwell, and P Buchanan.  2011.  Urotensin II and its receptor in the killifish gill: regulators of NaCl extrusion.  Journal of Experimental Biology.  214:3985–3991.

Cornwell, ER, GH Groocock, RG Getchell, and PR Bowser.  2011.  Residual tannic acid destroys virucidal properties of iodine.  North American Journal of Aquaculture.  73:8–12.

Cornwell, ER, MJ Cinelli, DM McIntosh, GS Blank, GA Wooster, GH Groocock, RG Getchell, and PR Bowser.  2011.  Epizootic Nocardiainfection in cultured weakfish, Cynoscion regalis (Bloch & Schneider).  Journal of Fish Diseases.  34:567–571.

Bain, MB, ER Cornwell, KM Hope, GE Eckerlin, RN Casey, GH Groocock, RG Getchell, PR Bowser, JR Winton, WN Batts, A Cangelosi, and JW Casey.  2010.  Distribution of an invasive aquatic pathogen (viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus) in the Great Lakes and its relationship to shipping.  PLoS One.  5 e10156.

Cornwell, ER, KA Hyndman, and DH Evans.  2008.  Urotensin II from the killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus.  The Bulletin, MDI Biological Laboratory.  47:40.

Cornwell, ER, KA Hyndman and DH Evans.  2008.  Urotensin II receptor is present in killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) mitochondrion-rich cells.  The Bulletin, MDI Biological Laboratory.  47:41.

Cornwell, ER, KA Hyndman, and DH Evans.  2007.  Short-term culture of killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) operculae.  The Bulletin, MDI Biological Laboratory.  46:49–50.

Cornwell, ER, KA Hyndman, and DH Evans.  2007.  Urotensin II receptor from the killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus.  The Bulletin, MDI Biological Laboratory.  46:48.

Evans, DH and ER Cornwell.  2007.  Urotensin II inhibits salt transport across the killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) opercular epithelium.  The Bulletin, MDI Biological Laboratory.  46:117.

Evans, DH, RL Kreh, and ER Cornwell.  2007.  Fish gill lamellar recruitment: Fact or fiction?  The Bulletin, MDI Biological Laboratory.  46:116.

Oral Presentations
Cornwell, ER, GB Anderson, RG Getchell, A Primus, GH Groocock, PR Bowser.  2012.  Role of the round goby in the maintenance and spread of VHSV IVb in the Great Lakes.  142nd Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society 19-23 August 2012.

Cornwell, ER, GB Anderson, GH Groocock, MG Walsh, MB Bain, PR Bowser, and RG Getchell.  2012.  Role of the round goby in the maintenance and spread of VHSV type IVb in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.  Eastern Fish Health Workshop 23-27 April 2012.

Cornwell, ER, GB Anderson, GA Wooster, D Coleman, GH Groocock, RG Getchell, GE Eckerlin, TM Thompson, WN Batts, G Kurath, RN Casey, JR Winton, JW Casey, MB Bain, and PR Bowser.  2011.  Results of 2010 surveillance for viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus and koi herpesvirus in the Great Lakes.  Eastern Fish Health Workshop 28 March-1 April 2011.  Mount Pleasant, SC.

Cornwell, ER, EA Penner, GH Groocock, RG Getchell, GA Wooster, and PR Bowser.  2011.  Susceptibility of hybrid striped bass to viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus type IVb at two temperatures.  Eastern Fish Health Workshop 28 March-1 April 2011.  Mount Pleasant, SC.

Cornwell, ER, EA Penner, GH Groocock, RG Getchell, GA Wooster, and PR Bowser.  2011.  Effect of temperature on the susceptibility of hybrid striped bass to viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus type IVb.  New York Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting 2-4 February 2011.  Canandaigua, NY.

Cornwell, ER, GE Eckerlin, RG Getchell, GH Groocock, TM Thompson, PR Bowser, WN Batts, G Kurath, JR Winton, MB Bain, and JW Casey.  2010. Results of 2009 Surveillance efforts for Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus in Lake Ontario and Lake Superior.  International Symposium on Aquatic Animal Health 5-10 September 2010.  Tampa, FL.  

Cornwell, ER, GE Eckerlin, RG Getchell, GH Groocock, TM Thompson, PR Bowser, WN Batts, G Kurath, JR Winton, MB Bain, and JW Casey.  2010.  Detection of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus in Lake Superior.  Eastern Fish Health Workshop 24-28 May 2010.  Sheperdstown, WV.

Cornwell, ER, GA Wooster, RG Getchell, GH Groocock, and PR Bowser. 2010.  Histology saves the day:  a confusing mortality event at a research facility. Eastern Fish Health Workshop 24-28 May 2010.  Sheperdstown, WV.

Cornwell, ER, MJ Cinelli, DM McIntosh, GS Blank, GA Wooster, and PR Bowser. 2010.  Strong evidence for nocardiosis in weakfish. Eastern Fish Health Workshop 24-28 May 2010.  Sheperdstown, WV.  

Cornwell, ER, GE Eckerlin, KM Hope, RG Getchell, GH Groocock, PR Bowser, RN Casey, MB Bain, WN Batts, JR Winton, and JW Casey.  2010.  Distribution and prevalence of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.  New York Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting 10-12 February 2010.  Lake George, NY.

Cornwell, ER.  2009.  Mortality event in an ornamental fish pond.  2009.  Eastern Fish Health Workshop 27 April – 1 May 2009.  Lake Placid, NY.

Cornwell, ER, WT Heath, KM Hope, RN Casey, PR Bowser, GE Eckerlin, MB Bain, WN Batts, JR Winton, and JW Casey.  2009. Targeted surveillance for viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus in the Great Lakes in the absence of clinical disease.  Eastern Fish Health Workshop 27 April – 1 May 2009.  Lake Placid, NY.

Cornwell, ER, WT Heath, KM Hope, RN Casey, PR Bowser, GE Eckerlin, MB Bain, WN Batts, JR Winton, and JW Casey. 2009.  Targeted surveillance for viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus in the Great Lakes in the absence of clinical disease.  Aquaculture America 15-20 February 2009. Seattle, WA.

Cornwell, ER, GH Groocock, E Penner, RG Getchell, KM Hope, GA Wooster, JW Casey, and PR Bowser. 2009.  Four species of fish fail to contract viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus type IVb.  New York Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting February, 2009. Owego, NY.

Poster Presentations

Cornwell, ER, MJ Cinelli, DM McIntosh, GS Blank, RG Getchell, GA Wooster, and PR Bowser.  2012.  Nocardiosis and mycobacteriosis in weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) housed in a closed recirculation aquaculture system.  Annual Meeting of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.  Seattle, WA

Cornwell, ER, GB Anderson, GA Wooster, D Coleman, GH Groocock, RG Getchell, GE Eckerlin, TM Thompson, WN Batts, G Kurath, RN Casey, JR Winton, JW Casey, MB Bain, and PR Bowser.  2011.  Results of 2010 surveillance for viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus and koi herpesvirus in the Great Lakes.  New York Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting 2-4 February 2011.  Canandaigua, NY.

Cornwell, ER, TM Toop, and J Gwyther.  2007.  Coping with an unpredictable environment: salinity tolerance of Xenostrobus securis.  Australian and New Zealand Society for Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry 29 November – 3 December 2007.  Perth, Australia.