When outbreaks of emerging diseases impact wildlife species or humanity, we are often caught completely unawares by never-before-discovered pathogens. These pathogens can be viral or bacterial, but most extinctions and extirpations of wild animal populations have actually been caused by fungi. In this stream, we discover novel fungal pathogens by screening mammal samples and sequencing fungal DNA to understand their evolutionary history. This stream will also provide opportunities to work in the Natural History Museum of Utah and in the field to better sample mammal diversity. Because there are thousands of undescribed fungal species living in mammals, discovery is around every corner in this stream. You will learn invaluable molecular techniques, and you may be the first person to find a species completely new to science!