Rate My Professor Pip Beard

Professor Beard's research focuses on poxviruses that cause disease in livestock, such as lumpy skin disease virus, sheeppox virus, and goatpox virus, recognized as neglected pathogens in low- and middle-income countries. Her studies investigate molecular interactions with host cells, pathological and immunological changes during infection, and insect-borne transmission of lumpy skin disease virus in cattle. Key publications cover viral kelch proteins (2004, 2005), host proteins and pathways including TRAF2, RAB1A, and retrograde transport (2013, 2014, 2016), insect-borne transmission and subclinical lumpy skin disease virus infections (2020, 2022), immune responses to lumpy skin disease virus (2022), and economic impacts of capripoxvirus diseases with control recommendations (2020, 2021). She has supervised seven postdoctoral scientists, eight PhD students as primary supervisor, six MSc students, and 12 undergraduates, with team members advancing to academia and industry. Beard has secured funding from BBSRC, MRC, Wellcome Trust, European Commission, and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. She teaches lectures, small group sessions, and online courses in infectious diseases, pathology, and veterinary clinical skills, offers undergraduate placements through the UK Veterinary Summer Studentship Programme, lectures to veterinary students on research careers, and supports the Cornell University Veterinary Leadership scheme. As a strong advocate for gender equality, she developed Women in Science as a cross-cutting theme and the Gender Action Plan for the DEFEND consortium, and campaigned for women's opportunities on the International Veterinary Virology Network Board.