The main focus of my laboratory is the innovative application of herpesvirus-based vaccines to target emerging infectious diseases. These studies have involved developing vaccination strategies against simian immunodeficiency virus, Ebola virus, hepatitis C virus, tetanus and prostate cancer.

Whilst at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) (2002 to 2012) in the USA, my laboratory was responsible for the design and construction of rhesus cytomegalovirus-based vaccine vectors that showed efficacy against simian immunodeficiency virus and now serve as the foundation for Phase I HIV vaccine studies in humans (2023). 

After relocating my laboratory to the University of Plymouth (UoP) in the spring of 2012, I increased my focus on the control of highly pathogenic viruses at both the human and animal nexus, and innovation in herpesvirus vector development remains the central theme of my laboratory. 

In 2014, I joined the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Biosurety Program for highly pathogenic microbes at the High Containment Facility at Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML) in Montana. My position on the Biosurety Program has enabled me to expand my work on developing control measures for highly pathogenic viruses.

The award in 2018 of two substantial multi-institutional project grants to develop herpesvirus-based vaccines against Lassa virus (a virus that causes haemorrhagic disease in humans) and Streptococcus suis (a bacterial pathogen primarily in pigs that also causes disease in humans) triggered my decision to spin out The Vaccine Group (TVG) from UoP. TVG is a commercial (limited partnership) company with the aim of exploiting herpesvirus-based vaccines against emerging diseases, specifically in animals.

In contrast, my research at the University of Plymouth remains focused on the development of transmissible vaccines for use in wildlife. My laboratory at Plymouth is also interested in the development of vaccines and therapeutics for emerging human pathogens specifically for use in humans. Most recently, this led to my being a member of a team developing antivirals for SARS-CoV-2 at RML during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020 to 2021).

I am a co-supervisor for two PhD students at UoP in the laboratories of Prof. Upton and Dr Feyer. I have an affiliate academic position at the University of Glasgow, where I am a co-supervisor for a PhD student in the laboratory of Prof. Daniel Streiker.  Although most of my time is now focused on research and enterprise, I still make a practice of aligning my educational practice with innovation and research. Please visit my UoP laboratory website for more information: http://www.thejarvislab.com. 

H-index: 39 with 7803 citations (16 June 2025)

Professional positions 

2014 – present 
Associate Professor, School of Biomedical Sciences (SoBS), University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, UK

2012 – 2014 
Lecturer, SoBS, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, UK 

2010 – 2012     
Member of Graduate Faculty, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology (MMI), OHSU, Portland, OR

2002 – 2012     
Assistant Professor, VGTI, OHSU,Beaverton, OR

1996 – 2002     
Postdoctoral Fellow, MMI, OHSU, Portland, OR                               

Research awards

2021 
National Institute of Health (NIH) Director’s Award. In recognition of the exceptional and rapid response to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 causing COVID-19. Awarded by Francis S. Collins 

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Merit Award. In recognition of the ongoing rapid research response to the emergence of  SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, assessment of their impact on the COVID-19 pandemic. Awarded by Anthony S. Fauci, MD. Director.

2020 
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Merit Award. In recognition of an outstanding and wide ranging scientific response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Awarded by Anthony S. Fauci, MD. Director. 

Teaching awards

2014 
Marie Curie Fellow of the Week Award for Innovation in Outreach.

2013 – 2014       
Year Cohort Award of Excellence for Innovation in Teaching (PGCAP).                 

Leadership and management 

2013 – 2017       
Plymouth School of Medicine and Dentistry (PSMD) Research Governance Committee

2013 – 2017       
Coordinator of Graduate Studies, SoBS, UoP

2013 – 2017       
PSMD Research Degrees Committee (Chair: Prof. David Moles).

2013 – 2017       
SoBS Executive Group

2014 – 2016       
Admissions Tutor for new SoBHS MSc Degree Program.

2012 – 2013       
Organizer for the 2012/2013 SoBHS Seminar Series.

2012 – 2013       
Student Representative for PGCAP

2012 – 2013       
Penisula Medical School Search Committee. Tasked with recruitment and selection of 14 new academics following establishment of the Penisula Medical School as a new independent medical school. (Chair: Prof. David Bristow).

2012                   
School of Biomedical Sciences Search Committee. Member of interview panel tasked with recruitment of five new academic members of SoBS (Lecturer to Reader level) (Chair: Prof. Neil Avent).  

Professional memberships

2013 – present  
Member of Society for Applied Microbiology

2003 – 2025       Journal of Virology Editorial Board
2012 – present   Vaccine Editorial Board
2013 – present   Virology Editorial Board 
2014 – 2017       Journal of General Virology Editorial Board 
2015 – present   Wellcome Review Board
2009 – 2012       International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) External Scientific Advisory Committee for Development of a CMV-based HIV vaccine
2013 – present   National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA Grant Review Board
2013 – present   Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) Grant Review Board
2012 – present   Swedish Research Council Grant Review Board

Although most of my time is now focused on research and enterprise, I make a practice of aligning my educational practice with innovation and research. After initiating an undergraduate project investigating the effect of Nutribullet homogenisation on blood glucose levels following consumption of fruit juice in collaboration with Drs Gail Rees and Kathy Redfern (who was a PhD student at the time and is now a lecturer in Human Nutrition), the project ultimately resulted in two publications. Since this initial period of work, the project has been further developed by Drs Rees and Redfern. 

I engage with undergraduate and MSc students in my academic role at UoP through a small number of specialist lectures on virology and immunology. Given that this involves only a few hours of contact time, my goal has been to engage and encourage students’ enthusiasm for the subject through my practical experience with emerging pathogens at the scientific forefront of this area. Recently, this has been through a first-hand experience of developing antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2 during my 15-month period at Rocky Mountain Laboratories (the NIH high-containment laboratory) during the pandemic.

As the Chief Scientific Officer at TVG, I employ multiple individuals who received their undergraduate and post-graduate education at UoP. In addition to providing a local source of employment for UoP biological studies graduates, their training within TVG provides further education in the commercial side of scientific research. I have also been utilising the MIT OpenCourseWare seminar series in molecular biology and immunology as a teaching tool for my staff. 

In summary, my educational innovation at UoP is marked by a steadfast commitment to aligning student learning experiences with cutting-edge academic and, more recently, commercial research. This unique blend of academic experience and dedication to student-focused innovation underscores my practice in education. As I continue my work at the university, I remain dedicated to enhancing the educational experiences of our students and contributing to the university’s academic excellence.

Research Students (current)

2023 – present         
Zsofia Tauber. PhD in Biomedical Sciences, UoP, UK (Co-Supervisor)

2022 – present         
Sarah Bastyans. PhD in Biomedical Sciences, UoP, UK (Co-Supervisor)

2022 – present         
Haris Malik. PhD in Virology, University of Glasgow, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, UK (Co-Supervisor)

Postdoctoral Fellow (completed)

2012 – 2020             
Dr Aisling Murphy, PhD. (Current: Medical Student at Peninsula Medical School, Plymouth, UK)

Research Students (completed)

2019 – 2022             
Frederick Hansen. NIH Post-Baccalaureate, NIAID, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, MT, USA (Co-Supervisor). (Current: Medical Student at University of New Mexico Medical School, NM, USA)

2017 – 2021             
Dr Oliver Rupar, MD, PhD. PhD in Medical Sciences, UoP, UK (Co-Supervisor) (Current: Honorary Clinical Fellow, Univ. Dundee, UK)

2014 – 2020             
Dr Hujaz Alqirbi, PhD. PhD in Biomedical Sciences, UoP, UK (Director of Studies, DoS) (Current: Lecturer, Dept. Microbiology, Al-Kindy College of Medicine, Univ. Baghdad, Iraq)

2017 – 2019             
Thekla Mauch. ResM in Biomedical Sciences, UoP, UK (DoS) (Current: PhD Student in Medical Sciences, UoP, UK)

2013 – 2017             
Dr Shirin HamaSalih, PhD. PhD in Biomedical Sciences, UoP, UK (DoS) (Current: Dept. Clinical Biochemistry, Hawler Medical Univ. Kurdistand, Iraq).