National Science Foundation
COMPASS Center
We are tackling the grand challenge of uncovering the genetic, molecular, cellular, and chemical rules of life underlying virus-host interactions through community-based and ethically grounded research.
Research
We bring together experts from Virginia Tech, Cornell University, the University of Michigan, and Wake Forest University to tackle the grand challenge of uncovering the genetic, molecular, cellular, and chemical rules of life underlying virus-host interactions through community-based and ethically grounded research. These research pioneers will train the innovators of tomorrow, converging around the four thrusts: Jump, Replicate, Persist, and Empower.
Recent News
NSF Postdoctoral Researcher Appointed to PNAS Journal Club Panel
Hannah Brown, an NSF COMPASS postdoctoral researcher at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech, has been appointed to serve a two-year term on the Journal Club Panel of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Amartya Dutta: Paving the way for new therapies using AI-assisted drug repurposing
The following story was written in Fall 2025 by Kylor Chou in ENGL 4824: Science Writing as part of a collaboration among the English department, the Center for Communicating Science, and the NSF COMPASS Center.
COMPASS Student Lauren Tucker Featured in VT News
We’re proud to see one of our students, Lauren Tucker, featured in Virginia Tech News, for her work in translating public health research into accessible, community-focused communication. Through her involvement with the COMPASS Center and Center for Communicating Science at Virginia Tech, Lauren has contributed to a wide range of initiatives aimed at making science more accessible and engaging.
Student Spotlight
Vasu Gatne: Coding against the next pandemic
Virginia Tech Department of Computer Science graduate student Vasu Gatne explores how Large Language Models can protect us against the next pandemic. Her research is described in this story by Virginia Tech student Maggie Sheridan.
Read The ArticleUpcoming Events
2026 NSF COMPASS Annual Meeting
July 27-28, 2026
The 2026 NSF COMPASS Annual Meeting will bring together researchers, communicators, and collaborators from across the country at the University of Michigan for two days of connection, collaboration, and conversation focused on advancing the future of pandemic science.