Class of 2025: Kaylee Petraccione harnesses a series of ‘firsts’ to advance disease research

Jenise L. Jacques

8 Dec 2025

Kaylee Petraccione, right, feels right where she should be in the research lab with her advisor, Kylene Kehn-Hall. — Kaylee Petraccione (at right) says her "happy place" is in the research lab with her advisor, Kylene Kehn-Hall. Photo by Madison Brown for Virginia Tech.

Name: Kaylee Diana Petraccione

College: Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine

Major: Ph.D. in biomedical and veterinary sciences

Program: Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, Center for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Program in infectious disease

Hometown: Schenectady, New York

Plans after graduation: Join Columbia University Medical School's Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons as a postdoctoral research scientist in the Department of Pediatrics and the Center for Host-Pathogen Interaction, conducting research with Anne Moscona, a renowned pediatrician and scientist

Favorite Hokie memory: “When my advisor, Dr. Kylene Kehn-Hall shook my hand and said, 'Congratulations, doctor.' It was one of the most meaningful moments of my life. As a first-generation student, that moment was emotional beyond words and something I will never forget.”

Favorite Hokie tradition: “The energy in Lane Stadium, being surrounded by new friends, and experiencing the magic of 'Enter Sandman' for the first time made me truly feel like a Hokie. At that moment, I fell in love with Virginia Tech sporting events and college football in general.”

There is no question about Kaylee Petraccione's love for the Hokie spirit. Her first football game was in 2021 when Virginia Tech beat UNC and stormed the field. She recalls the experience as unforgettable, with the energy in Lane Stadium and being surrounded by new friends. — There is no question that Kaylee Petraccione (third from left) has Hokie Spirit. Her first football game was in 2021, when Virginia Tech beat North Carolina and stormed the field. Photo courtesy of Kaylee Petraccione.

Quality research

Petraccione’s research focuses on understanding how deadly hemorrhagic fever viruses, such as the Rift Valley fever virus, manipulate host cellular pathways to evade immune defenses and enhance replication. This work earned her the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual Predoctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research award from the National Institute of Health (NIH). When Petraccione’s NIH funding was canceled earlier this year, she was able to complete her research through the support of donor Tracy Wilkins, emeritus faculty at Virginia Tech and former director of the Fralin Biotechnology Center.

“NIH F31 fellowships are extremely competitive and prestigious awards,” said Kehn-Hall, professor of biomedical sciences and pathobiology and Petraccione’s mentor. “Kaylee being awarded this fellowship speaks to her excellence as a candidate and the quality of her research. This is an enormous accomplishment, and I am extremely proud of her.”

The grant supported Petraccione’s ultimate goal of closing the knowledge gap regarding the viral pathogenesis of the disease to enable some form of therapeutic intervention or vaccine.

Kaylee Petraccione presents her research to a group at a conference. — Kaylee Petraccione (at poster) presents at the Chemical and Biological Defense Science & Technology Conference, where she was selected for a student travel awardee e-poster presentation. Photo courtesy of Kaylee Petraccione.

Paving the way

Petraccione’s desire to help others has been a driving force ever since she began her postsecondary education at Coastal Carolina University.

“Neither of my parents have a four-year degree,” said Petraccione, who began her Ph.D. in Virginia Tech’s Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program in August 2021. “I push myself to be the best that I can be because I want to better myself and my future and my family as well.”

She holds a special distinction of being a Virginia Tech Graduate School marshal for the December commencement ceremony.

Kaylee Petraccione in full graduation regalia. She has the special honor of serving as a Virginia Tech Graduate School marshal for the December 2025 commencement ceremony. — Kaylee Petraccione in full graduation regalia. She will serve as a Virginia Tech Graduate School marshal for the December commencement ceremony. Photo courtesy of Kaylee Petraccione.

Globetrotting Hokie

Through the Virginia Tech Global Perspectives Program, Petraccione broadened her global perspective on higher education traveling to Switzerland, Italy, and France to engage with international universities, policy discussions, and collaborative projects.

She conducted an accessibility assessment on global disability strategies and learned firsthand how disability support varies across international universities.

"I traveled with [Graduate School] Dean Aimée Surprenant, our fearless leader, and met my best friend, Orion Willoughby, who is also graduating in December," said Petraccione. "Between visiting universities, engaging in deep conversations about global higher education, and experiencing new cultures, this trip completely changed my outlook on the world and who I am as a person."

This experience was part of her Future Professoriate Certification, which prepared her for academic leadership, mentorship, and inclusive pedagogy. This graduate certificate aims to prepare future faculty and academic leaders by exposure to concepts that break the mold of existing practices in higher education.

Kaylee Petraccione spent two transformative weeks traveling through Switzerland, Milan, and Strasbourg as part of the Global Perspectives Program., here shown with Graduate School Dean Aimée Surprenant and her cohort of students. — Kaylee Petraccione (back row, second from right) spent two transformative weeks traveling through Switzerland, Milan, and Strasbourg as part of the Global Perspectives Program, here shown with Graduate School Dean Aimée Surprenant (first row, at left) and her cohort of students. Photo courtsey of Kaylee Petraccione.

Research speaks volumes

Petraccione is first author on a Public Library of Science Pathogens publication, has contributed to six peer-reviewed publications to date, and her work has been featured on the “This Week in Virology” podcast.

She has been recognized with several external and universitywide awards, including:

Chemical and Biological Defense Science & Technology Student Travel Award, awarded by the U.S. Department of Defense-Defense Threat Reduction Agency
American Society for Virology Student Travel Award, awarded by the American Society for Virology
Women in Autophagy Annual Symposium liaison, awarded by the International Women in Autophagy Organization
Gordon Research Conference Travel Award, awarded by the Gordon Research Conferences
People’s Choice Award-Outstanding VMCVM Oral Presentation, first place and outstanding research abstract award, awarded by the Virginia–Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine (VMCVM)
Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences Travel Fund Award, awarded by the Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences Program at Virginia Tech
John L. Johnson Award for Excellence in Microbiology & Molecular Biology, awarded by Virginia Tech
Ellen E. Wade Graduate Studies Fellowship, awarded by the Virginia Tech Graduate School
Student research and grant awards, awarded by the Center for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-borne Pathogens