Professor Gavalchin received a B.S. in Microbiology from Rutgers College, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, in 1977 and a PhD in Microbiology from The Graduate School, Rutgers University, NJ in 1983. She completed postdoctoral studies from 1982-1986 in the laboratory of Syamal Datta, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, focusing on immumopathogenesis of SLE. In 1986, she joined the Rheumatology Section, Depts. of Medicine & Microbiology, SUNY Health Science Center, Syracuse, NY, as a Research Assistant Professor. In 1987, she was named Assistant Professor, Hematology/Oncology Section, Depts. of Medicine & Microbiology, SUNY Health Science Center, Syracuse, NY, and was promoted with tenure to Associate Professor in 1992. In 2000, she was promoted to Professor. Since 1999, she has held a joint appointment at Cornell University. From 1999-2003, she held the appointment of Adjunct Associate Professor, The Baker Institute for Animal Health, Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. From 2003 to the present she has been Associate Professor, Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY