I’m a chemistry & math major; undergrad; I want a career like Grace from the movie avatar; she works in a biolab, but goes out and gets samples.
I like working in labs; and I want to do some real groundbreaking research type stuff.
I like reading about ebola & smallpox. I also am interested in working for the military/government.
What graduate degrees should I look into??? I am interested in getting a PhD.
You’re basically describing a microbio degree with a field work component, emphasis in virology and emerging infectious diseases.
How much bio research do you have? If you don’t have that much, you should start taking bio classes and try to get into a bio lab for some research experience. You can also look into the NIH post-baccalaureate programs if you don’t have the bio background. I would also seek out a faculty member at your school in the microbiology/virology department (if you have one). They should be able to give you more advice based on your history and experience.
For PhD, look into microbiology or virology programs that have principle investigators (PIs) that do field work (Eva Harris at Cal is a good example, and I think there’s a few at UCSF and Emory). You might need some epidemiology coursework as well. Look at the backgrounds of the people who do research at USAMRIID and CDC. You might look into PIs at Emory since they’re across the street from CDC and some PIs at the CDC can take Emory grad students. Another option is to do a research PhD at a rigorous program and then do a post doc at USAMRIID or CDC (especially in the Special Pathogens Branch). And it looks like USAMRIID has a [student internship program](http://www.usamriid.army.mil/studentpage.htm) for undergrads. There’s also a few [post-MA fellowship programs](https://www.aphl.org/fellowships/Pages/default.aspx) hosted by the APHL and CDC.
If you haven’t yet, you should read Virus Hunters of the CDC, it’s an older book but still good and written by two researchers who were at the CDC.
Epidemiologists do this, somewhat; to become one you would major in any field (but a natural science or math/applied math or statistics would be best) and then get an MPH in epidemiology. The CDC also has some internship programs to help expose students to epidemiology.