Hernan Garcia-Ruiz Appointed Associate Director of Nebraska Center for Virology
Hernan Garcia-Ruiz, associate professor of virology in the Department of Plant Pathology, has been named the new associate director of the Nebraska Center for Virology. The appointment places Garcia-Ruiz in a key leadership role alongside Eric Weaver, an associate professor in the School of Biological Sciences who assumes the role of permanent director.
The leadership transition marks a new chapter for the research hub. Weaver succeeds Charles Woods, who led the facility from its founding in 2000 until 2019. During the search process, the interim director position was held successively by Deb Hamernik, former associate vice chancellor for research, and Jennifer Mize Nelson, director of research strategy and infrastructure in the Office of Research and Economic Development.
Garcia-Ruiz joined the University of Nebraska-Lincoln faculty in 2013. His research centers on the molecular mechanisms of plant-virus interactions, specifically investigating antiviral immunity, gene silencing, genetic variation in viruses, and the identification of cellular genes that condition susceptibility or resistance to viruses. His work combines genetic, genomic, and bioinformatic approaches to understand how infections establish and how diseases develop.
New Leadership Appointed at Nebraska Center for Virology
The Nebraska Center for Virology was established in the fall of 2000 through an award from the National Institutes of Health Institutional Development Award program.
Bob Wilhelm, vice chancellor for research and economic development, noted the credentials of the incoming leadership team.
Eric Weaver and Hernan Garcia-Ruiz have built impressive research programs and are recognized national experts in the field. I am confident that with their leadership, NCV is positioned to contribute to scientific breakthroughs in virology and health for people, animals and plants. Bob Wilhelm
Weaver’s own research explores host-pathogen interactions using bioinformatics, phylogenetics, immunology, and molecular biology. Before joining the UNL faculty in 2015, Weaver spent eight years as an associate professor and research associate at the Mayo Clinic.
Mark Button, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, pointed to the collaborative nature of the appointments. Button stated that Weaver has a proven track-record of building interdisciplinary teams that advance cutting-edge science addressing human, animal, and plant health challenges.
Highlighting the background of the center's mission was Mike Boehm, Harlan vice chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources and University of Nebraska vice president. Boehm noted that the events of the past 18 months have highlighted the dangers viruses present and the necessity of strong virology research programs.
