Academy membership recognizes distinguished and groundbreaking research achievements
University of Georgia professors C. Robin Buell and Daniel R. Perez have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, the organization announced on April 29.
Members are elected to NAS in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. Membership is a widely accepted mark of excellence in science and is considered one of the highest honors a scientist can receive. With their elections, UGA now counts 17 current or former faculty as members of the prestigious academy.
“On behalf of the University of Georgia, I want to congratulate Dr. Robin Buell and Dr. Daniel Perez for this tremendous honor,” UGA President Jere W. Morehead said. “Throughout their distinguished careers, these two outstanding scientists have produced groundbreaking work that has improved lives and continues to reshape their fields of study. We are so proud of all they have accomplished.”
C. Robin Buell
Buell is the Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar Chair in Crop Genomics in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. She studies the genomes of plants by leveraging comparative genomics, bioinformatics and computational biology. Buell was on the team that sequenced the first plant genome, Arabidopsis (a member of the mustard family), and the first crop genome, rice.
“Being nominated to the NAS is a major honor,” she said. “It reflects the work my group has done to advance plant genome biology in model, crop and medicinal species over the past 25 years.”
By analyzing plant genomes, Buell’s research has facilitated crop improvement, improved our understanding of plant specialized metabolites uses in human health and developed biotechnology approaches to improve crop productivity. In 2022, Buell was principal investigator on a $15.8 million Department of Energy award to genetically engineer poplar trees for use in production of biofuels, bioproducts and biomaterials.
“Dr. Buell has long been a highly respected member of the scientific community, and her election to the National Academy of Sciences is a well-deserved recognition of the innovative work she has done in plant genomics over the course of her career,” said CAES Dean and Director Nick T. Place. “CAES is proud to have Dr. Buell as part of our world-renowned faculty, where she continues to lead groundbreaking research that advances our understanding of plant genomes, drives agricultural innovation and helps secure a more sustainable future for global food systems.”
Daniel R. Perez
Perez is Caswell S. Eidson Chair in Poultry Medicine in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s department of population health and a Georgia Research Alliance Distinguished Investigator. In the Center for Vaccines and Immunology and Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, both housed within CVM, he focuses on emerging viral diseases, particularly zoonotic viruses like influenza that transfer from animals to humans.
“Being elected to the National Academy of Sciences is a tremendous honor,” Perez said. “Looking ahead, I see my work contributing to the NAS mission, particularly by helping increase public awareness and appreciation for science.”
Perez’s lab uses several approaches to better understand the virus host range. His long-term goal is to develop a comprehensive map of the molecular changes associated with both animal-to-human and human-to-human transmission of influenza.
“Dr. Daniel Perez is a visionary scientist whose life’s work has focused on unraveling influenza viruses,” said CVM Dean Lisa K. Nolan. “His research in understanding viral pathogenesis and transmission among host species is groundbreaking and has provided critical insight into new prevention strategies and vaccine approaches. We are truly proud his academic home is in the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine, where he is a critical partner in the work of two world-known centers — the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center and the Center for Vaccines and Immunology.”
NAS is a private, nonprofit institution that was established in 1863 under a congressional charter signed by Abraham Lincoln. It recognizes achievement in science by election to membership, and — with the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine — provides science, engineering and health policy advice to the federal government and other organizations.
“The profound contributions Dr. Buell and Dr. Perez have made to their respective fields of plant genomics and emerging viral diseases reflect the wide-ranging impact of research and innovation at the University of Georgia,” said S. Jack Hu, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “With their election, they brought recognition to their own scholarship and to our university. I congratulate them on this well-deserved honor.”
“Only a handful of scientists around the country achieve the kind of impact and stature that merits election to the NAS, and we couldn’t be prouder of this recognition for Drs. Buell and Perez,” said interim Vice President for Research Chris King. “Their years of innovative research have led to invaluable contributions to society that help elevate the national reputation of the university.”
Buell and Perez were among 120 new members and 30 international members elected at the NAS’s 162nd annual meeting.
