{"id":72576,"date":"2025-05-07T13:16:31","date_gmt":"2025-05-07T17:16:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/news\/?p=72576"},"modified":"2025-05-07T13:16:31","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T17:16:31","slug":"buell-perez-elected-to-national-academy-of-sciences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/news\/buell-perez-elected-to-national-academy-of-sciences\/","title":{"rendered":"Buell, Perez elected to National Academy of Sciences"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Academy membership recognizes distinguished and groundbreaking research achievements<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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University of Georgia professors<\/strong>\u00a0C. Robin Buell and Daniel R. Perez have been elected to the\u00a0National Academy of Sciences<\/a>, the organization announced on April 29.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn behalf of the University of Georgia, I want to congratulate Dr. Robin Buell and Dr. Daniel Perez for this tremendous honor,\u201d UGA President Jere W. Morehead said. \u201cThroughout 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

C. Robin Buell<\/h2>\n

Buell<\/a>\u00a0is the Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar Chair in Crop Genomics in the\u00a0College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing nominated to the NAS is a major honor,\u201d she said. \u201cIt reflects the work my group has done to advance plant genome biology in model, crop and medicinal species over the past 25 years.\u201d<\/p>\n

By analyzing plant genomes, Buell\u2019s 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\u00a0$15.8 million Department of Energy award<\/a>\u00a0to genetically engineer poplar trees for use in production of biofuels, bioproducts and biomaterials.<\/p>\n

\u201cDr. 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,\u201d said CAES\u00a0Dean and Director\u00a0Nick T. Place<\/a>. \u201cCAES 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel R. Perez<\/h2>\n

Perez<\/a>\u00a0is Caswell S. Eidson Chair in Poultry Medicine in the\u00a0College of Veterinary Medicine<\/a>\u2019s department of population health and a Georgia Research Alliance Distinguished Investigator. In the\u00a0Center for Vaccines and Immunology<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center<\/a>, both housed within CVM, he focuses on emerging viral diseases, particularly zoonotic viruses like influenza that transfer from animals to humans.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing elected to the National Academy of Sciences is a tremendous honor,\u201d Perez said. \u201cLooking ahead, I see my work contributing to the NAS mission, particularly by helping increase public awareness and appreciation for science.\u201d<\/p>\n

Perez\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cDr. Daniel Perez is a visionary scientist whose life\u2019s work has focused on unraveling influenza viruses,\u201d said CVM Dean Lisa K. Nolan. \u201cHis 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 \u2014 the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center and the Center for Vaccines and Immunology.\u201d<\/p>\n

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 \u2014 with the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine \u2014 provides science, engineering and health policy advice to the federal government and other organizations.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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,\u201d said S. Jack Hu, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. \u201cWith their election, they brought recognition to their own scholarship and to our university. I congratulate them on this well-deserved honor.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly a handful of scientists around the country achieve the kind of impact and stature that merits election to the NAS, and we couldn\u2019t be prouder of this recognition for Drs. Buell and Perez,\u201d said interim Vice President for Research Chris King. \u201cTheir years of innovative research have led to invaluable contributions to society that help elevate the national reputation of the university.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buell and Perez were among 120 new members and 30 international members elected at the NAS\u2019s 162nd annual meeting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Academy membership recognizes distinguished and groundbreaking research achievements University of Georgia professors\u00a0C. Robin Buell and Daniel R. Perez have been elected to the\u00a0National 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 … <\/p>\n

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