Christopher Nomura to join University of Idaho as VP of research and economic development

IBR Staff//August 26, 2020//

Listen to this article

photo of christopher nomura — Christopher Nomura

Christopher Nomura will become the University of Idaho’s vice president of research and economic development on Oct. 1. Nomura is vice president for research and a biochemistry professor at State University of New York’s College of Environmental Science and Forestry. He replaces Janet Nelson, who served in the position since 2016. Brad Ritts, U of I’s associate vice president for research and Department of Geological Sciences faculty member, has been serving as interim vice president of research and economic development since February.

Nomura earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of California at Santa Cruz and his doctoral degree in biochemistry, microbiology and molecular biology at Pennsylvania State University. An internationally recognized scientist/administrator, Nomura has more than 85 publications in top journals in his field and serves on several editorial boards. In his current position, Nomura oversees McIntire-Stennis funding coming to SUNY that is designed to increase forestry research and train future forestry scientists.

Nomura, who has a lengthy record of mentoring high school students, undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs and visiting scientists, has strong international connections to the RIKEN Institute (Japan), Hubei University (China) and Centro Nacional Patagonica (Argentina).