MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN OF MEDICINE
- Dr. David W. Niesel
Appointed Chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology
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I
am pleased to announce that Dr. David W. Niesel has been
appointed chair of the Department of Microbiology and
Immunology. As you know, Dr. Niesel has served as chair on an
interim and term appointment basis since 2000. His leadership of
the department during more than the last six years has been
commendable and innovative, and I am pleased to appoint him as
chair.
Dr. Niesel is the vice dean for the Graduate School of
Biomedical Sciences and holds the J.P. Saunders Professorship.
He is also a member of the Center for Tropical Medicine, the
Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infections, the Sealy Center
for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics and Institute
for Human Infections and Immunity. He is a senior member of the
Sealy Center for Vaccine Development. He is also program
director of NIH supported Bridges –Masters to the Doctorate
Program.
Dr. Niesel came to UTMB in 1983 as an assistant professor in the
Department of Microbiology. He received his Ph.D. in
biochemistry in 1980 from North Carolina State University.
Following his graduation he served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at
the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and at
the University of Texas in Austin. Dr. Niesel held the position
of Vice Chair of Graduate and Postgraduate Education and served
as Graduate Program Director for Microbiology & Immunology from
1997-1999. He has served as Assistant Dean for Recruitment and
Alumni in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and in
1997 was named Vice Dean for the School, a position he continues
to hold.
Dr.
Niesel has been the lead investigator on a number of research
grants, including a NASA grant to explore Streptococcus
pneumoniae gene expression and virulence potential in the space
environment. Dr. Niesel, along with Dr. Norbert K. Herzog,
associate professor of pathology, received a President’s Cabinet
Award to create a radio show called “Medical Discovery News.”
The focus of the program is to educate a lay audience about
biomedical topics and how biomedical research will benefit their
health. The show is currently carried by three National Public
Radio stations, including a station in Monterrey, Mexico.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Niesel on this appointment.
