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Office of Research

UNL research is on the move

Prem S. Paul, D.V.M., Ph.D.,

Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development


Prem Paul
Prem S. Paul has been vice chancellor for research at University of Nebraska−Lincoln since July 1, 2001. In January 2008, his title changed to vice chancellor for research and economic development, reflecting his new responsibilities for economic development as well as research activities. He also was dean of graduate studies from July 2002 to January 2008.

During Paul’s tenure at UNL, external research funding has grown steadily to a record $105.7 million in 2008. During his tenure, UNL established several federally-funded multidisciplinary research centers, including the Nebraska Center for Virology and the Redox Biology Center, both funded by the National Institutes of Health; a Materials Research Science and Engineering Center and Plant Genomics Center, both funded by the National Science Foundation; and the Mid-America Transportation Center, funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation. UNL also assumed scientific management for NSF's ANDRILL project, built the powerful Diocles Laser and established the Nebraska Center for Energy Science Research in partnership with the Nebraska Public Power District.

Before joining UNL, Paul spent 16 years on the faculty at Iowa State University, where he was associate vice provost for research, 2000-2001; associate dean for research and graduate studies in the College of Veterinary Medicine, 1993-1999; and assistant director of the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station,1996-2000. Earlier, he was the veterinary medical officer at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Animal Disease Center in Ames, Iowa, for seven years.

Paul's scientific expertise is in animal virology, particularly swine viruses. He received his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the College of Veterinary Sciences at Panjab Agricultural University in India in 1969. He earned his doctorate in veterinary microbiology from the University of Minnesota in 1975 and was board-certified in veterinary microbiology in 1977.

Paul has published more than 100 papers in refereed journals as well as numerous books, book chapters and review articles. He has advised 26 graduate students and mentored 16 postdoctoral fellows and visiting scientists.

He has served on review panels for the NIH, the USDA and the NSF and was a member of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s xenotransplantation advisory subcommittee. He currently chairs the Coalition of EPSCoR/IDeA States and is a member of the Council on Research Policy & Graduate Education. He was a member of the National Academies Committee on Policy Implications of International Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars in the United States and past president of the Council of the Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases.

He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Veterinary Microbiologists, American Society for Virology, Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians.