Professor Paul Soloway will serve as the next Chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine effective ‪August 1, 2017. He received his BA from Cornell University in 1979, a PhD from Princeton in 1989, and has been an Associate and then Full Professor in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell since 2002. While at Cornell, his NIH-funded research has focused on mechanisms regulating epigenetic states, and developing single molecule approaches for epigenomic analysis.  New projects, recently established, address the effects of nutrients and toxins on epigenomic states in the brain. “Paul has many ties with our community already as he has been a frequent collaborator with researchers in our College,” says Dean Lorin Warnick. “We are fortunate to have a scientist of his quality and breadth of academic experience join us as department chair.”

“I have gotten to know many vet school colleagues during my 15 years at Cornell, and they are a great group of scientists and clinicians--smart, creative, and collegial,” says Soloway. “The chance to join and work with them more closely is an amazing privilege that expands upon the terrific opportunities I’ve enjoyed at Cornell already." He adds he was “both humbled and honored” to receive the appointment. “My first priorities are to do no harm, and to lessen any challenges that might distract the Biomedical Sciences faculty from doing what they do best in the lab, clinic and classroom. Biomedical Sciences will be a logical participant in university-wide initiatives, including one to expand genome biology at Cornell.  Another goal will be finding outstanding recruits for that initiative whose interests align with department and university priority areas.”  

The occasion also calls for recognition and thanks to Dr. Mark Roberson, who served as chair since 2007, and will be returning to full-time faculty responsibilities and continuing his research in reproductive biology. “Mark has done an excellent job in this role and it has been a pleasure to work with him in College leadership,” says Warnick.