Dr. Viviana Ferreira, an associate professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology in the College of Medicine and Life Sciences, recently took over as editor-in-chief of the journal Immunobiology.
Founded in 1909 by Nobel Prize-winning scientist Dr. Paul Ehrlich and other distinguished scientists, Immunobiology is the first published specialist immunology journal and serves as an important communications link between immunology scientists and clinicians worldwide.
Dr. Viviana Ferreira, an associate professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology in the College of Medicine and Life Sciences, recently took over as editor-in-chief of the journal Immunobiology.
The journal is published six times a year and features original research articles, short communications, reviews, commentaries and letters to the editors, with special issues also published to cover specific research themes within the field of immunology and proceedings of immunological societies.
Ferreira, whose work was published in the journal, was nominated for the position by Dr. Wilhelm Schwaeble, director of research in the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Cambridge, who had been Immunobiology’s editor-in-chief since 2002. Ferreira assumed the role on Jan. 31.
“The fact that I have been entrusted with this important editor-in-chief task by the outgoing editor-in-chief, Dr. Wilhelm Schwaeble, and Elsevier Publisher [a global publisher of science and health information] is a true honor,” she said.
“This is an opportunity that only few scientists ever get to experience. It is clear that with this great opportunity comes great responsibility and I am up for the challenge.”
Ferreira expressed her gratitude and admiration for past research mentors, Dr. Arturo Ferreira and Dr. Michael Pangburn, “who provided both a highly challenging and equally supportive environment; always encouraging creativity and independence.”
“In addition, I have had the fortune of having academic mentors — also known as “guardian angels” — at different points in my career: Dr. Wilhelm Schwaeble, Dr. Andrea Tenner, Dr. Isabel Novella, Dr. Akira Takashima, Dr. Robert Blumenthal and Dr. Kevin Pan, who have given me invaluable advice, support when pursuing professional opportunities and have helped keep me sane throughout my independent research years. I feel prepared for this endeavor due to the fortune of having known, interacted with and gained wisdom from each one of them.”
She added that she has several goals for the publication.
“The main short-term goal is to increase the editorial board by adding additional world-renowned experts in varying fields of immunology to facilitate the expert review of submitted manuscripts, and to ensure the fair, transparent review and acceptance of only the highest quality submissions,” Ferreira said.
