Emory Microbiologist Jeremy Boss Named Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Immunology

The American Association of Immunologists has appointed Jeremy M. Boss, PhD, professor of microbiology and immunology at Emory University School of Medicine, next editor-in-chief of the Journal of Immunology (JI)--one of the most cited publications in biomedicine.

Dr. Boss is director of Emory’s Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, and has been a member of the Emory School of Medicine faculty since 1986. He has served as deputy editor of the JI since 2003, and served previously as an associate editor and reviewer.

Dr. Boss will assume his new five-year position on July 1, 2008, replacing current editor-in-chief Robert R. Rich, MD, currently dean of the medical school at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, and former executive associate dean for research at Emory University School of Medicine.

“We are extremely proud that one of our eminent Emory faculty members has been selected for this prestigious and important position in the biosciences,” says Fred Sanfilippo, MD, PhD, CEO of Emory’s Woodruff Health Sciences Center. “Scientific journals serve as the foundation of research reporting, and journal editors have a significant responsibility as international leaders in scientific advancement.”

After receiving BS and PhD degrees from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany, Dr. Boss served as a postdoctoral fellow in molecular biology and immunology at Harvard University. His awards include the Distinguished Doctoral Dissertation Award, the Damon Runyon Cancer Fund Postdoctoral Fellowship, and an NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship Award.

Dr. Boss’s research has focused in part on molecular mechanisms of regulation of immune system genes; regulation of human major histocompatibility complex class II genes; regulation of genes by tumor necrosis factor; and regulation of PD-1 gene and its relationship to T cell exhaustion and disease.

“I am honored to accept the position as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Immunology,” says Dr. Boss. "Over the past five years the journal has seen some remarkable changes as it has evolved into a fully electronic publication, implementing electronic submission and review, establishing an electronic archive, and instituting additional sections.

“I hope to continue the transition of the journal to modern media so that it attracts readers of all career stages within the discipline. The JI has been the home of many of my group’s publications, as it has been for most immunologists. I believe the journal is the workhorse of our field and must maintain its standard of excellence and high citation rate while representing the entire field of immunology.”

In addition to leading active research and training programs, Dr. Boss is the author of a popular book on careers in biomedical research (“Academic Scientists at Work: Navigating the Biomedical Career”) and is a sought-after speaker for his informational and entertaining lectures on career issues. His articles on publishing tips, career decisions and time management are frequently featured in Science Magazine’s “NextWave.”