Buerki receives endowed chair position in botany

Sven Buerki, photo by Priscilla Grover

Sven Buerki, an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, received the Dr. Christopher Davidson Endowed Chair in Botany.

Buerki joined the Boise State Department of Biological Sciences in 2017 as part of the newly launched ecology, evolution and behavior doctorate program. He is an internationally recognized scholar of plant evolution, genomics and bioinformatics.

Prior to joining Boise State, Buerki was a researcher at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in the United Kingdom, collecting and describing plants with a specific emphasis on biodiversity hotspots. The experience connected him with Sharon Christoph and Christopher Davidson, with whom he collaborated on fieldwork expeditions in Borneo, Fiji and New Caledonia. Currently, his lab focuses on unraveling the molecular processes underpinning plant tolerance to drought, heat and salt, and to develop practical tools supporting landscape conservation and restoration.

Sven Buerki, photo by Priscilla Grover

In his role as the Dr. Christopher Davidson Endowed Chair in Botany, Buerki will advance botanical knowledge and advocate for ecosystem conservation in the face of climate change and habitat loss. This mission will be pursued through international partnerships, and by training and educating the next generation of biodiversity stewards.

"I'm honored to have been selected as the first Dr. Christopher Davidson Chair in Botany," Buerki said. "Dr. Davidson spent his life traveling the world, making discoveries, and advancing knowledge, and I'm grateful to have worked directly with him and Sharon. Through the chair endowed in his name, I hope to do the same, exciting students' passion for botany."

About endowed positions

For centuries, endowed positions have been regarded as the hallmark of an institution's long-term commitment to academic advancement and an important recognition of faculty excellence. They are uniquely distinct in the way that they provide valuable support for the work of faculty members of the highest distinction.

At Boise State, endowed positions enable faculty to contribute to strategic initiatives, enhance efforts for faculty recruitment and retention, provide exceptional experience to students and bestow prestige on programs and the university at large.

Endowed positions are typically funded by the generosity of donors and often carry a donor's or special honoree's name, with the funds given sustaining the gift for years to come. In each case, an endowed position supports the awardee's teaching, research and service to the profession and institution.

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