Dr. Curtis Suttle has received the Jacob Biely Research Prize, UBC’s premier award recognizing outstanding research excellence. Established in 1969 and named after eminent UBC researcher and professor Jacob Biely, the prize is awarded annually to a full-time tenure-stream UBC faculty member whose distinguished record of research has shaped their field and contributed substantially to UBC’s standing as a leading research institution.     

Dr. Suttle is a professor in the Departments of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences, Botany, Microbiology & Immunology, and Institute for the Oceans & Fisheries. His research group studies the role of viruses in the environment, addressing topics such as: 1) the effect of viruses on primary productivity and phytoplankton population dynamics; 2) isolation and characterization of novel aquatic viruses; 3) development of molecular approaches for enumerating and identifying viruses; 4) temporal and spatial distribution of specific viruses; 5) mechanisms regulating viral abundance in nature; and 6) biology, infection processes, and evolution and genetic diversity of viruses. Using approaches ranging from nucleic-acid sequencing to oceanographic sampling, the Suttle Lab examines a diversity of viruses, including but not limited to those infecting prokaryotes, microbial eukaryotes, and marine invertebrates, across environments ranging from the oceans and high Arctic to deep mines, aeolian dust, lakes and migratory-bird ponds.  

Dr. Suttle has made significant contributions to the field of marine virology throughout his career. His early work helped redefine scientific understanding of the role of viruses in marine carbon flow through the concept of the “viral shunt” (1999), which was later recognized with the 2021 John H. Martin Award presented by the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO). Recently, his team has identified pathogens responsible for sea star wasting disease and mass oyster die-offs, advancing understanding of marine disease ecology.  

Congratulations, Dr. Suttle!