Nomura, Christopher
Christopher Nomura
Dr. Christopher T. Nomura is the Vice President for Research and Economic Development and a Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Idaho. He leads initiatives to identify research opportunities, secure extramural funding, and build external collaborative partnerships. Prior to this, he served as the Vice President for Research and Professor of Biochemistry at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF). In his capacity, Dr. Nomura oversaw McIntire-Stennis funding, which is designed to increase forestry research and train future forestry scientists. He earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology from Pennsylvania State University.
“Understand that your life’s journey and the resilience you have cultivated by being yourself and achieving what you have has prepared you for future success.” - Dr. Christopher Nomura, 2023
Lundgren, B.R., Sarwar, Z., and C.T. Nomura. 2023. The enhancer-binding proteins (EBPs) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Key components for gene regulation, pathogenesis and environmental response. Front Microbiol. In preparation.
Li, D., Rao, X., Su, Z., Nomura, C.T., Chen, S., and Q. Wang. 2023. A reliable and predictable smart RBS library to fine-tune gene expression in Bacillus species. Nucleic Acids Res. Submitted.
Ji, Y., Liang, Y., Li, L., Wang, Y., Pi, Y., Xing, P., Nomura, C.T., Chen, S., and Q. Wang (2023). A new platform for efficient extracellular production of cytoplasmic enzymes: Engineering the Tat-secretion pathway of Bacillus licheniformis for the secretion of arginase. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. Submitted.
Mierzati, M., Sakurai, T., Ishii-Hyakutake, M., Miyahara, Y., Nomura, C.T., Tauchi, S., Abe, H., and T. Tsuge 2023. Biosynthesis, characterization, and biodegradation of elastomeric polyhydroxyalkanoate.s consisting of -dimethylated monomer units. Biomacromol. Submitted.
Miyahara, Y., Nakamura, T., Mierzati, M., Qie, Z., Shibasaka, T, Nomura, C.T., Taguchi, S., Abe, H., and T. Tsuge. 2023. Thermal and crystallization properties of a polyhydroxyalkanoate binary copolymer containing 3- hydroxybutyrate and 3-hydroxy-2-methylvalerate units. Processes. 11(7), 1901. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11071901
Born in East Los Angeles, Dr. Nomura experienced a childhood shuttling between Alhambra and South Central Los Angeles. As a child, he remembers visiting Venice Beach and the canals, where he observed a significant amount of trash, particularly plastic six-pack rings. His early encounters with environmental issues inspired a desire to take action and address pollution concerns.
He embarked on his academic journey by attending the University of California at Santa Cruz. During his undergraduate years, Dr. Nomura delved into the intriguing world of immunology and physiology, focusing his studies on the unique aspects of elephant seal biology. While in college, a pivotal experience for Dr. Nomura unfolded as he participated in the MBRS and MARC programs. These initiatives facilitated the discovery of a supportive community of peer students and opportunities to interact with esteemed professors such as Leo Ortiz, Frank Talamantes, Martha Zuniga, and Clif Poodry. Dr. Nomura attributes this period as instrumental in setting the trajectory for his current professional path. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Biology with honors in 1994.
His enthusiasm for scientific exploration led him to pursue a Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology at Pennsylvania State University. His doctoral research centered around cyanobacterial electron transport proteins and gene regulation, showcasing his early commitment to understanding the intricate mechanisms within microbial systems. He completed his doctorate in 2001.
Continuing his pursuit of knowledge, Dr. Nomura spent a significant period from 2001 to 2006 at the RIKEN Institute in Japan, working in the renowned Natural Polymer Chemistry laboratory under the mentorship of Prof. Dr. Yoshiharu Doi. This international experience greatly contributed to the multidisciplinary nature of his research interests, spanning molecular microbiology, microbial physiology, metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, protein engineering, biochemistry, synthetic chemistry, and polymer chemistry.
In 2006, Dr. Nomura moved from Japan to Syracuse, New York, to be an Assistant Professor at the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2011 and full professor in 2016. IN 2016, Dr. Noruma also began as a Visiting Lecturer at Hubei University. From 2017 to 2020, Dr. Noruma served as Vice President for Research at SUNY. At SUNY ESF, he excelled in his research and played a crucial role in overseeing McIntire-Stennis funding to advance forestry research and nurture future forestry scientists.
Recognized for his extensive experience in fostering industry collaborations and collaborating with national and international research funding agencies, in 2020, Dr. Noruma was named Vice President for Research and Economic Development at the University of Idaho. University of Idaho President Scott Green believed Dr. Nomura’s dedication to growing the research enterprise aligns with the university’s mission to serve the state of Idaho. As Vice President for Research and Economic Development, Dr. Nomura is the Chief Research Officer, leading initiatives to identify research opportunities, secure extramural funding, and build external collaborative partnerships. As the head of the Office of Research and Economic Development (ORED), he oversees administrative, compliance, and technical support functions, ensuring that the research enterprise at the University of Idaho thrives under his leadership. Dr. Nomura’s talent and energy are invaluable as the university strives to make a lasting impact through cutting-edge research and economic development.
Dr. Nomura has authored over 80 original articles in refereed scientific journals and book chapters throughout his academic career. Additionally, he holds four U.S. Patents, underscoring his commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and contributing to sustainable materials through innovative research.
A testament to Dr. Nomura’s commitment to education and mentorship is evident in his mentorship journey. During his formative years, he received guidance from Charles Leo Ortiz and Donald Bryant, mentors who shaped his scientific endeavors. Under the mentorship of Professor Ortiz, Dr. Nomura experienced exceptional guidance and unwavering support since his undergraduate years when he worked in Professor Ortiz’s research group. Throughout his career, Professor Ortiz has consistently challenged Dr. Nomura to exceed expectations, always providing this encouragement in a supportive manner.
Between 2001 and 2006, he benefited from Yoshiharu Doi’s mentorship at RIKEN Institute during his postdoctoral fellowship.
Dr. Nomura’s mentoring journey commenced as an undergraduate in Professor Ortiz’s lab, where he supervised high school students from nearby Watsonville High School on a research project. Dr. Nomura’s commitment to mentoring continued through his graduate studies and time as a postdoc in Japan. Remaining connected with Professor Ortiz, he hosted two undergraduate students from the MHIRT program during his postdoctoral tenure in Japan. As a faculty at SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry, Dr. Nomura felt fortunate to extend his mentorship to postdocs and undergraduate and graduate students.
His international connections with institutions like the RIKEN Institute (Japan), Hubei University (China), and Centro Nacional Patagonia (Argentina) reflect a commitment to fostering global collaborations and knowledge exchange.
Dr. Nomura offers the following advice to younger professionals, “Understand that your life’s journey and the resilience you have cultivated by being yourself and achieving what you have has prepared you for future success. Stay humble and work hard to achieve your goals. Embrace differences in people, but know your core values. Listen and learn always. Be outcome-oriented” (2023).
CAES. 2023. Dr. Nomura Joins CAES Steering Committee As VPR at University of Idaho. https://caes.org/dr-christopher-nomura-joins-caes-steering-committee-as-….
Christopher Nomura. n.d. Home [LinkedIn Page]. LinkedIn. Retrieved November 15, 2023 from https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophernomura/.
Survey and interviews conducted by Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Sustainability Initiative staff. 2022-2023. Yale University-School of the Environment. New Haven, Connecticut.
University of Idaho. 2023. Christopher Nomura. https://www.uidaho.edu/research/about/meet-our-people/vice-president-for…