CSU - UAF (Univ. Alaska Fairbanks) 2 Plus 2 Veterinary Medicine Collaboration
Dr. Hueffer’s research background is in host-pathogen interaction, molecular biology and ecology of infectious diseases. More recently he has been working on student engagement strategies specifically in rural Alaska. I received veterinary training in Germany and after this clinical training he pursued a PhD under Dr. Colin Parrish at the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine on host range of canine parvovirus studying the molecular basis and evolution of parvoviruses as they expanded their host range from cats to dogs. He also investigated receptor virus interactions of canine parvovirus with the transferring receptor. After graduate school he furthered his molecular pathogenesis training at Yale Medical School under Dr. Jorge Galán studying Salmonella pathogenesis until taking his current position as faculty at UAF. Since arriving at UAF, Dr. Hueffer has expanded his research interest to investigate infectious diseases in Alaskan wildlife with a special interest in zoonotic diseases, which are diseases that are transmitted from animals to people.
Dr. Hueffer has taught courses in the Departments of Biology & Wildlife and Veterinary Medicine. His teaching experience ranges from introductory courses with around 100 students to graduate and professional courses. He developed 5 new courses at UAF and, as chair of the curriculum committee for the Department of Veterinary Medicine, has overseen the implementation of a new professional academic program at UAF. He holds a post graduate certificate in veterinary education and has been internationally recognized for his teaching excellence. Dr. Hueffer has mentored many undergraduate and graduate students as well as post doctoral fellows and junior faculty.
Dr. Hueffer was a founding member of the Department of Veterinary Medicine at UAF, In July 2018 he took over as Associate Dean of Veterinary Medicine in July of this year and now leads the UAF portion of the UAF-CSU collaborative professional veterinary program.