Rate My Professor Eric Nelson

Eric Nelson is the Assistant Department Head and Distinguished Professor in the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences at South Dakota State University. He holds a B.A. in chemistry/biology from Mount Marty College (1979), an M.A. in zoology from the University of South Dakota (1981), and a Ph.D. in biological sciences/veterinary microbiology from South Dakota State University (1993). His career at SDSU includes significant contributions through the Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory.

Nelson's research focuses on virology and veterinary diagnostics, particularly emerging and transboundary diseases in livestock such as swine pathogens. He is a member of the American Society for Virology, Conference of Research Workers in Animal Disease, American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, American Association of Swine Veterinarians, and serves on the Center for Biologics Research and Commercialization. His achievements are honored with awards including the 2023 SDSU College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences Outstanding Researcher Award, 2020 Gamma Sigma Delta Service Award, 2017 University Distinguished Professor, 2015 Pat and Jo Scott Cannon Intellectual Property Commercialization Award, 2009 Gamma Sigma Delta Research Award and SDSU Technology Transfer Office Intellectual Property Commercialization Award, and 1994 Joseph J. Garbarino Achievement Award. Nelson has published 35 peer-reviewed articles (2010-2024) in journals like Microbiology Spectrum and Transboundary and Emerging Diseases. Key publications include “Serological Evidence for the Presence of Influenza D Virus in Ruminants” (2015), “An Evaluation of a Liquid Antimicrobial (Sal CURB®) for Reducing the Risk of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Infection in Feed” (2014), “Complete Genome Sequence of a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus (H5N1) from a Diseased Duck in China” (2015), and “The Presence of Alpha Interferon at the Time of Infection Alters the Severity of Antiviral Immune Responses” (2012). His work has advanced diagnostic tools and commercialization in veterinary science.