Dr. Jose L. Lopez-Ribot is a Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and the Margaret Batts Tobin Distinguished Chair in Biotechnology at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA).  He received his Pharm.D. and Ph.D. in Microbiology degrees from the University of Valencia (Spain). He is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors. He was a founding member of the San Antonio Center for Medical Mycology and the South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases. His research has provided important insights into the pathogenesis of candidiasis, from the basic biology of the cell wall, biofilm formation, adhesion and morphogenetic conversions, to the use of animal models to better understand virulence and host responses, to the more clinical aspects such as antifungals, drug resistance and vaccines, with the ultimate goal of devising new strategies for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of candidiasis. He is an author of over 200 publications, and several patents. He has mentored many undergraduate and Ph.D. students, as well as postdoctoral fellows and international visiting scientists. He has also provided extensive service to his discipline as a grant reviewer and editorial board member for multiple Microbiology and Mycology journals.