Welcoming Mark Paul Rivarez: New Assistant Professor in Plant Science

The Faculty of Land and Food Systems is excited to welcome Dr. Mark Paul Rivarez as a new Assistant Professor in Plant Science. He will lead the Phytopathology + Virology research group at LFS. Rivarez brings a wealth of international research experience, a deep commitment to plant health, and a passion for mentoring future scientists and agriculturists.

A Global Academic Journey

Growing up in Marinduque Island in the Philippines where farming and fishing are central to everyday life, Rivarez developed an early fascination with plants and agriculture. His interest expanded into microbiology while doing undergraduate research at the International Rice Research Institute (Headquarters) in Laguna, Philippines, where he studied the rice tungro viruses, which are major threats to rice production worldwide.

“Seeing this impact firsthand motivated me to further understand plant viruses, which collectively cause billions (in estimate dollar value) in crop losses globally each year,” Rivarez explains.

His academic path has since taken him across the globe – from the University of the Philippines for his bachelors and masters; to research experiences in Slovenia, France, and Spain for his doctoral studies; to the United States for his postdoctoral research; and, now to Canada as a faculty member at UBC.

“This international experience allowed me to learn advanced techniques and different scientific approaches. It shaped my research program by combining global perspectives to address challenges in plant pathology and virology,” Rivarez shares.

Researching Viruses to Protect Crops and Ecosystems

At the heart of Rivarez’s research is the study of viruses and microbes in agricultural ecosystems (i.e., agroecosystems), particularly those affecting crops like tomatoes and nearby weed plants in the field or greenhouse areas. Using modern DNA and RNA sequencing methods, his team works to detect both known and novel viruses, further study their ecology and evolution, and predict their epidemiology.

“What excites me the most is the process of discovery itself.”

– Dr. Paul Rivarez

“What excites me the most is the process of discovery itself – finding viruses previously unknown to science and learning more about their roles,” Rivarez says.

While viruses evolve quickly and spread through many channels, Rivarez is optimistic about the tools now available: “Portable nanopore sequencers, global sequence database mining, and artificial intelligence (AI)-based modelling allow us to detect and analyze viruses in large scales, and in a faster and more efficient way than before. This helps us understand and predict outbreaks and develop better ways to mitigate plant virus epidemics.”

Building a Sustainable and Resilient Future

Rivarez’s work goes beyond his scientific discoveries in plant pathogen and virus ecology, evolution, and epidemiology. By identifying weed and other plant reservoirs of pathogenic viruses, he can assist farmers in developing better weed management decisions and act early to protect crops. His group is also exploring the potential of beneficial microbes naturally found in agroecosystems (‘plant probiotics’) to protect crops naturally, thus, offering promising alternatives to chemical pesticides and herbicides.

“These approaches could make farms more sustainable and more resilient.”

– Dr. Paul Rivarez

“These approaches could make farms more sustainable and more resilient to the impacts of disease outbreaks that are exacerbated by climate change and intensive monocultural practices,” Rivarez notes.

Mentoring the Next Generation

Teaching and mentorship are central to Rivarez’s vision as a professor: “Sharing the excitement of discovery with students is deeply rewarding for me. Witnessing their intellectual curiosity grow, and seeing them develop into skilled and independent scientists and agriculturists is incredibly fulfilling.”

For Rivarez, nurturing motivated students is a vital investment in the future of science, agriculture, environmental health, and the society as a whole.

More Research in Plant Science