Virginia Weis is a University Distinguished Professor of Integrative Biology at Oregon State University, USA. Her research group studies the symbiotic relationship between corals and their microbial algal partners. These symbioses are central to the health of coral reef ecosystems, and when the partnerships breakdown due to environmental stress such as global warming, the entire reef ecosystem is threatened. Her group examines the molecular and cellular regulation of the coral host and their algal symbionts. Key areas of study in her group are the role of the coral host immune system in maintaining a healthy symbiosis and the regulation and coordination of host-symbiont growth. Work by her group helps inform the development of solutions for saving reefs. Weis received her BS in Biology from Yale University and her PhD in Biology from University of California Los Angeles. She has been on the faculty at Oregon State since 1996. Weis is an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and in 2022, she was awarded the Eminence in Research Award by the International Coral Reef Society. Weis is currently co-Chair of the Coral Restoration Consortium (CRC) Advisory Board. She has authored over 125 publications, mentored 20 PhD students, 13 postdoctoral fellows and instructed thousands of undergraduates.