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The December 2025 issue of 鈥淔reshwater Science鈥� will carry special meaning in 橘子视频鈥檚 Department of Biology.

The issue will feature a paper with the late GS biology alumnus Jos茅 S谩nchez-Ruiz as the lead author. The paper,聽 鈥�,鈥� is the culmination of S谩nchez-Ruiz鈥檚 graduate research during his time as a master’s student at the University.

Focusing on how environmental changes affect leaf decomposition and their role as an essential food source in aquatic ecosystems, the publication is based on five years of research by Sanchez and his faculty mentor and co-author, Checo Col贸n-Gaud, Ph.D., professor of biology.

Col贸n-Gaud says there is cause for celebration any time a student is published. This work, however, is particularly meaningful since it is being published posthumously. 

鈥淚 know that all of our students hold a very special place in our lives, but with Jos茅 it was even more,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e were both from Puerto Rico, worked in similar systems and with some of the same people, and we shared some unique experiences. This means a lot to me personally.鈥�

After graduating from Georgia Southern, S谩nchez-Ruiz pursued a doctorate in ecology at Montana State University. He passed away in 2023 before completing his degree, and the degree was awarded posthumously later that year.

Originally an art major at the University of Puerto Rico, S谩nchez-Ruiz was nearing completion of that degree when two science courses changed the trajectory of his life.

鈥淚t was kind of amazing that I could go and explore places that I would never imagine existed,鈥� S谩nchez-Ruiz . 鈥淚 thought, 鈥楽o they pay me to be an explorer? To do all of this stuff? To explain the natural world?鈥� I don鈥檛 know. It kind of fit with my personality, and I immediately switched my major to biology.鈥�

In his time as a researcher, S谩nchez-Ruiz conducted research across North America and Iceland. A National Science Foundation grant even led to field studies in southern Chile.

In 2016, S谩nchez-Ruiz graduated from the University of Puerto Rico with a Bachelor of Science in biology. He decided to further his education at Georgia Southern after establishing a relationship with Col贸n-Gaud during his undergraduate years.

Having found his passion later than most, S谩nchez-Ruiz more than made up for lost time. Upon graduation from Georgia Southern, he published six peer-reviewed papers and received the Averitt Award for Research Excellence, the university鈥檚 highest honor for graduate research.

Steve Vives, Ph.D., professor of biology at Georgia Southern and former biology department chair, called him an 鈥渆merging star in the field of freshwater ecology.鈥�

As impressive as his academic accomplishments were, S谩nchez-Ruiz, affectionately known as 鈥淭osti,鈥� is chiefly remembered as a caring friend who was quick to uplift others.

鈥淗e was simply a joy to be around,鈥� said Vives. 鈥淗e was a leader among the graduate students, sometimes as a mentor and role model, but just as often as someone who would be a good and invested listener. He was truly kind.鈥�

His investment in others wasn鈥檛 just limited to his fellow students. S谩nchez-Ruiz served as a fellow in the Society of Freshwater Science鈥檚 , which aim to increase representation from historically underrepresented backgrounds in freshwater science.

When asked in a whether he would recommend a career in biology to those who love science and adventure, he responded with: 鈥淕o for it.鈥�

According to his mentor, that three-word phrase captured much of what S谩nchez-Ruiz embodied, both in research and in life.

鈥淭hat was Jos茅,鈥� Col贸n-Gaud said. 鈥淗e was fearless, intellectually curious and up for anything. This latest publication is indicative of the kind of science Jos茅 believed in: rigorous, long-term and applicable beyond the boundaries of academia.鈥�