Six faculty members at The University of Texas at Austin have been elected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
AAAS fellows are chosen annually by their peers to recognize their scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications.
The 2011 fellows from The University of Texas at Austin are:
Z. Jeffrey Chen, professor of molecular cell and developmental biology in the College of Natural Sciences. Chen was recognized for distinguished contributions to the field of genetics and agriculture, particularly for biological understanding and application of polyploidy and hybrid vigor in plant improvement.
Benny Freeman, professor of chemical engineering in the Cockrell School of Engineering. Freeman was recognized for seminal contributions to membrane science and engineering and for international leadership in polymer engineering.
Brent Iverson, professor and chairman of chemistry and biochemistry in the College of Natural Sciences. Iverson was recognized for innovations in the fields of supramolecular chemistry and protein engineering, and in the teaching of organic chemistry.
Edward Marcotte, professor of chemistry and biochemistry in the College of Natural Sciences. Marcotte was recognized for distinguished contributions in the area of computational, systems and synthetic biology.
Michael Ryan, professor of integrative biology in the College of Natural Sciences. Ryan was recognized for distinguished contributions to the fields of animal behavior and evolution, especially to studies of sexual selection and the evolution and mechanisms of communication.
Kris Wilson, senior lecturer of journalism in the College of Communication. Wilson was recognized for pioneering research on the role of weather forecasters in communicating accurate, credible information on climate change, and excellence in teaching future science communication specialists.
This year 539 members were elected fellows of the AAAS because of their scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications. New fellows will be inducted Feb. 18 during the 2012 AAAS annual meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia.
