Four USF faculty members elected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), one of the world's largest general scientific societies and publisher of the Science family of journals, has announced the 2023 class of AAAS Fellows-a distinguished lifetime honor within the scientific community. This latest class is comprised of 502 faculty, researchers, scientists, engineers and innovators nationwide.

"As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the AAAS Fellows, AAAS is proud to recognize the newly elected individuals. This year's class embodies scientific excellence, fosters trust in science throughout the communities they serve, and leads the next generation of scientists while advancing scientific achievements," said Sudip S. Parikh, Ph.D., AAAS chief executive officer and executive publisher of the Science family of journals.

"We are honored to have four University of South Florida faculty members earn this prestigious national recognition," said USF President Rhea Law. "These talented scholars are at the forefront of advancing new knowledge and fostering innovation, and I applaud them for their important contributions to solving global challenges in their respective fields."

USF's four new Fellows are:

Ramon Gonzalez, professor, (elected AAAS Engineering Section) - For outstanding contributions in the fields of metabolic engineering and biomanufacturing which have the potential to revolutionize energy, chemical and pharmaceutical production, environmental remediation, and agricultural systems.

Subhra Mohapatra, professor, and principal research scientist at James A. Haley Veterans Hospital (elected AAAS Medical Sciences Section) - For pioneering advances in molecular medicine, particularly developments in nanoscale drug delivery technologies advancing cancer detection and treatment, as well as cellular and molecular therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.

George Philippidis, associate dean for research (AAAS Engineering Section) - For outstanding contributions to integrating biomass and algae technologies for a cost-effective circular bioeconomy that reduces society's carbon footprint, conserves resources, and minimizes waste while promoting environmental and social justice.

Jeffrey Ryan, professor (AAAS Geology & Geography Section) - For distinguished contributions to "hard rock" geochemistry, especially in developing and examining key elemental and isotopic tracers used in the study of subduction systems, and national leadership in geoscience education.

AAAS first launched this lifetime recognition in 1874, about 25 years after the association was founded. In its 150th year, the AAAS Fellows program is proud to celebrate this new class, which joins the ranks of noted Fellows such as Alondra Nelson, the Harold F. Linder Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study and former deputy assistant to President Joe Biden and acting director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to go to space; Steven Chu, 1997 Nobel laureate in physics who served as the 12th U.S. Secretary of Energy; W. E. B. Dubois, considered the founding father of American sociology; Ellen Ochoa, veteran astronaut and the Johnson Space Center's first Hispanic and second female director in its history; Grace Hopper, pioneer in computer software development and programming language; and Vint Cerf, who co-designed the TCP/IP protocols and the architecture of the Internet and received the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The new Fellows will be formally recognized at an AAAS Forum in Washington, DC on September 21, 2024.