CNAS

Eight researchers at the University of California, Riverside have been named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), six of them members of the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences faculty. Including this year’s Fellows, the total number of UCR faculty members who have been recognized with AAAS Fellow distinction is 180.

Election as a fellow is an honor bestowed upon AAAS members by their peers. This year AAAS gave this honor to 531 of its members “because of their scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications.”

The 2009 AAAS Fellows from CNAS are:

Eric L. Chronister, professor of chemistry and chair, Department of Chemistry: “For distinguished contributions to the study of dynamics in molecular solids, particularly ultrafast spectroscopic studies of molecular materials under extreme temperature and pressure conditions.”

Timothy Close, professor of genetics and geneticist, Department of Botany and Plant Sciences: “For exemplary pioneering research, and international service and leadership in the field of crop genomics.”

Richard J. Debus, professor of biochemistry and biochemist, Department of Biochemistry: “For distinguished contributions to our understanding of the photosynthetic oxygen-evolving process and for instruction in all levels of biochemistry curriculum.”

Darleen A. DeMason, professor of botany and plant morphologist, Department of Botany and Plant Sciences: “For pioneering research into germination and development of plants and exemplary leadership in campus administration and professional societies.”

Timothy W. Lyons, professor of biogeochemistry, Department of Earth Sciences: “For distinguished contributions to biogeochemistry, particularly for the development of key geochemical redox proxies which track the evolution of Earth's surface chemistry through geologic time.”

 Daniel Schlenk, professor of aquatic ecotoxicology and aquatic ecotoxicologist, Department of Environmental Sciences: “For distinguished contributions to the field of biochemical mechanistic toxicology.”

 Other UCR faculty named as Fellows were Yolanda Moses, professor of anthropology, and Walid A. Najjar, professor of computer science and engineering. An alumnus of the Department of Psychology, Craig Edward Jahr (’73 B.A.), now at Oregon Health & Science University, was also named.

New Fellows will be presented with an official certificate and a gold and blue rosette pin on Feb. 20, 2010, during the annual meeting of the AAAS in San Diego. All the 2009 AAAS Fellows will be announced in the Dec. 18 issue of Science, a weekly magazine published by the AAAS.

The tradition of AAAS Fellows began in 1874. Currently, members can be considered for the rank of Fellow if nominated by the steering groups of the AAAS’s sections; by three Fellows; or by the association’s chief executive officer.

The AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society. Founded in 1848, the association includes some 262 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals.