NC State’s Todd Klaenhammer Named AAAS Fellow

Dr. Todd R. Klaenhammer of Raleigh, a North Carolina State University Distinguished University Professor and William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor in the Department of Food, Bioprocessing & Nutrition Sciences, the Department of Microbiology and the Department of Genetics, has been elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

He is among 531 scientists to be honored as a fellow this year by AAAS, the world’s largest scientific society and publisher of the journal Science.

Klaenhammer was honored for “distinguished international contributions to research and for leadership in the fields of microbiology and genomics of lactic acid bacteria used beneficially in bioprocessing and health.”

Klaenhammer studies genetic approaches to improving lactic acid bacteria, the “good” bacteria used as starter cultures and probiotics in fermented food and dairy products, like yogurt. His recent research efforts have investigated the molecular mechanisms responsible for the survival and activity of probiotic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract and then used that information to develop live bacterial delivery systems for oral vaccines.

Klaenhammer also directs the Southeast Dairy Foods Research Center, which conducts research and develops and applies new technologies for processing of milk and its components into dairy products and ingredients with improved health, safety, quality and expanded functionalities.

Each year, the AAAS Council – the policymaking body of the society – elects members whose “efforts on behalf of the advancement of science or its applications are scientifically or socially distinguished.” Fellows are nominated by their peers and undergo an extensive review process.

Klaenhammer will be recognized at the AAAS annual meeting in San Diego in February 2010.

– kulikowski –