Five NC State Faculty Named AAAS Fellows

Five North Carolina State University faculty members have been elected as Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

Dr. H.T. Banks, Distinguished University Professor of Mathematics, elected for distinguished contributions to the field of applied mathematics, particularly in quantitative modeling in the biomedical sciences and other areas of science and engineering. An NC State alumnus, Banks has authored four books and more than 400 papers in applied mathematics and engineering journals over his 40-year career.

Dr. Robert J. Beichner, Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor of Physics, elected for outstanding contributions to K-16 education and for sustained and exemplary leadership in physics education, particularly for his development of SCALE-UP pedagogy. SCALE-UP creates a collaborative, hands-on learning environment for large-enrollment courses that allows instructors and students more interaction than in the traditional lecture-heavy approach.

Dr. Craig V. Sullivan, William Neal Reynolds Professor of Biology, elected for distinguished contributions to vertebrate reproductive biology, advancing knowledge of the formation and maturation of fish eggs, and establishing striped bass farming as a major form of aquaculture.

Dr. David W. Threadgill, professor and department head of genetics, elected for distinguished contributions to the field of genetics, particularly for envisioning the Collaborative Cross model – a thousand strains of mice that assist researchers in studying human disease – and establishing a new paradigm for pre-clinical drug safety testing.

Dr. Robert J. Trew, Alton and Mildred Lancaster Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, elected for distinguished contributions to the science and engineering of millimeter and microwave devices, and leadership in advancing research and education in communication and radar systems.

They are among 503 scientists to be honored this year by AAAS, the world’s largest scientific society and the publisher of the journal Science.

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.

The five NC State fellows will be recognized at the AAAS annual meeting in Washington, D.C. in February.

– kulikowski –