Seven faculty members from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville have been selected as AAAS Fellows by The American Association for the Advancement of Science. This is a lifetime honor. Fellows are scientists, engineers, and innovators recognized for their achievements across several disciplines. Past honorees included Thomas Edison and W. E. B DuBois.
This is a recap of what the seven are researching. A more detailed story with pictures is here.
Brady “Brad” Day – His research focus is on immune signaling and the role a muscle contraction protein called actin plays in pathogen response. A dynamic network of actin polymers and associated binding proteins – the actin cytoskeleton – is a critical signaling component required for a host to respond to pathogens.
Mircea Poder – He combines experimental and computational approaches to study microbial evolution, interspecies interaction, adaptation to various environments and the composition and dynamics of microbial communities.
Steven Wilhelm – He is interested in how microbes shape their environment and how environmental conditions shape microbial community structure and function. … with a major focus on viruses.
Linda Kah – She focuses on integrating sedimentology, stratigraphy, geochemistry and paleobiology in understanding the evolution of Earth’s biosphere. She also studies potential habitable environments as a co-investigator on NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory mission.
Hanno Weitering – Professor of physics and head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, he was selected for distinguished academic leadership and outstanding contributions to the fundamental understanding of correlated phenomena at interfaces and in thin films.
David Anderson – He was recognized for distinguished contributions in resident and student mentoring in the College of Veterinary Medicine as well as advancements in biomedical research and technology, especially in surgical diseases and biomaterial composites for tissue regeneration and drug delivery.
Carl Sams – A Fellow of the American Society of Horticultural Sciences, he conducts research focused on disease resistance in plants, hydroponics and mineral nutrition. His work includes grafting plant varieties and studying environmental factors important to human nutrition, pest resistance and greenhouse production.
Information provided by University of Tennessee, Knoxville.