Madison Reporter

Eight University of Wisconsin­–Madison scholars have been elected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), as reported by Chris Barncard on April 18, 2024. Among the new fellows are Jean-Michel Ané, Vernon Barger, Katrina T. Forest, Simon Gilroy, James Keck, Sissel Schroeder, Brad Schwartz, and Jue “Jade” Wang.

The honor of being elected as an AAAS Fellow is bestowed upon individuals who have made significant contributions to advancing science and society. According to Sudip S. Parikh, the AAAS chief executive officer, the new class of fellows embodies scientific excellence and plays a crucial role in leading the next generation of scientists.

Jean-Michel Ané, recognized for his work in beneficial plant-microbe interactions, stated, "I am honored to be elected as an AAAS Fellow for my contributions to understanding the signals that maintain soil quality for environmental sustainability."

Vernon Barger, renowned for his work in particle phenomenology, expressed, "I am grateful for this recognition and the opportunity to continue bridging theory and experiment in the field of physics."

Katrina T. Forest, acknowledged for her contributions to structural microbiology, shared, "It is a privilege to be recognized for my research using protein crystallography to understand bacterial interactions with hosts."

Simon Gilroy, recognized for his work in plant biology and signal transduction, commented, "I am humbled to be selected as an AAAS Fellow for my research into plant responses to gravity and stress."

James Keck, distinguished for his work in genomics and DNA replication, mentioned, "Being elected as an AAAS Fellow is a great honor for me, and I am grateful for the recognition of my contributions to the field."

Sissel Schroeder, acknowledged for her work in archaeology, expressed, "I am thrilled to be elected as an AAAS Fellow for my contributions to understanding precontact Indigenous societies in the American Midwest."

Brad Schwartz, honored for his work in hematology and leadership, stated, "I am deeply honored to be recognized as an AAAS Fellow for my contributions to treating disorders of protease cascades and for my leadership in the field."

Jue “Jade” Wang, recognized for her contributions to stress-signaling nucleotides in bacteria, mentioned, "It is a privilege to be elected as an AAAS Fellow for my research in transcription-replication conflicts in bacteria."

The new class of AAAS fellows will be featured in the April issue of the journal Science and will be celebrated at an event in Washington, D.C. in September. Additionally, UW–Madison psychology professor Morton Ann Gernsbacher was elected to serve a second term on the AAAS board of directors.

This recognition highlights the exceptional work and dedication of these UW researchers in advancing their respective fields of study and contributing to the scientific community.