image: Pictured are the 2009 AAAS Fellows at University of California - Riverside: top row, left to right: Eric L. Chronister, Timothy Close, Richard J. Debus and Darleen A. DeMason; bottom row, left to right: Timothy W. Lyons, Yolanda Moses, Walid A. Najjar and Daniel Schlenk. view more
Credit: UCR Strategic Communications.
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Eight researchers at the University of California, Riverside have been named fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). 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 at UCR are:
Eric L. Chronister, a professor 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, a professor of genetics: "For exemplary pioneering research, and international service and leadership in the field of crop genomics."
Richard J. Debus, a professor 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, a professor of botany: "For pioneering research into germination and development of plants and exemplary leadership in campus administration and professional societies."
Timothy W. Lyons, a professor of biogeochemistry: "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."
Yolanda Moses, a professor of anthropology: "For distinguished contribution to anthropology, especially her work on race and racism, race and gender in higher education, and the leadership she has provided the profession."
Walid A. Najjar, a professor of computer science and engineering: "For distinguished contributions to the fields of dataflow and reconfigurable computing architectures."
Daniel Schlenk, a professor of aquatic ecotoxicology: "For distinguished contributions to the field of biochemical mechanistic toxicology."
Two UC Riverside alumni were honored this year. Besides Moses ('75 M.A., '76 Ph.D.), Craig Edward Jahr ('73 B.A.), now at Oregon Health & Science University, was named an AAAS fellow: "For opening up a new area in physiology by developing original approaches to study transmitter release, receptor activiation and transmitter clearance from synaptic cleft."
New fellows will be presented with an official certificate and a gold and blue (representing science and engineering, respectively) rosette pin on Feb. 20 during the annual meeting of the AAAS next year 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.
The University of California, Riverside (www.ucr.edu) is a doctoral research university, a living laboratory for groundbreaking exploration of issues critical to Inland Southern California, the state and communities around the world. Reflecting California's diverse culture, UCR's enrollment of about 18,000 is expected to grow to 21,000 students by 2020. The campus is planning a medical school and has reached the heart of the Coachella Valley by way of the UCR Palm Desert Graduate Center. The campus has an annual statewide economic impact of more than $1 billion.
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