Three faculty named AAAS fellows

Three members of the faculty have been named fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

They include Robert M. Goodman, professor of plant pathology; Richard D. Vierstra, professor of horticulture; and Laura L. Kiessling, professor of chemistry and biochemistry.

Among the 291 new fellows selected this year by AAAS, these faculty members were recognized for their outstanding efforts toward advancing science or fostering applications deemed scientifically or socially significant.

Goodman is recognized for his fundamental studies on soil microbial diversity, leading a pioneering plant biotechnology company and designing an innovative international food security grants program. Vierstra is honored for defining a molecular pathway involved in the degradation of proteins within plant cells and for discovering a new type of photoreceptor, a light-sensitive cell. Kiessling, who studies the interaction among cells and their environment, is distinguished for her contributions to understanding how cells integrate and respond to many different stimuli.

Founded in 1848, AAAS has more than 134,000 members from 130 countries; it represents the largest federation of scientists. It also publishes the weekly, peer-reviewed journal Science.