Nine Scientists Affiliated with MBL Elected to American Academy of Arts & Sciences

Congratulations to Francisco Bezanilla of University of Chicago, Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz of Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and 7 other MBL-affiliated scientists who have been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honorary societies. All were elected to the Academy's Biological Sciences division.

These scholars join the 2019 class of 214 individuals, announced April 17, whom the Academy recognizes as world leaders in academia, business, government and public affairs whose work informs policy and advances the public good.

Francisco Bezanilla explains a concept to MBL scientist Steve Senft during an open house for the UChicago-MBL September Course, "Proteins in Action: Designing and Building Your Own Instruments." Credit: Megan Costello

The Academy, headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., was founded in 1780 by John Adams, John Hancock, and others who believed the new republic should honor exceptionally accomplished individuals and engage them in advancing the public good. The Academy’s dual mission remains essentially the same 239 years later, with honorees from increasingly diverse fields and with the work focused on the arts, democracy, education, global affairs, and science.

MBL affiliates elected to the Academy in 2019 include:

Francisco Bezanilla, neuroscience/biophysics, University of Chicago (read UChicago News profile here)
MBL Society Member; Faculty, University of Chicago September Courses at MBL (2017 to present); Faculty, MBL Neurobiology course (2011); Whitman Scientist (1985-1992)

Robert B. Darnell, neuroscience, The Rockefeller University
Faculty, Neurobiology course (2009); Director, Pathogenesis of Neuroimmunologic Disease course (2005); Faculty, Pathogenesis of Neuroimmunologic Disease course (1997, 1999, 2001)

Guoping Feng, neuroscience, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Whitman Scientist 1(994, 1996)

Benjamin Geiger, cell biology, Weizmann Institute of Science (International Honorary Member)
Faculty, Physiology course (2010); Faculty, Fundamental Issues in Vision Research course (1996);  Whitman Scientist (1985)

Jeff Gelles, biochemistry/biophysics, Brandeis University
Faculty, Analytical and Quantitative Light Microscopy course (1996-2002); Alumnus, Physiology course (1986)

Yishi Jin, neurobiology, University of California, San Diego
Whitman Scientist (2011, 2013); Co-director, Neurobiology course (2008-2011); Faculty, Neurobiology Course (2007);

Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz, cell biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Faculty, MBL Physiology course (1992, 1996, 2006-2009, 2011-2013); Co-director, Physiology course (2015, 2017, 2018); Faculty, Analytical and Quantitative Light Microscopy course (1999); Alumna, Optical Microscopy & Imaging in the Biomedical Sciences course (1995)

 Axel Meyer, evolution and development, University of Konstanz (International Honorary Member)
Faculty, Molecular Evolution course (2000-2002, 2004-2005, 2007-2011); Alumnus, Embryology course (1997)

Paul E. Turner, microbial evolutionary genetics and genomics, Yale University
Faculty, Microbial Diversity course (2018); Faculty, Molecular Evolution course (2003-2010); Alumnus, Embryology course (1984)