Caltech Faculty Members and JPL Researcher Named as AAAS Fellows

Four Caltech professors, along with one principal staff member from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, have been named as fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). In total, 14 Caltech alumni were named as fellows this year.

AAAS Fellows are a distinguished cadre of scientists, engineers, and innovators who have been recognized for their achievements across disciplines, from research, teaching, and technology, to administration in academia, industry, and government, to excellence in communicating and interpreting science to the public. The 2022 class of AAAS Fellows includes 564 scientists, engineers, and innovators spanning 24 scientific disciplines.

William G. Dunphy

Grace C. Steele Professor of Biology

"For elucidating the complex network of enzymes that commit a cell to mitosis—critical information for understanding DNA replication and preservation of genomic integrity."

Dunphy received his PhD from Stanford in 1985. He joined the Caltech faculty in 1989.

Viviana Gradinaru (BS '05)

Professor of neuroscience and biological engineering; director, Center for Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience

"For extraordinary achievements in bioengineering and neuroscience, including development and sharing of multiple novel tools to enable functional and anatomical access to the vertebrate nervous system."

Gradinaru received her PhD from Stanford in 2010. She joined the Caltech faculty in 2012.

Stephen Mayo (PhD '87)

Bren Professor of Biology and Chemistry; Merkin Institute Professor

"For distinguished contributions to the field of protein design technology."

Mayo received his PhD from Caltech in 1987. He joined the faculty in 1992.

Carol Polanskey (MS '84, PhD '89)

Planetary scientist, JPL

"For distinguished contributions to the field of planetary science, especially the structure and dynamics of asteroids and other small planetary bodies as well as exemplary leadership and development of space science missions."

Polanskey received her PhD from Caltech in 1989.

Paul O. Wennberg

R. Stanton Avery Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry and Environmental Science and Engineering; executive officer for environmental science and engineering; director, Ronald and Maxine Linde Center for Global Environmental Science

"For major scientific advances in atmospheric chemistry."

Wennberg received his PhD from Harvard in 1994. He joined the Caltech faculty in 1998.

In addition to Gradinaru, Mayo, and Polanskey, 11 other Caltech alumni were elected as AAAS fellows this year: Andrea M. Armani (MS '03, PhD '07), Pratim Biswas (PhD '85), Eric Christian (MS '85, PhD '89), Brian C. Freeman (BS '79), Stephen Craig Hadler (BS, '69), Thomas Mark McCleskey (PhD '94), Charles Ofria (PhD '99), Padhraic Smyth (MS '85, PhD '88), Lynmarie K. Thompson (BS '83), Paula I. Watnick (PhD '89), and Yannis Yortsos (MS '74, PhD '79).