Twelve faculty members from the University of Washington have been chosen for the Washington State Academy of Sciences. They are part of 36 scientists and educators statewide announced on July 17 as new members. This election acknowledges the new members’ “remarkable record of scientific and technical accomplishments and their readiness to support the Academy in delivering the most accurate scientific information and technical insight to guide complex policy decisions in Washington.”

The UW faculty were nominated by existing WSAS members or through their election to national science academies. Eleven were elected by current WSAS members:

Magdalena Bałazińska, professor, Bill & Melinda Gates Chair, and director of the Paul G. Allen School for Computer Science & Engineering, recognized for “her contributions to data management for data science, big data systems, cloud computing, and image/video analytics, in addition to her leadership in data science education.”

Cynthia Chen, professor of civil & environmental engineering and industrial & systems engineering, acknowledged for “her pioneering work in human mobility analysis and infrastructure resilience, which have significantly altered transportation systems in terms of both demand and supply, and influenced future research directions on community-based solutions and disaster resilience.”

Donald Chi, Lloyd and Kay Chapman Endowed Chair for Oral Health and associate dean for research at the UW School of Dentistry, and professor in the Department of Health Systems & Population Health, recognized for “his leadership in understanding and tackling children’s oral health disparities through community-based socio-behavioral interventions and evidence-driven policies.”

Horacio de la Iglesia, professor of biology, acknowledged for “his internationally acclaimed leadership in the biology of sleep, including groundbreaking research on the molecular and genetic facets of the brain, behavioral studies on learning with varying sleep schedules, and contributions that have influenced policy regarding school timings and standard time.”

Kai-Mei Fu, the Virginia and Prentice Bloedel professor of physics and electrical & computer engineering, for “fundamental contributions to both fundamental and applied research related to the optical and spin properties of quantum point defects in crystals and for her service and leadership within the quantum community.”

Julie Kientz, professor and chair of human-centered design and engineering, acknowledged for “her award-winning leadership in HCI computing, whose research has advanced health and education technology, shaped policy, and influenced the HCI domain through significant scholarship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and inclusive, real-world technology design.”

Rona Levy, professor and associate dean for research at the UW School of Social Work, recognized for “her contributions to understanding psychosocial and physiological factors that influence the effectiveness of interventions and ultimately enhance the health of children suffering from abdominal pain disorders.”

Dr. Scott Ramsey, professor of medicine in the UW School of Medicine and pharmacy, recognized for “his leadership in health economics and cancer research, including studies on financial toxicity, cost-effectiveness, and healthcare policy that have impacted national discussions, enhanced cancer care accessibility, and shaped policies for fair and sustainable healthcare.” Ramsey also serves as Director of the Cancer Outcomes Research Program at Fred Hutch.

Shelly Sakiyama-Elbert, professor of bioengineering and Vice Dean of Research and Graduate Education at the UW School of Medicine, recognized for “her national leadership in biomedical research, research policy, and graduate education, including pioneering innovative drug delivery methods for regenerative medicine applications in the nervous system and other tissues such as bone, cartilage, tendon, and skin.”

Eric Steig, Rabinowitz Endowed Professor of Earth and space sciences, acknowledged for “his groundbreaking work in reshaping our understanding of climate change in Antarctica through innovative ice core extractions in challenging Antarctic environments and their subsequent analyses over two decades, in addition to applying this knowledge to enhance climate research in Washington State.”

Jashvant Unadkat, professor of pharmaceutics, recognized for “his pioneering contributions to pharmaceutical and translational sciences, including revolutionary research on drug transporters, PBPK modeling, and maternal-fetal pharmacology that have shaped drug safety policies.”

The Academy also welcomed new members who were acknowledged based on their election to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, or Medicine. Among them is “`html
David Hertzog, the esteemed Arthur B. McDonald professor of physics and head of the Center for Experimental Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics. Hertzog was selected to join the National Academy of Sciences last year.  

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