Seven educators at Washington University in St. Louis are included among the 471 new fellows chosen by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), a prestigious accolade within the scientific realm.
AAAS stands as the world’s largest general scientific organization and the publisher of the Science series of journals. The newly inducted Fellows will be acknowledged on June 7 during a forum in Washington, D.C.
The 2024 cohort from WashU comprises:
Gaya K. Amarasinghe
Amarasinghe, who holds the Alumni Endowed Professorship in Pathology and Immunology as well as being a professor of biochemistry, molecular biophysics, and molecular microbiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, is being recognized for his significant contributions to understanding host-pathogen interactions.
After identifying and invading their hosts, pathogens—comprising viruses, bacteria, fungi, or parasites—hijack the host’s molecular processes to reproduce, disseminating through the organism. Grasping the intricate dynamics of these interactions, particularly how invaders suppress host immune responses, is essential for addressing infections and subsequent diseases. Amarasinghe and his research team examine the molecular dynamics of host-pathogen relationships through biochemical and biophysical techniques to model the agents causing various ailments, including viruses like Ebola and Rift Valley Fever, as well as Staphylococcus aureus.
Amarasinghe became part of WashU Medicine in 2011.
Yehuda Ben-Shahar
Ben-Shahar, a professor of biology in Arts & Sciences and a professor of genetics and medicine at WashU Medicine, was honored by AAAS for his exceptional contributions to our knowledge of the genetic, neurobiological, and molecular biological aspects of behavior. Ben-Shahar leverages the genetic capabilities of model organisms such as fruit flies and honey bees to investigate how specific genes, cell types, and neuronal circuits influence behavioral adaptability and responses to environmental and social stimuli.
In his recent research, Ben-Shahar demonstrated that nestmate identification signals in honey bee colonies are developed by individuals through their connections with the gut microbiome. His team also identified a mechanism that could outline a molecular pathway for the evolution of mating systems amidst rapid speciation.
In 2022, Ben-Shahar received a faculty teaching award in neuroscience from WashU’s Division of Biology & Biomedical Sciences (DBBS) and was honored with the outstanding faculty mentor award by the Graduate Student Senate in 2021.
Benjamin A. Garcia
Garcia, the Raymond H. Wittcoff Distinguished Professor and head of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics at WashU Medicine, is being acknowledged for his notable contributions to mass spectrometry and its application in researching epigenetic regulation of gene expression in cells.
A cell’s existence is defined by its DNA, the fundamental set of instructions. Proteins, produced using this genetic blueprint, are essential for the complex functions within the cell. Once assembled by the cellular machinery information that interprets DNA, proteins undergo shape changes, gain functional characteristics, receive chemical modifications, and connect with molecular partners to fulfill specific, vital roles.
Garcia has been a forefront figure in employing quantitative mass spectrometry—a tool capable of identifying, quantifying, and analyzing protein sequences and other molecules—to delve into the diverse protein universe of multicellular organisms, known as the proteome.
Garcia joined the WashU Medicine faculty in 2021.
Young-Shin Jun
Jun’s Environmental NanoChemistry Laboratory focuses on enhancing our comprehension of nanoscale interfacial chemistry and solid nucleation to address critical challenges in energy and environmental fields. Her research prioritizes three significant areas: CO2 chemical systems for sustainable energy; innovative technologies for recovering essential elements, nutrients, and valuable salts from unconventional resources; and synthesis of nanomaterials and nanotechnologies to improve water and soil quality.
Her pioneering research significantly contributes to the resilience of our society against climate change, as well as the provision of clean water and energy. Additionally, she represents WashU’s McDonnell International Scholars Academy as an ambassador to Seoul National University in South Korea.
Jun has garnered multiple recognitions, including the 2011 National Science Foundation CAREER award and the 2022 Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors. She was acknowledged as a 2015 Kavli Fellow by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and a 2019 Fellow of the American Chemical Society. Recently, she received the 2025 Distinguished Women in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering award from the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.
Helen McNeill
McNeill, the Larry J. Shapiro and Carol-Ann Uetake-Shapiro Professor in the Department of Developmental Biology at WashU Medicine, is lauded for her exceptional contributions to the domain of developmental genetics, especially concerning tissue growth and alignment during the nascent stages of embryonic and organ development.
As multicellular organisms progress following the fusion of egg and sperm, cells undergo division and organization into tissues and organs, coordinating their behaviors to execute functions vital for sustaining complex life. Developmental biologists have scrutinized these intricacies for many years, yet several critical questions persist.
McNeill’s investigations have unraveled several long-standing enigmas in developmental biology, chiefly centering on how tissues, organs, and embryos initiate their formation and functionality in the initial phases of development. Her primary focus has been on molecules known as giant cadherins, which dictate cellular adhesion to form tissues and organs, and their role in the Hippo pathway—a molecular signaling cascade that regulates cell growth, death, and renewal.
Kathryn G. Miller
Miller, a professor emerita of biology in Arts & Sciences, was acknowledged by AAAS for her leadership in promoting undergraduate science education, especially as president and a founding fellow of the Partnership for Undergraduate Life Sciences Education (PULSE) initiative. PULSE’s goal is to initiate improvement in undergraduate life science education by collaborating with college and university departments to align programs with educational initiatives that enhance student experiences, inclusion, and success.
Miller’s laboratory research concentrated on the structural proteins that facilitate cellular organization and specialization among different cell types. She was appointed chair of the biology department in 2008 and held that position for a decade.
Miller actively participated in STEM education enhancement endeavors on campus, engaging in numerous education-related grants and initiatives, including leading WashU’s Howard Hughes Medical Institute undergraduate education grants and contributing nationally through PULSE and other undergraduate education improvement projects. She has been honored as a National Academy of Sciences Teaching Fellow and Teaching Mentor, and has stayed engaged with PULSE following her retirement.
Tim Schedl
Schedl, a professor of genetics and co-director of the Model Organisms Screening Center at WashU Medicine, has been elected as an AAAS fellow for his exceptional contributions to the field of genetics, specifically regarding the understanding of germ cell identity and function as well as training junior scientists in human genetics.
Most animals inherit their genes through sexual reproduction, which encompasses the union of gametes, egg and sperm, resulting in offspring carrying the genetic heritage of the species. Prior to this union, cells called germ cells develop and undergo changes into gametes. Schedl primarily utilizes the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, tiny transparent roundworms, alongside mice to clarify fundamental processes relating to germ cells.
As a prominent leader in graduate education within DBBS, Schedl has co-directed the division’s Molecular Genetics & Genomics Program and currently co-manages the Precision Medicine Pathway—training junior scientists in the application of genetic and genomic information for disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
The article Seven WashU faculty elected to AAAS first appeared on The Source.