Bloomington Leader

The American Association for the Advancement of Science has recognized seven Indiana University faculty members as fellows for their valuable contributions to various scientific fields. This recognition is considered a lifetime honor within the scientific community due to its significance and prestige.

The elected IU faculty are part of a group of 471 scientists, engineers, and innovators whose careers exhibit scientifically and socially distinguished achievements. With the latest inductees, Indiana University now has 147 affiliated AAAS fellows.

The IU faculty members named AAAS Fellows for 2024 and their respective fields are:

- Elliot Androphy, honored for his work in neuroscience, particularly his research on spinal muscular atrophy and HPV infections.

- Karen Bush, acknowledged for her contributions to microbiology, focusing on novel antimicrobial agents against bacteria.

- Amar Flood, recognized for his work in chemistry, specifically anion recognition and the design of advanced molecular structures.

- Cindy Hmelo-Silver, praised for her contributions to the learning sciences and technology-enhanced education.

- Mark Kaplan, noted for his insights into immunology and cytokine biology.

- Filippo Menczer, celebrated for his research in web and data science, particularly modeling information systems.

- Sidney L. Shaw, awarded for his advancements in plant cytoskeleton studies and undergraduate research training.

Indiana University President Pamela Whitten stated, "Each of these fellows is pushing the boundaries of human knowledge. Just as important, they’re creating new opportunities for IU students and developing game-changing innovations. They embody the critical role IU research plays in creating a better world."

Elliot Androphy, before his tenure at IU, held positions at Tufts Medical School and the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He is currently the cofounder and chief scientific officer of Kovina Therapeutics Inc.

Karen Bush devoted 35 years of her career to understanding bacterial resistance and played a pivotal role in developing antibiotics. Her research has had significant implications, especially concerning resistant bacteria outbreaks.

Amar Flood’s work covers various chemistry domains, creating materials known for their fluorescent properties. He is also involved with Halophore, a company he co-founded.

Cindy Hmelo-Silver is involved in understanding the learning processes related to complex phenomena and technological assistance. She participates in projects that involve AI and collaborative learning environments.

Mark Kaplan is actively involved in researching inflammation regulation in diseases and was recently named a Distinguished Fellow of the American Association of Immunologists.

Filippo Menczer’s studies focus on misinformation dissemination and media manipulation, a current and pressing societal issue, leading efforts to counter these threats via developed tools.

Sidney Shaw participates extensively in biological research and directs IU’s Light Microscopy Imaging Center, focusing on cellular morphogenesis.