Franklin College faculty members elected to AAAS

Six UGA faculty members, including three from the Franklin College, have been named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), an honor bestowed by their peers for “scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications.”

These six faculty members are among 416 new AAAS Fellows who will be presented with an official certificate and a gold and blue—representing science and engineering, respectively—rosette pin on Feb. 16 at the AAAS Fellows Forum during the 2019 AAAS Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. Their induction will bring the total number of AAAS Fellows at UGA to 48.

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Xiaorong Lin, Gene E. Michaels Professor in Medical Mycology at the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and Burroughs Wellcome Fund Investigator in Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease, who studies the molecular mechanisms of fungal pathogenesis and microbial development. Her long-term goal is to advance knowledge about eukaryotic microbiology and to seek better approaches for the management of fungal diseases. Sheis noted for contributions to the field of microbial development and pathogenesis, particularly for using fungal systems to answer important questions in eukaryotic biology.

Eric V. Stabb, professor of microbiology at the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, who researches host-microbe interactions and bacterial cell-cell signaling. He studies the light-organ symbiosis between the bioluminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri and the squid Euprymna scolopes as a model for natural bacteria-animal interactions. Stabb often develops genetic and genomic tools for V. fischeri and is noted for discovery and analysis of regulatory proteins that control bacterial-squid symbiosis and bioluminescence, and for work on a tractable animal microbiome.

Kathrin F. Stanger-Hall, associate professor of plant biology at the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, who explores questions about animal communication using fireflies as a model system. She uses phylogeny-based approaches to study the evolution of signal phenotypes and the production and reception of light signals under different environmental conditions. Stanger-Hall is noted for contributions to interdisciplinary undergraduate science education, evolution, and faculty development, particularly promotion of critical thinking in undergraduate education.

Congratulations to all of the new UGA AAAS fellows, their colleagues and families on this tremendous career honor. Their work brings great distinction to the university and the Franklin College.