“Yale Celebrates Largest Group of New AAAS Fellows in Over a Decade”

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has recently announced its new class of fellows, which includes eight distinguished Yale faculty members. This group of new fellows represents Yale’s largest cohort in over a decade, highlighting the university’s commitment to excellence in scientific research and innovation.

The newly named AAAS fellows from Yale are David Hafler, Leonard Milstone, Ruth Montgomery, Thomas Near, Karla Neugebauer, William Nordhaus, Craig Roy, and Jeffrey Townsend. These individuals come from diverse academic backgrounds and have made significant contributions to their respective fields of study.

David Hafler, the William S. and Lois Stiles Edgerly Professor of Neurology and professor of immunobiology at Yale School of Medicine (YSM), is a leading expert on multiple sclerosis (MS) whose work has helped shed light on the underlying mechanisms of the disease. Leonard Milstone, professor emeritus of dermatology at YSM, has conducted groundbreaking research in dermatology, including the discovery of key proteins involved in cell adhesion and migration.

Ruth Montgomery, a professor of medicine at YSM and epidemiology at Yale School of Public Health (YSPH), is a renowned cellular immunologist whose research focuses on immune responses to viral infections. Thomas Near, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Yale’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS), is a leading expert in the study of ray-finned fishes and lineage diversification.

Karla Neugebauer, the R. Selden Rose Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry at FAS and YSM, is a pioneer in RNA research, exploring the links between gene transcription and splicing. William Nordhaus, a Sterling Professor Emeritus of economics at FAS, is a Nobel laureate known for his work on climate change and economic growth.

Craig Roy, the Waldemar Von Zedtwitz Professor of Microbial Pathogenesis at YSM, has made significant contributions to our understanding of host-pathogen interactions. Jeffrey Townsend, the Elihu Professor of Biostatistics at YSPH, has developed innovative methods for analyzing genetic relationships across diverse fields.

These distinguished individuals will be honored in Washington, D.C., in June, where they will receive a certificate and a gold and blue rosette pin symbolizing their election as AAAS fellows. This recognition underscores Yale’s commitment to fostering groundbreaking research and innovation in the scientific community.