Five UC San Diego Professors Join National Academy of Sciences, Boosting Institution’s Scientific Clout

Recently, five professors from the University of California San Diego were elected to the National Academy of Sciences, a prestigious honor for U.S. scientists and engineers. Among these new members are Fan Chung from the Jacobs School of Engineering, Stephen Hedrick from the School of Biological Sciences, and Lisa Levin and Lynne Talley from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. These individuals were recognized for their distinguished and ongoing research achievements in various fields.

In addition to these professors, Susan Kaech, an Adjunct Professor from the School of Biological Sciences and a professor at the Salk Institute, was also elected to membership in NAS. Kaech is a leading figure in UC San Diego’s Program in Immunology and plays an active role in mentoring Biological Sciences PhD students. Her research focuses on understanding how T cells develop, function, and combat infections and cancer.

With this recognition, UC San Diego now has a total of 103 previous and current faculty members who have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences. The academy serves as an authoritative source of advice to the federal government on matters related to science and technology since its establishment by Congress in 1863. The presence of academy members on a university’s faculty is often used as a measure to assess the strength of their scientific research and educational programs compared to other institutions nationwide. This recognition reflects UC San Diego’s commitment to excellence in scientific research and innovation across various disciplines.