Nine affiliates recognized as AAAS fellows

Nine Harvard affiliates were recently awarded the distinction of fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Election as a fellow is an honor bestowed upon AAAS members by their peers.

This year, 449 members have been awarded the honor for their scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications. New fellows will be presented with an official certificate and a gold and/or blue (representing science and engineering, respectively) rosette pin on Feb. 17 during the AAAS annual meeting in San Francisco. Harvard’s new AAAS fellows are as follows:

Section on biological sciences

Raju S. Kucherlapati, Cabot Professor of Genetics: For significant contributions to the analysis of mammalian genomes and the genetics of human diseases (section on biological sciences).

Jack Szostak, professor of genetics: For path-breaking research on the behavior of macromolecules and membranes relevant to the origin and early evolution of life.

Section on medical sciences

George Q. Daley, associate professor of biological chemistry and molecular pharmacology: For contributions to the field of stem cell research and for translation of the basic biology to the public, press, and government.

Raif Geha, James L. Gamble Professor of Pediatrics: For innovative and outstanding contributions to understanding the molecular mechanisms of primary immunodeficiency diseases and of the allergic response.

Elliott Dan Kieff, Harriet Ryan Albee Professor of Medicine: For outstanding contributions to the understanding of molecular events involved in the control of Epstein-Barr virus replication, latency, and cellular transformation.

Norman L. Letvin, professor of medicine: For outstanding contributions toward the understanding of T cells in the control of HIV infection and in pioneering HIV-vaccine models in nonhuman primates.

Arlene H. Sharpe, George Fabyan Professor of Comparative Pathology: For major contributions to immunology through the definition of costimulatory pathways important for T lymphocyte activation and regulation.

Section on social, economic, and political sciences

Richard B. Freeman, Herbert S. Ascherman Professor of Economics: For illuminating how both supply and demand for educated labor shape wage differentials, youth unemployment, joblessness, and welfare expenditures in America and abroad.

Section on societal impacts of science and engineering

Matthew Bunn, senior research associate (Kennedy School of Government): For initiating and leading research identifying international problems with control of nuclear weapon materials and for educating Congress and the media about these issues.

The AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science. AAAS was founded in 1848 and includes more than 260 affiliated societies and academies of science serving 10 million individuals.