Fourteen University of California researchers have been elected to the prestigious National Academy of Sciences in recognition of their original research contributions to science and engineering.

At its 143rd annual meeting this week in Washington, D.C., the academy announced that the 14 UC researchers were among 72 new members and 18 foreign associates from 16 countries elected to the distinguished organization. For the second consecutive year, no other university, college or research organization in the country or in the world had more than six new members. 

The new members were nominated and elected by active National Academy of Sciences members, bringing total membership to 2,013, of which 372 are affiliated with the University of California. UC has the most NAS members of any university or college. 

This lifetime membership is one of the most eminent honors in the scientific community, in part because of its selectivity and the role members play as policy advisers to the federal government.

"Election to the academy is a great honor, and these individuals should be applauded," said UC President Robert C. Dynes, a physicist elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1989. "This election highlights the University of California's place as one of the leading centers of scientific innovation in the world.

"These scholars will continue to inspire a new generation of students to enter the crucial fields of math and science, helping ensure that the United States remains globally competitive."

Five of the new NAS members are affiliated with UC Berkeley, three with UC San Diego, two each with UC Irvine and UC Santa Cruz, and one each with UC Davis and UCLA. 

The newly elected University of California members are:

UC Berkeley

- Jillian F. Banfield, professor, department of earth and planetary sciences and department of environmental science, policy, and management

- Robert P. Lin, professor of physics, department of physics, and director, Space Sciences Laboratory
 
- Michael A. Marletta, Aldo DeBenedictis Professor of Chemistry, and professor of biochemistry and molecular biology

- David A. Patterson, professor of computer science, holds the E.H. and M.E. Pardee Chair of Computer Science

- Dan-Virgil Voiculescu, professor of mathematics
 
UC Davis

- Roy H. Doi, Distinguished Professor, department of microbiology
 
UC Irvine

- Barbara J. Finlayson-Pitts, professor of chemistry, school of physical sciences

- Anthony A. James, professor, department of molecular biology and biochemistry

UCLA

- Francisco Bezanilla, professor emeritus, David Geffen School of Medicine
 
UC Santa Cruz

- David H. Haussler, professor, department of computer science, and investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute

- Stanford E. Woosley, professor of astronomy and astrophysics
 
UC San Diego

- Don W. Cleveland,  professor and head, Laboratory of Cell Biology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research

- Jose N. Onuchic, co-director, Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, and professor of physics

- Mark H. Thiemens, dean, division of physical sciences, professor of chemistry, and Chancellor's Associates Chair
 
Established in 1863 by a congressional act of incorporation, the National Academy of Sciences is a private organization of scientists and engineers dedicated to promoting science and its use for the general welfare of the nation's citizens. The academy acts as an official adviser to the federal government, upon request, in any matter of science or technology.
 
For more information about the National Academy of Sciences:
www.nas.edu

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