Ninth Bren Professor will head new center dedicated to evolutionary genetics
Michael T. Clegg, widely considered one of the most distinguished plant evolutionists in the world, will join the faculty of UC Irvine as the Donald Bren Professor of Biological Sciences.
Clegg is renowned for his work in population genetics and molecular evolution. He will direct the new Center in Evolutionary Genetics, which will be created this year to facilitate research and education in the field, as well as attract and recruit top students and other renowned scientists.
“Mike pioneered the use of DNA sequencing to study evolutionary relationships among plant species,� said Albert Bennett, chair of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. “This widely used approach has revolutionized our understanding of plant evolution. We are delighted that he will continue his work in our department.�
Clegg gained worldwide recognition with his early population genetic discoveries concerning the dynamical behavior of plant gene systems. His investigations of flower color in morning glories have markedly increased scientists’ understanding of the genetic causes of the many different forms of flower color, as well as the ecological factors underlying plant adaptation. He has also applied his genetic expertise to agriculture, including identifying the origin of cultivated barley and he is currently mapping the avocado genome.
Knowledge of the complete genetic sequence of a crop plant helps scientists understand how the plant grows and functions, leading eventually to better crop yields.
“Mike is a very broad, conceptual thinker who clearly sees the big gap between the enormous potential of United States science and scientists to improve the world and our current level of effectiveness,� said Bruce Alberts, president of the National Academy of Sciences. “He is brilliant in his interactions with scientific leaders in other nations. He is widely recognized in the United States and around the world as a leader not only in the biological sciences, but also in international and national science policy.�
Clegg was elected to membership in the National Academy of Sciences in 1990 and as a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1992. He has served as president of the American Genetic Association, president of the International Society for Molecular Biology & Evolution, and chair of the Section on Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He also has served as chairman of the Board on Biology and the Commission of Life Sciences of the National Research Council.
As Foreign Secretary of the National Academy of Sciences (2002-06), he currently sits on the council that manages the affairs of the academy and on the governing board that manages the NRC. He also serves ex officio on a number of NRC boards.
“Mike is greatly admired as an influential scholar and educator,� said Sue Bryant, dean of the School of Biological Sciences. “His appointment as a Bren professor brings considerable prestige to our school and creative energy and intellectual breadth to the Center in Evolutionary Genetics.�
Clegg comes to UCI from UC Riverside, where he is a Distinguished Professor of Genetics in the Department of Botany and Plant Sciences.
“In my field of molecular evolution, UCI has one of the world’s most outstanding groups of faculty,� Clegg said. “I look forward to the intellectual stimulation and excitement of being a part of this distinguished group. My own work in plant molecular evolution will benefit enormously from the rich context provided by UCI.�
Clegg, UCI’s ninth Donald Bren Professor, will begin his appointment in July. Other Bren professors include evolutionary biologist and National Medal of Science honoree Francisco J. Ayala; neuroscientist Thomas J. Carew; immunologist Dr. Paolo Casali; health services expert Dr. Sheldon Greenfield; physicist Wilson Ho; DNA and cancer researcher Wen-Hwa Lee; atmospheric chemist and Nobel laureate F. Sherwood Rowland; and geneticist Douglas Wallace.
The Donald Bren Endowment was established in 1988 with a gift from Donald Bren, chairman of The Irvine Company, to help UCI attract and support the work of leading scholars from around the world. The endowment currently supports 13 endowed chairs in the arts and sciences at UCI.
About the University of California, Irvine: The University of California, Irvine is a top-ranked public university dedicated to research, scholarship and community. Founded in 1965, UCI is among the fastest-growing University of California campuses, with more than 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students and about 1,300 faculty members. The third-largest employer in dynamic Orange County, UCI contributes an annual economic impact of $3 billion.