The Prestigious National Academy of Sciences Honors Five Remarkable UC San Diego Scientists

Five esteemed professors from the University of California San Diego have recently been inducted into the prestigious National Academy of Sciences (NAS), a renowned organization that honors exceptional U.S. scientists and engineers. Among these distinguished individuals 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.

In addition to these remarkable professors, Susan Kaech, an Adjunct Professor from the School of Biological Sciences and a professor at the Salk Institute, was also elected to NAS membership. 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 boasts a total of 103 previous and current faculty members who have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences. Established by Congress in 1863, NAS serves as an authoritative source of advice to the federal government on matters related to science and technology.

The presence of academy members on a university’s faculty is often used as an indicator of their scientific research strength compared to other institutions nationwide. This recognition reflects UC San Diego’s unwavering commitment to excellence in scientific research and innovation across various disciplines.