Archive

November 6, 2003

Three from UW earn AAAS honor

Three UW professors are among 348 scholars named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The honor is given to individuals because of their efforts to advance science or applications that are deemed scientifically or socially distinguished.

Samson Jenekhe

Robert Knopp

Deirdre Meldrum

Deirdre Meldrum, electrical engineering, was made a fellow based on “innovative engineering research and leadership in genome automation,” according to the AAAS. Meldrum received a bachelor’s of science in civil engineering from the UW in 1983, a master’s in electrical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., in 1985 and a doctorate in electrical engineering from Stanford University in 1993. She joined the UW in 1992, is director of the Genomation Laboratory in the UW Department of Electrical Engineering, and is co-director of the Microscale Life Sciences Center. She has adjunct appointments in bioengineering and mechanical engineering.

Samson Jenekhe, chemical engineering, was named for his “seminal contributions” to the field of electronic polymers, specifically for pioneering studies of self-assembly, photophysics, solution processing and properties of conjugated polymers. Jeneke received a bachelor’s degree from Michigan Technological University in 1977. At the University of Minnesota he received a master’s in chemical engineering in 1980, a Master of Arts in 1981 and a doctorate in 1985. He joined the UW in 2000 as a professor of chemical engineering and of chemistry. He also holds the Boeing-Martin Endowed Professorship in Engineering.

Robert H. Knopp, professor of medicine in the Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition and a section head at Harborview Medical Center, was cited for “an outstanding record of research and teaching on the effects of diet, sex hormones, and lipid-lowering medications on plasma lipoproteins and the prevention of coronary artery disease.” Since 1978 he has been director of the Northwest Lipid Research Clinic. His research focuses on using diet and medication to lower cholesterol levels in blood, as well as the impact of sex steroids on lipoproteins. He earned his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College and completed his residency at Northwestern University Medical Center in Chicago, where he also did a research fellowship in endocrinology and metabolism. He joined the UW faculty in 1974.

The tradition of AAAS Fellows began in 1874. Currently, members can be considered for the rank of Fellow if nominated by the Steering Groups from the Association’s 24 sections, or by any three Fellows who are current AAAS members (so long as two of the three sponsors are not affiliated with the nominee’s institution), or by the Chief Executive Officer.

Each Steering Group then reviews the nominations of individuals within its respective section and a final list is forwarded to the AAAS Council, which votes on the aggregate list.