Molecular scientist named AAAS Fellow for advancing science

By Scott Weybright, College of Agricultural, Natural and Human Resources

John Peters WSU Institute of Biological Chemistry AAS Fellow
Peters

PULLMAN, Wash. – John Peters, director of Washington State University’s Institute of Biological Chemistry, has been named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Election as an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow is a distinction bestowed upon AAAS members by their peers, in recognition of scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science and its applications. AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science.

Peters’ work examines energy conservation at the molecular level and how life generates energy from food by shearing off electrons.

“We’ve done some groundbreaking work that’s laid the foundation for others to follow,” Peters said. “That’s the most rewarding part of my research, that a lot of significant science has been born out of the work my colleagues and I have done.”

That foundation includes discovering how to make energy much more efficiently. For example, it has the potential, though it’s still very early, to extract more energy from biomass when making biofuels, Peters said.

“It’s an honor to be nominated by people that I respect so much,” Peters said. “I’m greatly appreciative that they took the time and effort to nominate me and feel my work is valuable to our field.”

 

Contact:

  • John Peters, WSU Institute of Biological Chemistry, 509-335-3412, jw.peters@wsu.edu