Eight WSU faculty elected to Washington State Academy of Sciences

A golden trophy shines as it sits atop a pile of books.

More than a third of this year’s class of new members in the Washington State Academy of Sciences (WSAS) are from Washington State University.

WSAS announced 21 new members on July 15, including eight from WSU. The honor recognizes the new members for their outstanding records of scientific and technical achievement as well as their willingness to work on behalf of the Academy to bring the best available science to bear on issues within the state of Washington.

“We’re proud to have so many WSU faculty recognized by the Washington State Academy of Sciences,” said WSU President Kirk Schulz. “Our faculty are among the best in the world, and they are committed to using their expertise to address some of the most pressing challenges facing the state of Washington today.”

The new members will be formally inducted at the 13th Annual Members’ Meeting on Sept. 10, 2020.

The WSU faculty elected to the WSAS membership are:

Timothy Baszler, Professor, Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health

For leadership in laboratory systems for the detection and prompt confirmation of pathogen emergence and spread at the state, national and global levels; and for providing the evidence base for control of emergent animal diseases as executive director of the Washington Animal Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory.

Kelly Brayton, Professor, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine

Closeup of Kelly Brayton

For ground-breaking research which has generated foundational genome information for important animal pathogens capable of causing significant illness in humans and animals; for internationally recognized research on tick-borne pathogens; and for advances in intracellular pathogen biology, transcriptomics and immune evasion mechanisms.

Laura Griner Hill, Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Affairs; Professor, Human Development, College of Agricultural, Human, and Nature Resource Sciences

Laura Griner Hill portrait

For contributions to a significant shift in the field of prevention toward the study of how to effectively implement, evaluate and scale up prevention programs, thereby significantly decreasing risk of substance abuse among youth at a population level.

 

Alair MacLean, Associate Professor, Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences

Alair MacLean portrait

For significant contributions to the study of veterans of the armed forces serving in war and peace time, and contributions to understanding who serves and how military service shapes their lives with respect to their employment and earnings as well as physical and mental health across the life course.

Michael McDonell, Associate Professor, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine

Michael McDonell portrait

For exceptional work developing treatment protocols that improve the lives of individuals who are negatively impacted by drug and alcohol misuse, especially those individuals in underrepresented populations.

 

 

Sterling McPherson, Assistant Dean for Research, and Director of Biostatistics and Clinical Trial Design, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine

Sterling McPherson

For outstanding contributions to addiction science and fostering of academic industry partnerships.

 

 

Katrina Mealey, Professor and Associate Dean for Research, College of Veterinary Medicine

Katrina Mealey portrait holding a small dog

For widely acclaimed expertise in pharmacogenetics and particularly for engaging in creative activities that have benefited veterinary medicine both locally and worldwide, leading to patents, work on national and international committees and panels as well as many influential published works.

 

Qin Zhang, Professor, Director of the Center for Precision & Automated Agricultural Systems, College of Agricultural, Human, and Nature Resource Sciences

Qin Zhang portrait

For contributions leading to the adoption of automation technologies to agricultural production, a recognizable contribution to core technology development for intelligent farming machinery and smart agriculture and pioneering the emerging science frontier by the proposed study of agricultural cybernetics.

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