January 31, 2023

By Eric Stann | MU News Bureau

Two Mizzou Engineering faculty members have been named American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellows for distinguished efforts in advancing their fields. They are:

• Shubhra Gangopadhyay, Cramer W. LaPierre Endowed Chair in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

• Xiu-Feng “Henry” Wan, director of the NextGen Center for Influenza and Emerging Infectious Diseases; professor of electrical engineering and computer science; professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at the MU School of Medicine; professor of veterinary pathobiology at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine; and principal investigator in the Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center

Gangopadhyay is being recognized for her “distinguished contributions in bioengineering for the development of plasmonic gratings and nanoelectronic device-based biosensor systems for ultrasensitive detection of biomarkers.”

Gangopadhyay has spent more than 40 years involved with several areas of research related to the energy, defense, health and security sectors. Her research, which focuses on saving and improving the quality of human life, and the need for such biosensor systems in resource-limited countries around the world, has received support from numerous organizations including the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense and the National Institutes of Health.

“AAAS is a well-regarded and global scientific society,” Gangopadhyay said. “This is an honor bestowed by the peers and therefore, I am honored to be an AAAS fellow. Throughout my research and teaching career, I have focused on fundamental and applied research leading to numerous applications and product development. The success of my students in academia and industries is a measure of my achievements.”

Wan is being recognized for his “distinguished contributions to the fields of virology, systems biology, and engineering, particularly for studies of highly pathogenic influenza with a focus on transmission, ecology, diversity and vaccine development.”

Wan has spent most of his career studying influenza in animals and humans to help improve vaccination efficacy for people. He has made contributions to the study of virus transmission in and between animals and humans as his overall goal to better understand the natural history of influenza viruses, and to develop effective vaccines and measures for influenza prevention and control.

“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by AAAS,” Wan said. “I have spent most of my career looking at how influenza viruses evolve and spread in both animals and humans and how the influenza vaccine can work better. I feel an obligation to keep continuing this line of research for the betterment of society.”

Gangopadhyay and Wan are two of five Mizzou professors named 2022 AAAS Fellows. Others are:

• Chris Lorson, associate vice chancellor for research and strategic initiatives in the MU Division of Research, Innovation and Impact; associate dean for research and graduate studies and Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Veterinary Pathobiology in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine; and principal investigator in the Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center

• Bing Yang, professor of plant science in the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources; principal investigator in the Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center; and principal investigator in the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

• Xiaoqin Zou, professor of physics in the MU College of Arts and Science; professor of biochemistry in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources; principal investigator in the Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center; and core faculty member in the MU Institute for Data Science and Informatics

Read more about the 2022 AAAS Fellows here.