April 19, 2024

By Brian Consiglio

University of Missouri researchers are constantly pushing the boundaries of science. Their curiosity sparks innovation — leading to scientific breakthroughs that ultimately improve lives.

Today, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) announced its 2023 Fellows; a list that includes Jianlin “Jack” Cheng, a Curators’ Distinguished Professor in the College of Engineering and a NextGen Precision Health initiative researcher.

Cheng is being recognized for distinguished contributions to the field of bioinformatics and computational biology, particularly the development of machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) methods for protein bioinformatics.

Named one of the Top 100 AI Leaders in Drug Discovery and Advanced Healthcare worldwide, Cheng’s research focuses on applying AI to study how fundamental biological molecules — such as proteins, genes and genomes — function in biological systems like the human body. His work has helped design solutions to address fundamental challenges facing humanity, including treating disease, tackling a changing climate, ensuring food security and generating renewable energy.

“Mizzou provides a great platform for me to collaborate with many world-class scientists and talented students to advance my interdisciplinary research,” Cheng said. “The collaborative, interdisciplinary environment at Mizzou is the best I have ever seen.”

More about AAAS

AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science. Founded in 1848, the nonprofit fulfills its mission to “advance science and service society” through initiatives in science policy, international programs, science education and public engagement.

This story was originally published by Show Me Mizzou. Read the full story about the 2023 AAAS Fellows here.