National Academy of Sciences Adds Harvard faculty, alumni

Eleven faculty members and 11 alumni are honored.

New NAS members Andrew W. Murray, Jeff W. Lichtman, and Vamsi K. Mootha

Recognizing their “distinguished and continuing achievements in original research,” the National Academy of Sciences on April 29 announced the election of 84 new members, 11 of them from Harvard’s faculties of arts and sciences and of medicine.

Joining the academy from Harvard Medical School are:

  • Bruce P. Bean ’73, Winthrop professor of neurobiology;
  • Emery N. Brown ’78, M.D. ’87, Ph.D. ’88, Zapol professor of anaesthesia, who is affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital;
  • Timothy J. Mitchison, Sabbagh professor of systems biology;
  • Vamsi K. Mootha, M.D. ’98, professor of systems biology and of medicine, who is affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital; and
  • Martin R. Pollak, professor of medicine, who is affiliated with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

The new members from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences are:

Visit Harvard Magazine’s archives to find articles about economist Katz’s research with his frequent collaborator, Lee professor of economics Claudia Goldin, on career choice and quality of life issues; biologist Lichtman’s work involving optical microscopy and neural synapses; and short profiles of biologist Mitchison and Murray.

Eleven alumni were also newly elected to the academy. They are:

  • Peter Bearman, Ph.D. ’85, Cole professor of the social sciences at Columbia;
  • Dale L. Boger, Ph.D. ’80, Cramer professor of chemistry at The Scripps Research Institute;
  • Eric A. D’Asaro ’76, S.M. ’76, senior principal oceanographer and professor of oceanography at University of Washington, Seattle;
  • Gregory C. Fu, Ph.D. ’91, Altair professor of chemistry, California Institute of Technology;
  • Samuel H. Gellman ’81, Hirschmann professor of chemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison;
  • Timothy L. Grove, Ph.D. ’76, professor, department of earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology;
  • Benjamin D. Hall, Ph.D. ’59, emeritus professor of biology and genome sciences, University of Washington, Seattle;
  • Michael N. Hall, Ph.D. ’81, professor, Biozentrum, University of Basel;
  • John Preskill, Ph.D. ’80, Feynman professor of theoretical physics, California Institute of Technology;
  • Joseph Silk, Ph.D. ’68, HomeWood professor, Johns Hopkins University, and professor, Institut d’Astrophysique, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris; and
  • Montgomery W. Slatkin, Gompertz professor of integrative biology, University of California, Berkeley.

You might also like

Boston Board Approves Harvard’s Enterprise Research Campus Framework

City planners adopt principles to guide future development of the commercial innovation district in Allston.

At Harvard Talk, Retired Supreme Court Justice Breyer Defends Shadow Docket

The current law professor also spoke about affirmative action, partisanship, and the limits of “bright-line rules.”

Harvard Alumni Honored for University Service

The 2026 Harvard Medal recipients will be honored on June 5.

Most popular

Harvard Graduate Student Workers Strike

Union demands higher pay, protections for non-citizen members, and changes to the harassment complaint process.

Martin Nowak Placed on Leave a Second Time

Further links to Jeffrey Epstein surface in newly released files.

Explore More From Current Issue

Mercy Otis Warren in period attire writes at a desk by candlelight, surrounded by books.

The Woman Who Penned the Case for War

Mercy Otis Warren’s poetry and plays incited the Patriot movement.

A woman in glasses gestures while speaking to two attentive listeners at a table.

How to Cook with Wild Plants

From wild greens spanakopita to rose petal panna cotta, forager and chef Ellen Zachos makes one-of-a-kind meals.

Three joyful graduates in caps and gowns celebrate together outdoors.

Commencement Week Events

Harvard Commencement Events 2026