Ten arts and sciences faculty have been elected among the newest class of Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). A total of eighteen Ohio State University faculty were elected among the newest class of AAAS Fellows.

Ohio State ranks second this year in the number of scholars chosen for the award, which is based on evaluations by peer scientists. New Fellows will be welcomed in a ceremony at the AAAS annual meeting in Boston in February.

The College of Arts and Sciences’ newest AAAS Fellows are:

Heather Allen, professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; for outstanding contributions to the development of vibrational spectroscopic probes of interfaces, and their creative application to problems in environmental chemistry, geochemistry and physiology.

Donald Dean, professor emeritus, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; for distinguished contributions to biochemistry, particularly for studies on the mechanism of action and protein engineering of insecticidal crystal proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis.

Biao Ding,professor, Department of Molecular Genetics; for distinguished contributions to the field of intercellular trafficking of RNA and proteins and to the field of viroid-host interactions.

Prabir Dutta, Distinguished University Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; for notable contributions in understanding zeolite formation and applications of zeolites in photocatalysis and sensing.

H. Lisle Gibbs, professor, Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology; for distinguished contributions to the field of evolutionary biology, particularly for the application of molecular ecology and genetics to problems in conservation biology.

Randy Hodson, SBS Distinguished Professor, Department of Sociology; for distinguished contributions to the study of organizational effectiveness and dignity at work through the study of power and its abuses.

Michael Ibba, professor, Department of Microbiology and director, Ohio State Biochemistry Program; for distinguished contributions to the fields of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase biology, translational quality control and microbial physiology.

Susan Olesik, professor and chair, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; for distinguished contributions to the field of analytical chemistry as well as excellence in communicating science to the public.

Richard Pogge, professor and vice chair, Department of Astronomy; for distinguished contributions in astronomical instrumentation and toward understanding the nature and environment of active galactic nuclei.

Zhenchao Qian, professor and chair, Department of Sociology; for distinguished contributions to the field of population studies and sociology, particularly for the studies of marriage, cohabitation, interracial marriage and assortative mating patterns.

Founded in 1848, AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society. An international non-profit organization dedicated to advancing science around the world by serving as an educator, leader, spokesperson and professional association, AAAS publishes the journal Science, and spearheads programs that raise the bar of understanding for science worldwide.

Read the entire press release, courtesy of research and innovation communications, http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/AAASfellows2012.htm