Washington, D.C. – February 14, 2025 – The American Academy of Microbiology (the Academy) has elected Dr. Chris Todd Hittinger and 64 peers to the Class of 2025. Fellows of the American Academy of Microbiology, an honorific leadership group within the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), are elected annually through a highly selective, peer-review process, based on their records of scientific achievement and original contributions that have advanced microbiology. The Academy received 146 nominations this year, electing 65 into the 2025 Fellowship Class.
“Fellows are pioneers in their field, driving discovery and innovation that push the boundaries of science and benefit society at large,” said Vanessa Sperandio, Ph.D., Chair of the Academy Governors. “Being named an Academy Fellow is a prestigious honor, and I am thrilled to extend my congratulations and warm welcome to Dr. Chris Todd Hittinger as a member of the 2025 Cohort.”
The Department’s collective pride in Professor Hittinger’s accomplishment is best captured by Department Chair, Dr. Francisco Pelegri, who says, “Dr. Hittinger is a pioneer and leader in the field of gene network evolution and his innovative research provides clues to understand diversity in biological pathways such as metabolism, as well as practical applications in fermentation and bioenergy”. Dr. Pelegri also highlights how, “his research integrates undergraduate training, with students discovering and analyzing new wild yeast species. We could not be more pleased with this acknowledgement of his accomplishments.”
The 2025 Fellowship Class brings a wealth of knowledge of the microbial sciences with representation across the globe. The 65 fellows hail from 9 countries, including Australia, Denmark, Mexico, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. In addition, 3/65 of the inducted fellows come from UW-Madison, a testament to our collective strength in this area. Congratulations to Dr. Andrew Mehle and Dr. Jean-Michel Ané on their inductions to the Academy as well!
Learn about the 2025 Fellowship Class.