AUSTIN, Texas — The National Academy of Sciences has recently elected two distinguished faculty members from the University of Texas at Austin. Neuroscience professor Kristen Harris and molecular biosciences professor Keiko Torii have been recognized for their exceptional contributions to the field of science.
David Vanden Bout, dean of the College of Natural Sciences, expressed his pride, stating, “This outstanding recognition of our faculty members is a reflection of the phenomenal basic research happening here in life science disciplines as diverse as neuroscience and plant biology.” He further emphasized, "Kristen Harris and Keiko Torii exemplify transformative research leadership and commitment to their disciplines that leads to important advances in our understanding of the world."
Harris, known for her groundbreaking research in neuroscience, focuses on unraveling the structural components in the brain related to learning and memory. Her innovative techniques in serial electron microscopy have significantly impacted the field of neurobiology, providing new insights into synaptic structure and the mechanisms of learning and memory.
On the other hand, Torii, holding the Johnson & Johnson Centennial Chair in Plant Cell Biology, has conducted pivotal research shedding light on the molecular-genetic processes governing plant development. Her discoveries on plant cell signaling and the differentiation of stomata have advanced our understanding of plant resiliency in the face of environmental challenges like climate change.
Stomata, as Torii explains, play a crucial role in plant respiration and photosynthesis, making them essential for plant survival. By identifying master regulators driving stomata differentiation, Torii and her team have contributed significant knowledge to the scientific community regarding plants' ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions.
In recognition of their outstanding work, Torii has received prestigious accolades such as the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon from the Emperor of Japan and the Stephen Hales Prize from the American Society of Plant Biologists. Harris, on the other hand, was honored with the Mika Salpeter Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for Neuroscience.
With the addition of Harris and Torii, the University of Texas at Austin now boasts 19 faculty members as distinguished members of the National Academy of Sciences.