AAAS Fellows

Sheena Josselyn, a senior scientist at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and a professor in the department of psychology in the Faculty of Arts & Science and the department of physiology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, has been elected a 2023 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow.

The AAAS is one of the world’s largest scientific societies and publisher of the Science family of journals. Its fellowships, launched in 1874, represent a distinguished lifetime honour within the scientific community.

Josselyn, who holds a Canada Research Chair in Brain Mechanisms Underlying Memory, was recognized for her contributions to the field of neuroscience, particularly for establishing the existence of engrams – physical or chemical changes in the brain that correspond to memories.

Understanding how engrams are formed and connected in the brain may lead to effective therapies that target conditions disrupting memories, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

The 2023 AAAS Fellows were announced in April 2024.

Read the AAAS announcement

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Norman Murray elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

lanthierj — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 19:34:08 +0000

Norman Murray elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Research & Innovation

lanthierj Tue, 11/24/2020 - 14:34

Faculty

St. George

AAAS Fellows

Faculty of Arts & Science

David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics

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Norman Murray, a director of the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA) and professor in the David A. Dunlap department of astronomy and astrophysics in the Faculty of Arts & Science, has been named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

In a statement, the AAAS praised Murray’s “theoretical work providing key insights into a broad range of astrophysical topics encompassing planetary science, star formation, galaxy evolution and active galactic nuclei.”

Murray, a Canada Research Chair in Theoretical Astrophysics, studies the formation of planets from pre-planetary bodies known as proto-planets and the capture or ejection of small bodies like proto-planets and asteroids from the solar system. He also investigates how quasars – the brightest objects in the universe as active, radiation-emitting cores of galaxies – are likely powered by matter falling into a massive black hole.

“The breadth of the work for which Professor Murray is receiving this honour is remarkable,” says Melanie Woodin, dean of the Faculty. “Conducting research into planets, stars and galaxies is like studying the human body, its genetics, as well as its atoms and molecules.

“In addition to his research, Professor Murray has made an equally remarkable contribution to the Faculty as a long-time member and director of CITA through which U of T is a partner in groundbreaking work around the world.

“It’s a well-deserved honour.”

Read the Faculty of Arts & Science story

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Rachel Tyndale elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

lanthierj — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 19:26:50 +0000

Rachel Tyndale elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Research & Innovation

lanthierj Tue, 11/24/2020 - 14:26

Faculty

St. George

AAAS Fellows

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

CAMH

Department of Psychiatry

Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology

Women in STEM

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Rachel Tyndale, a professor in the department of pharmacology and toxicology and the department of psychiatry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, has been named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

In a statement, the AAAS praised Tyndale’s “outstanding contributions to understanding the role of drug metabolism in addiction and in particular, how genetic polymorphisms alter behaviours relevant to nicotine addiction.”

Tyndale is a Canada Research Chair in Pharmacogenomics and senior scientist and head of the Pharmacogenetics Lab at the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, CAMH. Over the past decade, she has studied the predictive relationship between genetic variation in drug metabolism and the likelihood of addiction, as well as how metabolism within the brain alters the effects of drugs and toxins. This research will help identify novel mechanisms that can lead to new therapeutic targets and personalized treatment for smoking cessation and other addictions.

“The �ؿ�ζSM community is proud of Rachel Tyndale and the impact of her work on society,” said University Professor Ted Sargent, vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives. “Her research is actively reducing health-care costs while improving the quality of life for millions around the world who struggle with addiction.”

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Leah Cowen elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

lanthierj — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 19:23:52 +0000

Leah Cowen elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Research & Innovation

lanthierj Tue, 11/24/2020 - 14:23

Faculty

St. George

AAAS Fellows

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Department of Molecular Genetics

Women in STEM

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(Photo courtesy of NSERC)

Leah Cowen, a professor in the department of molecular genetics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, has been named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

In a statement, the AAAS praised Cowen’s “distinguished contributions in the field of microbial genomics, particularly for using functional and chemical genomic analyses to identify vulnerabilities in fungal pathogens.”

Cowen, who was recently named the �ؿ�ζSM's first associate vice-president, research, is also a Canada Research Chair in Microbial Genomics and Infectious Disease. She has developed an innovative research program that uses genome-scale analyses to identify and explore the genes responsible for fungal infections and drug resistance by defining its underlying functional relationships. By mapping out a genetic network, this information holds the potential to discover and design new medicines for infectious diseases.

“The �ؿ�ζSM is proud of Leah Cowen and her exceptional leadership in the biomedical field,” said University Professor Ted Sargent, vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives. “Her work on the biology of fungal pathogens, the mechanisms through which microbes cause disease and ways to counter microbes’ drug resistance, will lead to the development of safe and effective treatments for infectious diseases.”

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Three U of T professors elected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

lanthierj — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 18:48:39 +0000

Three U of T professors elected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Research & Innovation

lanthierj Tue, 11/24/2020 - 13:48

Faculty

St. George

AAAS Fellows

Faculty of Arts & Science

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Women in STEM

landscape

Three U of T professors have been named fellows of the prestigious American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

The mission of the AAAS, the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science, is “to advance science and serve society.” Fellows – scientists, engineers and innovators – are selected for their distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications through research, teaching, technology or communicating and interpreting science to the public.

“The �ؿ�ζSM congratulates Leah Cowen, Norm Murray and Rachel Tyndale for attaining such well-deserved recognition from their peers in the scientific community,” said University Professor Ted Sargent, vice-president research and innovation, and strategic initiatives.

“Their outstanding contributions to research have amounted to great leaps in the health and science fields, from exploring the astrophysical intricacies of the universe, to genomic discoveries at the molecular level.”

The new fellows are:

Leah Cowen, professor in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and Canada Research Chair in Microbial Genomics and Infectious Disease, recognized for her distinguished contributions in the field of microbial genomics, particularly for using functional and chemical genomic analyses to identify vulnerabilities in fungal pathogens
Norman Murray, professor in the Faculty of Arts & Science, director of the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics and Canada Research Chair, recognized for his contributions to theoretical work providing key insights into a broad range of astrophysical topics encompassing planetary science, star formation, galaxy evolution, and active galactic nuclei
Rachel Tyndale, professor in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and senior scientist, The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and Canada Research Chair in Pharmacogenetics, recognized for her outstanding contributions to understanding the role of drug metabolism in addiction and in particular, how genetic polymorphisms alter behaviours relevant to nicotine addiction.

This year’s fellows will be formally announced in the November 2020 issue of Science, and a virtual induction ceremony will be held at the Fellows Forum on February 13, 2021.

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