Two faculty members from the University of Colorado at Boulder were elected to the National Academy of Sciences this week, bringing the total number of CU-Boulder professors to 17 who have been named to the elite institution.
Richard McIntosh, a professor in CU-Boulder聮s molecular, cellular and developmental biology department, and Charles DePuy, an emeritus professor in CU-Boulder聮s chemistry and biochemistry department, were among the 60 members nationwide elected in 1999.
Of the 1999 members elected, six were from the University of California-Berkeley, three from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, three from the University of California, Los Angeles, and two each from CU-Boulder, Princeton, Stanford and several other universities. The two CU professors were the only members elected to the National Academy of Sciences from Colorado in 1999.
Members are recognized for their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. Election to the academy is considered one of the highest honors bestowed on American scientists or engineers. Those elected this year bring the total number of active academy members to 1,825.
"This is delightful news," said Chancellor Richard L. Byyny. "This kind of recognition underscores the quality of our faculty and the nationwide reputation of our outstanding researchers, scholars and teachers."
McIntosh was cited for his studies of the mechanisms of chromosome movement in the nuclear division of cells, known as mitosis. McIntosh has identified molecules that serve as the "motors" for mitosis and has been characterizing the complex steps of spindle formation during cell division.
DePuy was cited for his studies of the fundamental chemical reactions in solvents. Many of his experiments have been conducted in vacuums void of solvents in an attempt to better understand the nature of the reactions. He has written more than 170 scientific articles and probed the origin of organic molecules in interstellar space and the role they may have played in the evolution of life.
DePuy joins six other CU-Boulder chemistry and biochemistry faculty in the National Academy of Sciences, including Professors Thomas Cech, Marvin Caruthers, Olke Uhlenbeck, Joseph Michl, Carl Lineberger and Emeritus Professor Stanley Cristol.
Other CU-Boulder members of the National Academy of Sciences include David Prescott, William Wood and Larry Gold of MCD biology, Richard McCray of the astrophysical and planetary sciences department, Carl Wieman of physics and JILA, Stephen Leone and John Hall of JILA, Professor Emeritus Gilbert White of the the Institute of Behavioral Science and Jane Menken of sociology.
JILA is a joint program of CU-Boulder and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.