Produced by: Office of Media Relations
February 7, 2014
Queens, NY (February 06, 2014) – Anne Dranginis, Ph.D., Professor of Biology at St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, has been elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Professor Dranginis will be honored at the AAAS Fellows Forum in Chicago, IL., on February 15, 2014, where she will be presented with an award as a symbol of her distinguished accomplishments in science.
Dr. Dranginis will be honored, according to the AAAS, for her “meritorious contributions to understanding microbial interactions via cell surface molecules, the multi-cellular nature of microbial communities and development, and indefatigable efforts in science education.” During her laboratory research at St. John's she discovered and characterized a key fungal adhesion molecule, which has proven to be the key player in cell adhesion within a variety of types of fungal communities. Characterization of this cell adhesion has led to explanations of fungal behavior and growth, and has proven to have implications beyond the field of basic research. These discoveries have applications in the medical fields as well as industrial fields such as the brewing and winemaking industries.
A mainstay of St. John’s scientific programs especially in the area of molecular biology, Dr. Dranginis has served for over 20 years in both the Graduate and Undergraduate Programs in The Department of Biological Sciences at St. John’s. St. John’s University’s Department of Biological Sciences has organized its courses to provide students with a broad-based background in biology with an emphasis on cell and molecular biology, and to prepare them for advanced study and research in several areas.
The AAAS was formed in 1848 and it is the world’s largest general scientific society. It is an international non-profit organization that is “dedicated to advancing science for the benefit of all people.” The 388 newly-elected AAAS Fellows have been nominated and recognized by their peers for their meritorious efforts to advance science or its applications. Fellows are elected annually by the AAAS Council. Examples of areas in which fellows may have made significant contributions are research; teaching; technology; services to professional societies; administration in academe, industry, and government; and communicating and interpreting science to the public. Election is an international honor bestowed upon members by their peers.
To learn more about St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, visit www.stjohns.edu/biology, contact Joyce Lawlor, Associate Dean, at 718-990-6129 or [email protected].
For media inquiries, please contact Elizabeth Reilly, Director of Media Relations, at 718-990-5789 or [email protected].