American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Five U-M faculty members gained induction into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2025, honoring significant contributions in psychology, history, life sciences, public policy and sociology. The honorees are Toni Antonucci, Elizabeth M. Douvan Collegiate Professor of Psychology and research professor at the Institute for Social Research; David Dunning, Mary Ann and Charles R. Walgreen Jr. Professor of Human Understanding and associate chair of psychology in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts (LSA); Paul Johnson, professor of history and Afroamerican and African studies in LSA; Janet Smith, Rita Willis Professor of Life Sciences, Martha L. Ludwig Distinguished University Professor of Biological Chemistry, associate director of the Life Sciences Institute and professor of biophysics in LSA; and Celeste Watkins-Hayes, Joan and Sanford Weill Dean of Public Policy, Jean E. Fairfax Collegiate Professor of Public Policy and professor of sociology in LSA and the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. Their selection demonstrates the university’s excellence in scholarship and leadership across diverse academic fields.

American Association for the Advancement of Science

Thirteen U-M faculty members were named 2024 fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the world’s largest general scientific society, recognizing distinguished contributions to scientific fields. Honorees include Ravi Allada (neurosciences), Kathleen Collins (virology), Mark Daskin (industrial engineering), Andrzej Dlugosz (dermatology and cancer biology), Roman Giger (neural regeneration), Mark Guzdial (computing education), Maggie Levenstein (economics and data policy), David Markovitz (biomedical research), Sally Oey (astronomy), Jack Parent (translational neuroscience), Arvind Rao (computational medicine), Libo Shan (plant biology) and Stephen Smith (phylogenetics). Their achievements reinforce U-M’s leadership in scientific innovation and interdisciplinary research.

Fulbright Scholars

For 2024–25, University of Michigan scholars and students continued the university’s tradition of Fulbright excellence, with 22 recipients sustaining U-M’s designation as a Fulbright Top Producing Institution for U.S. Students. The cohort includes 12 students from the Ann Arbor campus and 10 faculty scholars from Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint, advancing research and artistic work across the globe. Projects range from youth mental health research in Canada to choral conducting study in Hungary and climate research in Nigeria, demonstrating Fulbright’s transformative impact. Since the program’s inception in 1946, over 400,000 participants from the U.S. and more than 160 countries have fostered global academic engagement. U-M’s ongoing Fulbright success highlights leadership in international education and scholarly exchange.

Guggenheim Fellowships

Selection for 2025 Guggenheim Fellowships brought recognition to two University of Michigan professors for distinguished scholarly achievement and creative promise. Benjamin Brose, professor of Chinese and Buddhist studies and chair of Asian Languages and Cultures, earned support for a book project exploring Buddhist monastic and lay life in China through transformation from 1860 to 1960. Martin Murray, professor of urban planning in Taubman College, will research the fate of abandoned spaces and urban decline in Detroit, examining impacts on distressed neighborhoods. The fellowship honors individuals from the U.S. and Canada for extraordinary contributions, providing resources to pursue work at the highest level.

NIH High-Risk, High-Reward Research Awards

Through the National Institutes of Health’s High-Risk, High-Reward Research program, three U-M Medical School faculty members achieved prestigious recognition. Sundeep Kalantry, professor of human genetics, received the NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award for novel studies on chromosome biology and mechanisms of gene expression equalization. Changyang Linghu, assistant professor of cell and developmental biology, and Longhua Guo, assistant professor of molecular and integrative physiology, earned NIH Director’s New Innovator Awards to support research in neuroscience and aging, respectively. These honors champion bold interdisciplinary science and highlight U-M’s leadership in transforming human health and medicine.

National Academy of Engineering

Election to the National Academy of Engineering, one of the highest distinctions in the field, was earned by Elizabeth Holm and Nicholas Kotov, faculty in the College of Engineering. Holm, professor and department chair in materials science and engineering, advanced the field through pioneering computer simulations and machine learning tools that optimize material microstructures. Kotov, Irving Langmuir Distinguished University Professor of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, developed methods for self-assembly of nanoparticles into novel composites used in energy storage, electronics and medical technologies. With their addition, U-M’s total NAE membership reaches 37, affirming Michigan’s leadership in engineering excellence.

National Academy of Inventors

This year, the late Robert Bartlett* and Zhen Xu from the University of Michigan were elected fellows of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), marking the highest professional distinction for academic inventors. Bartlett, a professor emeritus of surgery, developed extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a lifesaving technology for severe cardiac and respiratory failure. Xu, Li Ka Shing Professor of Biomedical Engineering, pioneered histotripsy, an ultrasound-based cancer treatment now approved as the Edison device. Both of their innovations are driving advances in healthcare worldwide. Since 2013, 15 U-M faculty have been named NAI fellows.

*Dr. Bartlett, an active emeritus surgeon at Michigan Medicine and professor at the University of Michigan Medical School, passed away on October 20, 2025 after a long illness. He was 86.

National Academy of Medicine

Election to the National Academy of Medicine, among the highest honors in medicine and health, was achieved by three U-M faculty members: Kenneth M. Langa, Erica E. Marsh and Marc A. Zimmerman. Langa’s research substantially influenced aging, dementia and health disparities. Marsh advanced reproductive health and addressed health inequities, while Zimmerman led pioneering work in youth violence and prevention of firearm injuries. These awards bring U-M’s NAM membership to 82, highlighting transformative research and public health leadership.

National Academy of Sciences

During FY 2025, Phoebe Ellsworth and Scott Page of the University of Michigan gained election to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), honoring distinguished contributions to original research. Ellsworth is Frank Murphy Distinguished Professor Emerita of Law and Psychology, acclaimed for work in person perception, emotion, public opinion and jury behavior. Page, John Seely Brown Distinguished University Professor, is recognized for research on diversity in complex systems, collective intelligence and institutional design. Their selection spotlights U-M’s continual impact on scientific discovery. The NAS, established in 1863, advises the nation on science, engineering and health policy.

Sloan Research Fellows

Thatchaphol Saranurak and Andrew Owens from Michigan Engineering were named 2025 Sloan Research Fellows, joining 126 early-career researchers honored for creativity and innovation. Saranurak develops advanced algorithms for dynamic graph networks, enhancing adaptation in social networks and emergency routing systems. Owens creates machine perception systems utilizing multisensory data, impacting computer vision, robotics and digital media integrity. Each fellowship awards $75,000 over two years, supporting innovative research. With 183 Sloan Fellowships since 1955, the university continues a strong tradition of cultivating emerging research leaders.