Pradeep Kachroo, UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment professor in the Department of Plant Pathology, has been named an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow. AAAS is a distinguished lifetime honor within the scientific community. Kachroo is among the 502 scientists, engineers and innovators elected as 2023 AAAS Fellows.

AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the Science family of journals. The newly elected Fellows represent the fields of biological sciences, chemistry, medical sciences and engineering, followed by neuroscience and physics.

“I am humbled by this honor. It reaffirms my commitment to excellence in science and making lasting societal contributions through research,” Kachroo said. “I share this achievement with the many talented, dedicated and hardworking researchers, past and present. This would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of my family, friends, collaborators, department and colleagues.”

The fellowship recognizes Kachroo’s distinguished contributions to the plant systemic immunity field, particularly his work expanding the genetic and biochemical understanding of the molecular signaling mechanisms underlying systemic acquired resistance.

“Dr. Kachroo has consistently been at the forefront of research on mechanisms of plant disease resistance,” said Christopher Schardl, professor and former chair of the Department of Plant Pathology. “He has played key roles establishing and maintaining state-of-the-art shared-use infrastructure and mentored many successful undergraduate and graduate students. The election of Dr. Kachroo as an AAAS Fellow brings extraordinary visibility to the excellence of science at UK.”

Kachroo is the first Fellow elected from the Department of Plant Pathology. He was elected along with Yang-Tse Cheng, the Frank J. Derbyshire professor of materials engineering in the UK Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering and professor of physics and astronomy in the UK College of Arts and Sciences. The two join the ranks of seven other active UK AAAS Fellows.

AAAS first launched this lifetime recognition in 1874, about 25 years after the association was founded.

“As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the AAAS Fellows, AAAS is proud to recognize the newly elected individuals,” said Sudip S. Parikh, AAAS chief executive officer and executive publisher of the Science family of journals. “This year’s class embodies scientific excellence, fosters trust in science throughout the communities they serve, and leads the next generation of scientists while advancing scientific achievements.”

The new Fellows will receive a certificate and rosette pin to commemorate their election and will be celebrated at a forum on Sept. 21, 2024. AAAS will also celebrate the program’s 150th anniversary at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.

About AAAS 
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science, as well as Science Translational Medicine; Science Signaling; a digital, open-access journal, Science Advances; Science Immunology; and Science Robotics.

AAAS was founded in 1848 and includes more than 250 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals. The nonprofit AAAS is open to all and fulfills its mission to “advance science and serve society” through initiatives in science policy, international programs, science education, public engagement, and more.

For additional information about AAAS, visit www.aaas.org.

###

The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research, education information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.