WASHINGTON — The National Academy of Sciences will honor 16 individuals with awards recognizing their extraordinary scientific achievements in a wide range of fields spanning the physical, biological, social, and medical sciences.

Kirk Bryan Jr., NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory and Princeton University, will receive the Alexander Agassiz Medal for pioneering and visionary work in oceanography and climate science. The medal is presented with a $20,000 prize.

David J. McComas, Princeton University, will receive the Arctowski Medal for his pioneering contributions to experimental space plasma physics. The medal is presented with a $25,000 prize, and $50,000 to support the recipient’s research. The medal is presented with a $100,000 prize, plus $100,000 to support research in solar physics and solar terrestrial relationships.

Jerry X. Mitrovica, Harvard University, will receive the Arthur L. Day Prize and Lectureship for his vital contributions to geophysics on sea level change patterns. The award is presented with a $50,000 prize and funds to present a series of Day Lectures.

Harald F. Hess, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, will receive the James Prize in Science and Technology Integration for pioneering work in optical and electron microscopy. This award is presented with a $50,000 prize.

Thomas Vidick, California Institute of Technology, will receive the Michael and Sheila Held Prize for innovative work in quantum computing theory. The award is presented with a $100,000 prize.

Hye Kyung Timken, Chevron Technical Center, will receive the NAS Award for Chemistry in Service to Society for contributions to improve process safety of industrial fuel production. The award is presented with a $20,000 prize.

Kevan M. Shokat, will receive the NAS Award for Scientific Discovery for pioneering breakthroughs in chemical biology to advance cancer therapy. The award is presented with a $50,000 prize and $50,000 to support the recipient’s research.

Geoffrey W. Coates, Cornell University, will receive the NAS Award for the Industrial Application for revolutionary contributions to sustainable high-performance materials. This year’s award is presented in materials science and is presented with a $25,000 prize.

Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, Carnegie Mellon University, will receive the NAS Award in Chemical Sciences for trailblazing advancements in polymer chemistry. The award is presented with a $15,000 prize.

Jason S. McLellan, University of Texas at Austin, will receive the NAS Award in Molecular Biology for pioneering work in the molecular and structural biology of viral surface proteins. The award is presented with a $25,000 prize.

Huaijun Zhou, University of California, Davis, will receive the NAS Prize in Food and Agriculture Sciences for advancing understanding of livestock and poultry genomes to help address food insecurity and climate change. The award is presented with a $100,000 prize.

Hongkui Zeng, Allen Institute for Brain Science, will receive the Pradel Research Award for transformative contributions to our understanding of cell types and connections in the brain. The award is presented with a $50,000 award to support neuroscience research.

Michelle Monje, Stanford University School of Medicine, will receive the Richard Lounsbery Award for advancing understanding of pediatric brain cancers and the neurological effects of cancer treatments. The award is presented with a $75,000 prize.

Nancy A. Moran, University of Texas at Austin, will receive the Selman A. Waksman Award in Microbiology for expanding understanding of microbial symbiosis. The award is presented with a $20,000 prize.

Tim Buschman, Princeton University, and Catherine Hartley, New York University, will each receive a Troland Research Award. With these awards, the Academy recognizes Buschman for his groundbreaking contributions insights into the neural mechanisms of cognitive control, and Hartley for novel contributions to the understanding of the adolescent mind and brain. Each recipient is presented with a $75,000 prize to support their research.

The winners will be honored in a ceremony during the National Academy of Sciences' 160th annual meeting.

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit institution that was established under a congressional charter signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. It recognizes achievement in science by election to membership, and — with the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine — provides science, engineering, and health policy advice to the federal government and other organizations.

Contact:

Molly Galvin
Director, Executive Communications
Office of News and Public Information
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
202-334-2138
news@nas.edu; www.nationalacademies.org