The National Academy of Sciences has inducted eight faculty members from the University of California, Berkeley, acknowledging their significant and ongoing contributions to research across various disciplines. The announcement was made on Tuesday, recognizing 120 new members and 30 international members in 2025. This latest election increases the total active members to 2,662 and international members to 556.
The newly elected UC Berkeley members have dedicated years to research in gene editing, materials science, and other areas. Kathleen Collins, a professor in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, investigates telomerase’s role in aging and is advancing her research in gene therapy technologies.
Michael F. Crommie, a physics professor, examines atomic and molecular structures’ properties, focusing on how these affect nanodevice behavior. Alison Gopnik, a psychology professor, explores children’s cognitive development and their understanding of the world, with a growing interest in AI.
Steven Kahn, dean of mathematical and physical sciences and a professor of astronomy, is working on machine learning applications in astrophysics. Daniel M. Kammen, from the Energy and Resources Group, designs renewable energy systems and advises governments.
Ravindran Kannan, a visiting scientist at the Simons Institute, focuses on algorithms and theoretical computer science problems. Robert Ritchie, an engineering professor, researches the fracture and fatigue resistance of materials.
Richmond Sarpong, a chemistry professor, specializes in synthesizing bioactive complex organic molecules and developing new synthetic methods.
The National Academy of Sciences, a private nonprofit institution, was established under a congressional charter signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. It provides scientific, engineering, and health policy advice in conjunction with the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine.
