Data Science Institute (DSI) member Gary Miller and affiliate Dustin Rubenstein have been elected as fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences (AAAS).
AAAS is the world’s largest multidisciplinary scientific society and a leading publisher of cutting-edge research through its Science family of journals. Election as a fellow honors members whose efforts on behalf of the advancement of science or its applications in service to society have distinguished them among their peers and colleagues.
Miller is a professor of environmental health sciences and vice dean for research strategy and innovation at Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health. He is recognized for his work in pharmacology, toxicology, and neuroscience, particularly in understanding neurotransmitter storage, Parkinson’s Disease, and how non-genetic factors influence health. He is also responsible for popularizing the idea of the exposome—how living conditions, diet, pollution, and other environmental factors trigger changes in the body that may lead to disease and shorter lifespans. He serves on DSI’s executive committee.
Rubenstein is a professor of behavioral and evolutionary ecology on Columbia’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences. He is recognized for his work understanding the evolution of complex social behavior in birds, beetles, and snapping shrimp, and how cooperation helps such animals adapt to harsh environments. His longtime research in the East Africa savannah has shown that superb starlings are more likely to withstand extreme rainfall and drought and survive into adulthood when parents have additional helpers in the nest. He is an affiliated member of DSI’s education working group.
Read More: Five Columbia Faculty Named AAAS Fellows