BARC Scientist Elected to National Academy of Sciences

Dr. Bob Davis, Research Leader for the Molecular Plant Pathology Lab, Plant Sciences Institute, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences.

Election to membership in the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is considered one of the highest honors that can be accorded a U.S. scientist or engineer. Academy membership recognizes those who have made distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.

This singular honor is in recognition of Dr. Davis's extensive achievements in plant pathology, listed among the top ten accomplishments in the twentieth century, according to the American Phytopathology Society. Dr. Davis discovered spiroplasmas, a unique group of organisms that cannot be grown in culture, and which cause many important plant diseases. He is currently leading a project on the spiroplasma genome.

Dr. Davis has also recently recieved a Presidential Distinguished Rank Award for 2004 from President George Bush.