Sharon Strauss, a Distinguished Professor emerita in the Department of Evolution and Ecology, was among the three UC Davis faculty who have been elected as members of the National Academy of Sciences. They are among 120 new members and 30 international members announced by the academy on Tuesday, May 3.

“I extend my warmest congratulations to these outstanding UC Davis faculty for achieving one of the most prestigious honors a scientist can earn,” said Chancellor Gary S. May. “This recognition reflects both their academic excellence and their influential contributions to their respective fields.”

Sharon Strauss

Strauss was elected for “outstanding contributions to evolutionary ecology.” In her work, Strauss investigates how the evolutionary history of a species influences its traits and ecology. She has performed research on plants, parasites, herbivores, pollinators and microbes. Her research interests include the evolutionary ecology of plants and their interactions with other species, reconstructing pathways to ecological specialization, and the application of evolution to biodiversity, disease and resource management, among other topics.

The other two UC Davis honorees are: Kate Scow, distinguished professor emeritus in the Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences; and Geerat Vermeij, distinguished professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, College of Letters and Science. A total of 25 UC Davis faculty are now members of the academy.

Members of the National Academy of Sciences are elected in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. The organization is the oldest scientific academy in the U.S., and membership is considered among the highest national honors for scientists.