FEATURED NEWS
Four UCLA Faculty Elected to National Academy of Sciences; CNSI Associate Director Heather Maynard Among Honorees
Four UCLA faculty members have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), one of the highest honors in the scientific community. The four professors are part of a new class of 120 members and 30 international members announced by the academy.
Among the newly elected members is Heather D. Maynard, a renowned polymer chemist and associate director of the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) at UCLA.
Maynard, who holds the Dr. Myung Ki Hong Endowed Chair in Polymer Science, is internationally recognized for her pioneering work in protein-polymer conjugates and smart materials for precision medicine. Her research focuses on developing novel synthetic methods to create materials that enhance the stability and efficacy of therapeutics, with applications spanning from diabetes treatment to cancer therapy.
In addition to her research, Maynard plays a pivotal role in interdisciplinary scientific initiatives. She serves as co-director of the NSF-funded BioPACIFIC Materials Innovation Platform, a $23.7 million collaboration between UCLA and UC Santa Barbara aimed at advancing materials science.
Maynard’s contributions have been recognized with numerous accolades, including the 2024 Herman F. Mark Scholar Award from the American Chemical Society’s Polymer Chemistry Division. She was also elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2023, underscoring her impact on both scientific research and education.
Other UCLA faculty members elected to the National Academy of Sciences for 2025 are:
Sorin Popa
Professor of mathematics, UCLA College
Marilyn Raphael
Professor of geography, UCLA College and UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
Edward Leamer (posthumous)
Distinguished professor emeritus of global economics and management, UCLA Anderson School of Management
Membership in the academy is among the most prestigious honors in the United States scientific community, requiring election by a scholar’s peers. The nongovernmental organization now has 2,662 active members, who can be called on by the federal government to provide their expertise on issues regarding science and technology.