Three UC Santa Cruz faculty members have been named new fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the Science family of journals.
They are David Deamer, emeritus professor of biomolecular engineering; Theodore “Ted” Holman, professor of chemistry and biochemistry; and Raphael “Raphe” Kudela, distinguished professor of ocean sciences. They are among 471 scientists, engineers, and innovators awarded today with the lifetime honor.
AAAS recognized Deamer for “significant contributions to the field of membrane biophysics, including the invention of nanopore sequencing and a hand-held device for genetic sequencing in remote and resource-poor environments."
Deamer researched the foundational science needed to create nanopore sequencing, a revolutionary method for reading DNA and RNA that has led to some of the most significant advances in the field of genomics. Along with collaborators Mark Akeson and Daniel Branton, Deamer discovered that forcing a strand of DNA through a membrane charged with an ionic current enables the reading of genetic code. This research was licensed as patents to Oxford Nanopore Technologies, which led to a suite of long-read sequencing devices that are now used prolifically by scientists and medical practitioners worldwide.
Deamer also researches the cellular beginnings of life on Earth four billion years ago, particularly the origin and evolution of membrane structure and the role of wet-dry cycles.
Deamer earned his Ph.D. from the Ohio State University and his bachelor’s at Duke University. Prior to UC Santa Cruz, he served as a professor at UC Davis.
Holman was recognized for "distinguished contributions to the field of lipoxygenase biochemistry and translational science." He joined the UC Santa Cruz faculty in 1996 and researches the role of lipoxygenase—enzymes that use oxygen to change polyunsaturated fatty acids into hydroperoxides—in human diseases such as stroke, diabetes, and blood coagulation.
The Holman Laboratory bridges biology and chemistry, and is renowned for its groundbreaking work identifying new lipoxygenases inhibitors and pioneering research on its regulation. Collaborating with top-tier scientists, Holman’s team aims to transform its discoveries into innovative therapies and solutions. Holman has held 15 provisional patents over the years, with one now in Phase II clinical trials.
In addition, Holman has helped many first-generation and underrepresented students gain access to cutting-edge research and build their confidence to pursue careers in science. Since 2010, he has been UC Santa Cruz’s director of the California Alliance for Minority Participation in science, and played key roles in other university STEM Diversity Research Programs.
Currently, Holman co-leads a pilot program that will give students from Monterey Peninsula College real-world research experience in labs on campus this summer, followed by comprehensive financial and advising support to help them transfer to UC Santa Cruz and major in STEM. Fellow chemistry professor Laura Sanchez co-leads the pilot, and they are raising funds to turn it into a permanent program.
Holman earned his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis and his bachelor’s from UC San Diego, both in chemistry. Prior to UC Santa Cruz, he worked at Harvard Medical School, Syntex Pharmaceuticals, and UC Riverside.
Kudela was recognized for “distinguished contributions in research and education to the field of biological oceanography, in the study of harmful algal blooms and application of state-of-the-art techniques." He joined the UC Santa Cruz faculty in 1999, and his research is focused on global phytoplankton dynamics, with an emphasis on the Eastern Pacific Ocean coastal region, and finding new applications for remote-sensing technology.
As a phytoplankton ecologist, Kudela seeks to understand the fundamental question of what controls algal growth and distribution in the ocean. More specifically, his lab examines how the multiple interactions of light, macro- and micronutrients and phytoplankton physiology determine the rates, processes, and patterns observed in the marine environment.
From 2020 to 2024, Kudela chaired the Ocean Sciences Department, and since 2009, he has served as associate director for academic initiatives for UC Santa Cruz’s Institute of Marine Sciences. Since 2004, Kudela has been part of the Central and Northern California Ocean Observing System, and in 2012, he was elected co-chair of the National Harmful Algal Bloom Committee. He is currently an ex-officio member of GlobalHAB, and a member of the Global Ocean Observing System panel on biology and ecology.
Kudela earned his Ph.D. in biological sciences from the University of Southern California and his bachelor’s in biology/marine sciences from Drake University. Prior to UC Santa Cruz, he worked at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, San Francisco State University, and Los Alamos National Labs.
“This year’s class of Fellows are the embodiment of scientific excellence and service to our communities,” said Sudip Parikh, AAAS chief executive officer and executive publisher of the Science family of journals. “At a time when the future of the scientific enterprise in the U.S. and around the world is uncertain, their work demonstrates the value of sustained investment in science and engineering.”
The new fellows will be celebrated at a forum in Washington, D.C. on June 7. View the full list of 2024 fellows.
