Four University of Tennessee Faculty Members Join Ranks of Elite 2025 AAAS Fellows for Scientific Excellence

University of Tennessee, Knoxville professors Brad Binder, Jennifer DeBruyn, Elisabeth Schussler, and Jie Zhuang honored as 2025 AAAS Fellows for scientific excellence.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 28, 2026, 10:55 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from University of Tennessee at Knoxville

A Milestone for the Tennessee Research Community

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has further solidified its standing as a premier research institution with the election of four faculty members to the 2025 class of AAAS Fellows. This lifetime appointment, bestowed by peers on the AAAS Council, recognizes extraordinary achievements across a diverse range of scientific disciplines, from laboratory discovery to classroom innovation. With these latest additions, the university’s total number of fellows has risen to 103, reflecting a sustained trajectory of influence within the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Vice Chancellor Deborah Crawford noted that the election of these scholars underscores the university's role in confronting global challenges through bold and innovative research.

Cracking the Code of Plant Communication

Among the newly elected fellows is Brad Binder, a professor of biochemistry and cellular and molecular biology whose work redefines our understanding of how plants "sense" their surroundings. Binder’s research focuses on ethylene, a gaseous plant hormone that allows for a unique form of inter-plant communication. While ethylene is often associated with the multi-billion dollar problem of post-harvest crop ripening and loss, Binder’s lab has uncovered how brief exposure to the gas can actually prime plants for superior growth and stress tolerance. His work has recently expanded to investigate how this single molecule exerts profound biological effects across both plants and microbial life, offering new insights into agricultural resilience.

Unseen Systems of Decomposition and Sustainability

Jennifer DeBruyn, a professor of environmental microbiology, was recognized for her pioneering studies into the "necrobiome"—the complex microbial communities that break down organic matter. Over the past 15 years, DeBruyn has collaborated with forensic researchers to map the biological processes of decomposition, a fundamental cycle that prevents the planet from being overwhelmed by organic waste. Beyond human and animal remains, her current research investigates the growing crisis of agricultural microplastics and their long-term impact on soil health. Her prospective work into "green burials" aims to align forensic science with environmental sustainability to reduce the ecological footprint of the human death cycle.