Elena Litchman named a 2025 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Elena Litchman, resident faculty at the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station and Michigan State University Research Foundation Distinguished Professor, has been named a 2025 fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, or AAAS.

AAAS, pronounced “triple-A-S,” is one of the world’s largest and most respected scientific societies. Its 2025 cohort of fellows includes nearly 500 scientists, engineers and innovators. The nine MSU fellows represent four colleges and a shared commitment to research that improves lives and expands opportunity. Much of their work is funded by the federal government.

MSU fellows

In addition to Litchman, the MSU honorees are:

• Ann Austin, University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Educational Administration in the College of Education.
• Gary Blanchard, professor of chemistry in the College of Natural Science.
• Shi-you Ding, associate professor in the Department of Plant Biology and faculty in the Molecular Plant Sciences Program in the College of Natural Science.
• Dean Lee, professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the College of Natural Science and the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams.
• Hui Li, MSU Research Foundation Professor of environmental soil chemistry in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources; associate director of the Center for PFAS Research.
• James McCusker, Joseph Zichis Endowed Chair and MSU Research Foundation Distinguished Professor of chemistry in the Department of Chemistry in the College of Natural Science
• Dohun Pyeon, professor in the Department of Microbiology, Genetics and Immunology in the College of Human Medicine and the College of Natural Science
• Elise Zipkin, Red Cedar Distinguished Professor, Department of Integrative Biology; director, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Program; appointment in the College of Natural Science

Elena Litchman

Elena Litchman is a MSU Research Foundation Distinguished Professor of aquatic ecology at KBS and in the Department of Integrative Biology in the College of Natural Science. She was named a fellow for her work in biological sciences. Her lab investigates how algae, cyanobacteria and other microorganisms respond to global environmental change in both freshwater and marine ecosystems.

Combining field observations, laboratory experiments and mathematical modeling, Litchman and her team study what drives biodiversity and ecological resilience and how microbial communities affect water quality and ecosystem functioning. Her work also explores how environmental changes can influence microbial systems connected to human health. In one 2025 article, Litchman discusses how climate change affects gut health and is featured for her work with the MSU Water Alliance.

“I am honored to be recognized by AAAS,” Litchman said. “I am grateful that such an influential scientific society recognized my research on how aquatic ecosystems respond to changing environmental conditions and how biodiversity and water quality may be affected.”

‘Demonstrated research excellence’

The MSU fellows are being recognized for their work in education, chemistry, cancer studies, biological and medical sciences, physics and agriculture, food and renewable resources. They join a distinguished list of more than 190 current and past Spartans who have been selected as fellows.

“It’s an honor to join AAAS in recognizing so many outstanding MSU researchers,” said MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz. “Not only are they confronting local and global challenges through their research, but these faculty members are also preparing Spartans for careers of today and tomorrow. I’m proud of how they all represent this leading global public university’s firm commitment to excellence and service.”

“This year’s AAAS Fellows have demonstrated research excellence, made notable contributions to advance science and delivered important services to their communities,” said Sudip Parikh, AAAS chief executive officer and executive publisher of the Science family of journals. “These fellows and their accomplishments validate the importance of investing in science and technology for the benefit of all.”

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