PatIntNews

Professor Jizhong Zhou from University of Oklahoma has been awarded the distinction of Fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science for his contributions towards microbial genomics and ecology, particularly for pioneering advances in developing genomic technologies for environmental technologies.

At present, he is a presidential professor in OU's Department of Botany and Microbiology and director of the Institute for Environmental Genomics and is distinguished as an international leader in four areas of environmental microbiology: environmental genomics, functional genomics, microbial ecology and community dynamics, and microbial detection and identification.

Zhou and a group of colleagues have developed GeoChip, a novel genomics-based tool which can detect functional genes and processes within a microbial community with many applications. This is the first comprehensive gene chip for studying biogeochemical, ecological and environmental processes.

Lee Williams, vice president for research on the Norman campus said that his GeoChip technology have impact across many disciplines and applications, from human health to environmental remediation so his election as an AAAS Fellow fits as recognition for one of our most productive and respected faculty members.

Bioremediation is only one of the many possible applications of GeoChip. This GeoChip reduced uranium levels in contaminated groundwater while monitoring microbial community during bioremediation field study.

It can be applied on variety of systems and has the potential to impact a diversity of areas affected by micro-organisms, including human health, agriculture, global climate change, environmental cleanup and restoration.

AAAS awarded this honor to 486 members because of their scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications. New Fellows will be honored on Saturday, Feb. 14 at the AAAS Fellows Forum during the 2009 Annual Meeting in Chicago. Election as a Fellow is an honor bestowed upon AAAS members by their peers.