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In the science community, being named as a fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science<\/a> (AAAS) is one of the more prestigious professional nods a researcher can achieve — not unlike election to a hall of fame in the world of sports.<\/p>\n Past AAAS Fellows include names like Thomas Edison and W.E.B. DuBois, along with a roster of scientists who have made significant contributions to their field. That list includes six current Baylor faculty, two of whom — Dr. Dwayne Simmons<\/a> (biology) and Dr. Samuel Urlacher<\/a> (anthropology) — were named among the 2025 class of AAAS Fellows<\/a>.<\/p>\n Simmons, Baylor’s Cornelia Marschall Smith Endowed Professor of Biology, focuses his research on hearing, aging and the brain<\/a>. He has partnered with the Department of Defense on work to apply his research to military members, many of whom are exposed to blasts or other loud noises that impact hearing. He has also demonstrated a passion for connecting undergraduate (and even high school students<\/a>) with high-level research.<\/p>\n Urlacher, an associate professor of anthropology at Baylor, studies global variations in human biology and health, a focus that has taken him around the world to study how children use calories, and the ways that distinct experiences and economics impact metabolism. He earned the Michael A. Little Early Career Award<\/a> from the Human Biology Association in 2024, and his work has been featured in popular media like Good Morning America<\/em> and The New York Times<\/em>. He also has regularly taken his research to students outside of his own lab<\/a> to spark an interest in science.<\/p>\n With their recognition this year, Simmons and Urlacher have added to Baylor\u2019s total of AAAS Fellows. The latest pair joins Dr. Julie Hoggarth<\/a> (anthropology, 2024); Dr. Bryan Brooks<\/a> (environmental science and biomedical studies, 2023); Dr. Julia Chan<\/a> (BS ’93) (chemistry\/biochemistry and materials science, 2019); and Dr. Luis Balicas<\/a> (physics and astronomy, 2016) among current Baylor faculty who have also been honored as AAAS Fellows.<\/p>\n