New York, March 26, 2026 — Five CUNY Graduate Center faculty members have been named 2025 Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science , placing their work among this year’s notable contributions to biology, physics, mathematics and environmental science.
The honorees are:
Each year, AAAS selects Fellows from a distinguished group of scientists, engineers, and innovators whose work has advanced science or its applications in significant ways. In a tradition dating to 1874, Fellows are elected annually by the AAAS Council and recognized for extraordinary achievements in research, teaching, technology, administration, and public communication of science. The 2025 honorees will be recognized at the annual Fellows Forum in Washington, D.C., on May 29, 2026.
“Having five faculty members connected to the Graduate Center recognized by AAAS in a single year is an extraordinary distinction,” said CUNY Graduate Center President Joshua C. Brumberg , a 2024 AAAS Fellow . “Professors Gardner, Lohman, Menon, Sormani, and Vörösmarty represent the depth, range, and public impact of CUNY scholarship. Their work expands human knowledge while addressing some of the most important questions of our time, from the foundations of mathematics to evolution, quantum materials, the development of cancer therapies, and the future of global water security.”
Gardner is being recognized for research that has linked basic biology to new biomedical advances, including cancer treatments. His work helped scientists identify a weak point in a protein called HIF-2 alpha, which is involved in the growth of some cancers. That discovery paved the way for the targeted cancer drug belzutifan, which specifically shuts down HIF-2 alpha function. He has also advanced the study of light-sensitive proteins, deepening understanding of how cells respond to light and applying this to develop optogenetic tools that let researchers use light to control cells.
“This recognition reflects the power of connecting fundamental science to real-world challenges,” Gardner said. “Some of the most exciting advances begin with basic questions about how biological systems work. It has been incredibly rewarding to see discoveries from academic research help open paths toward new therapies, while also building the research infrastructure and culture that gives students and scientists at CUNY access to cutting-edge tools and ideas.”
Lohman is being honored for distinguished contributions to the study of the evolution and biogeography of butterflies, in particular the phenomenon of mimicry in the fauna of Southeast Asia. His work has used DNA data to connect most known butterfly genera and create a database that helps scientists study butterflies around the world. His research team explores how new species form, why others disappear, how traits evolve over time, and how they spread across different regions.
“Being named an AAAS Fellow is a tremendous distinction that recognizes not only my work but also the contributions of the many students, collaborators, and institutions that have helped advance our understanding of butterfly evolution and biodiversity,” Lohman said. “I’m especially grateful that research on butterflies can shed light on much bigger questions about how life evolves, adapts, and persists across our changing planet.”
Menon is being recognized for distinguished contributions to the field of strong light-matter interaction and its control in atomically thin materials using engineered photonic media. He has received worldwide acclaim for being the first to demonstrate strong light-matter coupling in 2D materials. This 2014 discovery pioneered a new field of 2D materials research that has application in developing advanced computing, sensors, and other devices.
“I am immensely grateful to be named an AAAS Fellow,” Menon said. “Beyond the personal recognition, I’m thrilled that this distinction highlights our efforts to understand how light and matter interact at the smallest scales. I look forward to seeing how manipulating these interactions in atomically thin materials continues to unlock frontiers in advanced computing and sensing. I am deeply indebted to my students and collaborators, as their hard work and partnership are the true drivers of this research.”
Sormani is being honored for distinguished contributions to geometric analysis and for developing new ways to understand how geometric spaces change, work that has applications in mathematical general relativity, the field that uses mathematics to study gravity, space, and time. Her research spans Riemannian geometry, metric spaces, geometric measure theory, and general relativity. She is also widely recognized for mentoring young mathematicians and for expanding access and opportunity in the field, particularly for women and students from underrepresented groups. She was named an American Mathematical Society Fellow in 2015 and an Association for Women in Mathematics Fellow in 2024 .
“I’m deeply honored to be recognized by the AAAS,” Sormani said. “I’m grateful to CUNY for supporting my research and that of my students. It has been wonderful to have the opportunity to give back to the university that educated my parents and so many other first-generation college students of diverse backgrounds. Together we can advance the foundations of geometry and deepen our understanding of astronomy: two of the most ancient fields of study that come together now as geometric analysis and general relativity.”
Vörösmarty is being honored for developing and advocating an international approach to water management solutions around the world. A leading voice in global water science, he has helped shape understanding of how climate, population growth, engineering, ecosystems, and public policy intersect in the management of freshwater resources. His research has influenced international development efforts, sustainable investment strategies, and global assessments of water security and aquatic biodiversity. Among many accomplishments, he led influential work on threats to inland water systems, on land-to-ocean impacts, and on strategies for integrating engineered and nature-based solutions to water challenges.
“I’m honored by this recognition from AAAS,” Vörösmarty said. “Water sits at the center of human health, environmental sustainability, economic development, and climate resilience. This work has always been collaborative and international in scope, and I hope this recognition helps underscore the urgency of building smarter, more integrated solutions to water insecurity across the globe.”
Election as an AAAS Fellow is a lifetime honor. Eligible nominees must have been continuous AAAS members for at least four years before nomination, and all Fellows are expected to uphold the highest standards of professional ethics and scientific integrity. Prominent fellows from the past and present include Thomas Edison, W.E.B. Du Bois, Maria Mitchell, Steven Chu, Ellen Ochoa, and Irwin M. Jacobs.
The recognition of Gardner, Lohman, Menon, Sormani, and Vörösmarty highlights the Graduate Center’s role as a hub for ambitious, interdisciplinary scholarship with impact far beyond the university, from the most theoretical frontiers of mathematics to discoveries that improve human health and research that helps societies respond to global environmental change.
About the Graduate Center of The City University of New York
The CUNY Graduate Center is a leader in public graduate education devoted to enhancing the public good through pioneering research, serious learning, and reasoned debate. The Graduate Center offers ambitious students over 50 doctoral, master’s, and certificate programs of the highest caliber, taught by top faculty from throughout CUNY — the nation’s largest urban public university. Through its nearly 40 centers, institutes, initiatives, and the Advanced Science Research Center, the Graduate Center influences public policy and discourse and shapes innovation. The Graduate Center’s extensive public programs make it a home for culture and conversation.