Mark Adams, professor and interim scientific director at The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) for Genomic Medicine, has been elected a 2025 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), one of the most distinguished lifetime honors for scientists.
Adams is among nearly 500 scientists, engineers, and innovators recognized as AAAS 2025 Fellows for their lifetime career achievements. His pioneering contributions to DNA sequencing technology and key roles in mapping early genomes—including the human genome—represent foundational work that underpins much of today’s research into cancer, rare disease, and precision medicine.
“I am delighted to congratulate Mark for this well-deserved honor,” said Mary Dickinson, JAX executive vice president and chief scientific officer, who became an AAAS Fellow in 2024. “This remarkable achievement is a reflection of his excellent leadership and commitment to pushing the needle in genomics and bioinformatics to improve human lives. It also underscores JAX’s role as a global leader in genomics research and precision medicine.”
At JAX, Adams leads clinical and research genomics strategy, overseeing platforms that provide advanced sequencing and data analysis capabilities to investigators across the institution and beyond. He is also an affiliated faculty member in the UConn School of Medicine’s Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences.
Prior to JAX, Adams co-founded the Institute for Genomic Research and Celera Genomics, where he led DNA sequencing and genome annotation groups responsible for sequencing the initial human, mouse, and fruit fly genomes. As an associate professor at Case Western Reserve University and as scientific director and professor at the J. Craig Venter Institute, he led programs that characterized genomic drivers of antibiotic resistance in hospital-acquired infections.
“ I am truly honored to be elected as an AAAS Fellow,” Adams said. “Throughout my career, I’ve been driven by a desire to find better ways to use genomics to deepen our understanding of human disease. I look forward to working with AAAS to further advance the role of science in improving human health and ensuring that scientific knowledge continues to inform society.”
Founded in 1848, AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society and the publisher of the Science family of journals. The tradition of electing AAAS Fellows dates back to 1874 and recognizes scientists whose efforts have advanced science or its applications for the benefit of society. Past honorees include Thomas Edison, W.E.B. Du Bois, Maria Mitchell, Steven Chu, Ellen Ochoa, and Irwin M. Jacobs.
About The Jackson Laboratory
The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution with a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center. JAX leverages a unique combination of research, education, and resources to achieve its bold mission: to discover precise genomic solutions for disease and empower the global biomedical community in the shared quest to improve human health. Established in Bar Harbor, Maine in 1929, JAX is a global organization with nearly 3,000 employees worldwide and campuses and facilities