Luis Rafael Herrera-Estrella , the President’s Distinguished Professor of Plant Genomics and Director of the Institute of Genomics for Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance (IGCAST) at Texas Tech University , has been named a Fellow of the Royal Society , one of the oldest and most distinguished organizations in global science.
The Royal Society, founded in 1660, is the oldest scientific community in existence, and its members consist of some of the most significant people in scientific history, including historical figures such as Stephen Hawking, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein. Herrera-Estrella is one of 90 new Fellows to the Society, spanning scientific fields such as astronomy, cancer research, mathematics and biotechnology.
“It is a profound honor to be elected to such a prestigious academy, especially for work carried out largely in Mexico, where conditions for doing science are often more challenging than at top universities in Europe and the United States,” Herrera-Estrella said. “I hope this recognition inspires young scientists to pursue excellence and to recognize that transformative science can emerge from any place where curiosity, creativity and determination take root.”
Herrera-Estrella arrived at Texas Tech in 2019 and established IGCAST, which focuses on how plants adapt to environmental extremes such as heat, cold and drought, factors that are intensified through changes in climate.
Under Herrera-Estrella, IGCAST has secured more than $10 million in research funding from the National Science Foundation, the United States Department of Agriculture and local and statewide entities connected to crops critical to the economy, such as cotton, sorghum and soybeans.
Last summer, IGCAST and the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources debuted a new phenotyping machine that can quickly and accurately differentiate the physical traits in crops, accelerating the breeding and evaluation of new seed varieties.
“IGCAST is a genomics powerhouse at Texas Tech,” said Krishna Jagadish, interim chair and Thornton Distinguished Chair of the Department of Plant & Soil Science , describing the institute’s work as delivering “cutting-edge, innovative, science-based outcomes” to address persistent agricultural challenges tied to environmental stress.
Herrera-Estrella’s influence extends well beyond Texas Tech. Internationally recognized for his work in plant genomics and biotechnology, he was named one of Scientific American’s 100 Most Influential People in Biotechnology in 2015. He is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences and a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. In 2024, he was elected to the European Molecular Biology Organization.
Today, IGCAST includes eight research teams, more than 40 graduate students and a growing group of postdoctoral scholars. Its scientists are developing new tools for plant transformation and precision gene editing, while also exploring emerging strategies, including approaches based on environmental factors that affect how genes work, to strengthen crops against an increasingly volatile environment.
Before joining Texas Tech, Herrera-Estrella served as director of the National Laboratory of Genomics for Biodiversity (LANGEBIO) in Guanajuato, Mexico, where he helped build one of Latin America’s premier plant genomics research centers.
“I am delighted to welcome this newest group of exceptional scientists to the Fellowship of the Royal Society,” said Sir Paul Nurse, president of the Royal Society. “Their contributions reflect the highest standards of scientific endeavor. Our Fellowship is strengthened not only by individual distinction, but by the diversity of perspectives and experiences its members bring. This incoming cohort highlights the truly international character of contemporary science and underscores the vital role that it plays in achieving breakthroughs that benefit us all.”
The Royal Society is a self-governing Fellowship of many of the world’s most distinguished scientists drawn from all areas of science, engineering and medicine. Since 1660, the Society’s fundamental purpose had been to recognize, promote and support excellence in science and encourage the development and use of science for the benefit of humanity.