Purdue Agriculture Professor Named AAAS Fellow

Jianxin Ma, professor of agronomy, has been named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Election as an AAAS Fellow is an honor bestowed upon AAAS members by their peers. The citation for Ma’s honor states: For distinguished contributions to the field of plant genetics and breeding, particularly for uncovering molecular networks underpinning key agricultural traits such as maturity and growth.

Ma, who has been a Purdue faculty member since 2006, serves on the editorial boards of eight scientific journals and has published more than 80 articles in the field of plant genetics and genomics. Much of Ma's recent research focuses on characterizing genes, genetic networks, and genetic variation underlying traits of agronomic importance for sustainable enhancement of globally important crops. He is internationally renowned for his work on plant comparative genomics and his prominent role in transferring basic knowledge into tangible application for soybean improvement.

 “It’s a great pleasure to be named an AAAS fellow. This honor belongs to my lab members and collaborators over the years. Their hard work was largely responsible for what we have accomplished. Also, I am thankful to the leadership and other colleagues around us for their unwavering support," Ma said.

“Dr. Ma is a gifted researcher, making numerous significant contributions to the field of plant genomics, said Karen Plaut, the Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture. “His work ultimately improves the survival and yield of crops and directly improves our ability to feed a growing population.”

The tradition of AAAS Fellows began in 1874. Currently, members can be considered for the rank of Fellow if nominated by the steering groups of the association’s 24 sections, or by any three Fellows who are current AAAS members (so long as two of the three sponsors are not affiliated with the nominee’s institution), or by the AAAS chief executive officer. Fellows must have been continuous members of AAAS for four years by the end of the calendar year in which they are elected. AAAS Fellows' lifetime honor comes with an expectation that recipients maintain the highest standards of professional ethics and scientific integrity. 

In this 2014 photo, Doctoral student Jieqing Ping, at left, and agronomy professor Jianxin Ma examine soybean stem architecture in a greenhouse at Purdue. Dr. Ping is currently a Senior Scientist at BASF. In this 2014 photo, Doctoral student Jieqing Ping, at left, and agronomy professor Jianxin Ma examine soybean stem architecture in a greenhouse at Purdue. Dr. Ping is currently a Senior Scientist at BASF.

Featured Stories

Carl Kincaid standing by a trail.
Transforming spaces, enriching lives through landscape architecture

If you’ve strolled along the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, biked the Monon Boulevard in...

Read More
Meghan Hartman by statue with children at the Celery Bogg Nature Center.
From classroom to camp: Purdue student’s AmeriCorps summer service term inspires environmental stewardship

As dawn breaks over the Celery Bog Nature Area, Meghan Hartman, a sophomore in Natural Resources...

Read More
Julie Young
Behind the Research: Julie Young

Weed scientist Julie Young’s workweeks are sometimes chaotic — but never dull. On any...

Read More
Steve Dahnke, Jack Ward and Larry and Janet White
Four inducted into Indiana Livestock Breeders Association Hall of Fame

Steve Dahnke, Jack Ward and Larry and Janet White join the ILBA Hall of Fame.

Read More
yellow agave flower sprout from the giant flower stalk against a clear blue sky
The death bloom of a century plant

Agave americana, also known as the century plant, has evolved for a dry desert life. For 30...

Read More
Two Purdue students compete in the Jack and Jack double buck competition at Midwest Conclave 2026
FNR Students Experience Midwest Forestry Conclave

The Purdue student chapter of the Society of American Foresters participated in the 69th Midwest...

Read More