Two faculty members in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering have being named to the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) College of Fellows.

Associate Professors Karmella Haynes and Peng Qiu were inducted along with 140 colleagues who make up the AIMBE College of Fellows Class of 2023 at a formal induction ceremony held during the AIMBE Annual Event on March 27 in Arlington, Virginia. 

Haynes was recognized by peers and members of the College of Fellows “for inventing epigenome actuation, a new approach for epigenetic engineering, and outstanding contributions to bioengineering education, and diversity and inclusion.”

"To be recognized by such a prestigious organization as AIMBE is not only a personal honor, but also an opportunity to inspire and encourage the next generation of scientists and engineers, particularly those who come from historically marginalized backgrounds," Haynes said. "I hope that this recognition will catalyze greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in the field, and that it will encourage others to pursue their passions and make meaningful contributions to society."

Qiu was nominated College of Fellows members and peers “for outstanding contributions in bioinformatics, computational biology, and single-cell data science.” 

“It is a great honor to be elected and recognized for my research work,” Qiu said. “AIMBE provides not only a wonderful network to connect with leading researchers, but also opportunities to reach out to non-academics.”

Election to the AIMBE College of Fellows is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to a medical and biological engineer. The College of Fellows is comprised of the top two percent of medical and biological engineers. College membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to "engineering and medicine research, practice, or education” and to "the pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of medical and biological engineering or developing/implementing innovative approaches to bioengineering education."

While most AIMBE Fellows hail from the United States, the College of Fellows has inducted Fellows representing 30 countries. AIMBE Fellows are employed in academia, industry, clinical practice and government.

AIMBE Fellows are among the most distinguished medical and biological engineers including 3 Nobel Prize laureates, 17 Fellows having received the Presidential Medal of Science and/or Technology and Innovation, and 205 also inducted to the National Academy of Engineering, 105 inducted to the National Academy of Medicine and 43 inducted to the National Academy of Sciences.