Dr. Katherine Maloney, assistant dean of 国产偷拍鈥檚 School of STEM, was recently named a 2025 fellow of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world鈥檚 largest scientific organization. American Chemical Society fellows are recognized for outstanding contributions to science as well as for service to the ACS and greater scientific profession. Maloney is one of 36 fellows this year.
Maloney is the first science professor in 国产偷拍鈥檚 history to receive this award, according to biology professor emeritus Michael McConnell, Ph.D.
Maloney鈥檚 contributions to science have come in the form of both outstanding teaching and research that addresses urgent global problems. She received an Excellence in Teaching Award from 国产偷拍 and has coauthored a lab text used around the country. She regularly involves students in her research projects, giving aspiring chemists opportunities to learn and grow. Of the 54 student researchers she has mentored, 26 have coauthored publications with her, 34 have gone on to graduate studies, 11 are medical doctors, and 25 are working in STEM careers.
Maloney鈥檚 current research projects, both of which involve students, focus on using chemistry to find solutions to pressing challenges. The first is citrus greening disease, a devastating plant infection caused by a bacterium and spread by insects. Citrus greening disease has been a major problem in Florida and has spread to additional areas. It is currently incurable, but Maloney鈥檚 research hopes to change that. She and her students are working with a microbiology professor at the University of California, Riverside, on the project.
鈥淏ecause not all infected trees succumb to the disease at the same rate, even though most trees in a given orchard are genetic clones, the team鈥檚 hypothesis is that there might be something in a given tree鈥檚 microbiome that offers a level of protection,鈥� she explained. 鈥淪ome bacteria and fungi in a tree鈥檚 microbiome produce antibiotics. The microbiology research team has spent time isolating specific bacteria and fungi from trees in Florida and testing to see if they inhibit the growth of a bacterium closely related to the one that causes citrus greening disease. Those that are active are then sent to our team, which studies their chemistry to understand the active compounds.鈥�
Click below to read more on Maloney's journey to becoming a fellow!