NAU Regents’ Professor Bruce Hungate elected to National Academy of Sciences

“NAU Regents’ Professor of ecosystem science Bruce Hungate has been elected to the 2026 class of National Academy of Sciences (NAS) members—one of the highest honors a scientist can receive. Hungate is one of 120 new U.S. members and 25 international members elected this year. After he’s formally inducted, the professor will join a cadre of 3,262 active NAS members who represent some of the greatest minds in science. Among the NAS ranks are MacArthur fellows, Guggenheim fellows and about 200 Nobel laureates. “Election to the National Academy of Sciences is a profound honor, and I am grateful to receive it as part of the NAU community, which has been my scholarly home for 28 years,” Hungate said. “As a microbial ecologist, I have spent my career studying how communities accomplish what individuals cannot, and this recognition feels true in exactly that sense. My work has been shaped by the creativity, persistence and insight of students, postdocs, staff and faculty colleagues across the sciences and humanities. At a time when universities, academic freedom and independent inquiry face serious challenges, this honor is also a reminder to defend the people and institutions that make discovery possible. I’m proud that it reflects the community of inquiry NAU has built.” Hungate came to NAU in 1998 after completing a B.A. in music and English and a B.S. in biology at Stanford University, a Ph.D. at the University of California Berkeley and postdocs at the Smithsonian Institution and Stanford University. Through research on soils, hot springs and humans, Hungate’s lab examines how ecosystems respond to and shape environmental change. Recently, Hungate and his colleagues have researched the impact of growing antibiotic resistance on the public health landscape , how soil microbes interact differently as the climate warms and the role predatory bacteria play in where soil nutrients go . Hungate also serves as the Frances B. McAllister Chair in Community, Culture and the Environment and director of NAU’s Center for Ecosystem Science and Society. “Bruce Hungate’s election to the National Academy of Sciences is a landmark moment for Northern Arizona University and a powerful affirmation of the world ‑ class research happening here,” NAU President José Luis Cruz Rivera said. “His pioneering work has deepened our understanding of the biological systems that shape our planet, and his recognition by the NAS reflects both the excellence of his scholarship and the impact of his discoveries. As the first NAU faculty member to receive this honor, Bruce has opened the door for future generations of NAU scientists, and we could not be prouder of his extraordinary achievements and the distinction he brings to our university.” NAU Vice President for Research Jason Wilder called Hungate’s achievement “incredibly impressive.” “This recognition reflects Dr. Hungate’s impactful career as one of the world’s leading ecosystem and climate change scientists,” Wilder said. “His accomplishments in these fields have elevated NAU as a premier university for the study of ecosystem science, creating unparalleled opportunities for our students and NAU-led impacts that are globally important.” Hungate is also a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Ecological Society of America and the American Academy of Microbiology. Jill Kimball | NAU Communications (928) 523-2282 | jill.kimball@nau.edu

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