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Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida Announces 2025 Inductees
The Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida (ASEMFL) has announced the 2025 list of inductees.

Inductees are selected based on outstanding research contributions and innovations with consequential impacts in the fields of science, engineering or medicine. They are considered for their potential to be inducted into the National Academy of Science, the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine. Members of the national academies who reside and/or work in Florida are automatically given membership to ASEMFL.

With a total of 26 inductees this year, the organization sets a record for new members. The total number of ASEMFL members, with the new additions, exceeds 250 members.

ASEMFL President Hortensia Amaro (NAM), said: “We welcome our new ASEMFL members. Their lifelong dedication, creativity and talent have resulted in critical and impactful advances in their fields with resulting benefits to society.”

Igor V. Alabugin
Distinguished Research Professor
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Florida State University
Citation: For the discovery of new ways to understand and control chemical reactivity, particularly stereoelectronic concepts in cyclizations and cycloadditions
Maria L. Alcaide
Interim Vice Provost for Research and Scholarship
Professor of Medicine (Division of Infectious Diseases), OB/GYN and Public Health Sciences
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Citation: For discovering behavioral and biological factors that affect HIV acquisition among women and for documenting how coinfection with HIV and SARS-CoV-2 affects the development of new SARS-CoV-2 variants
Roger Azevedo
Pegasus Professor
School of Modeling, Simulation and Training
College of Engineering and Computer Science
University of Central Florida
Citation: For making significant advances in the study of metacognition and self-regulated learning across complex tasks with learning technologies
Gisele Bennett
Co-Founder
MEPSS LLC
Citation: For contributions that have significantly advanced RFID systems, use of optical techniques for Container Security Systems, decision support software for the global emergency response community, & military readiness
Azra Bihorac
Senior Associate Dean for Research, College of Medicine
Glenn Davis Professor of Medicine, Surgery and Anesthesiology
Director, Intelligent Clinical Care Center
University of Florida
Citation: For pioneered AI tools for clinical applications and transformed international clinical guidelines for AKI interventions, enhancing patient outcomes in acute/critical care
Thomas P. Burris
Director of the Genetics Institute and Dean’s Professor
Department of Cellular and Systems Pharmacology
College of Pharmacy
University of Florida
Citation: For pioneering discoveries in development of drugs targeting nuclear receptors for treatment of human diseases – heart disease, cancer, autoimmune and metabolic disorders
Barry J Byrne
Associate Chair of Pediatrics
Director of the Powell Gene Therapy Center
University of Florida
Citation: For pioneering gene therapies applied to treatment of debilitating rare diseases
Adam W. Carrico
Professor
Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work
Florida International University
Citation: For being a dynamic psychologist leading the integration of biomedical and behavioral approaches targeting the intersection of methamphetamine use and HIV
Juan C. Cendan
Dean of Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
Senior Vice President for Health Affairs
Florida International University
Citation: For scientific innovations in virtual patient simulation for medical education, invention of surgical devices and techniques, and leadership in forging the South Florida Health Alliance
Todd A. Crowl
Director, Institute of Environment
Professor, Department of Biology
Florida International University
Citation: For establishing FIU’s Institute of Environment that unites 209 faculty from all colleges in problem-solving environmental research
Ageliki (Lily) Elefteriadou
Barbara Goldsby Distinguished Professor of Civil Engineering
University of Florida
Citation: For global impact on transportation engineering, highway capacity analysis, advanced transportation technologies and traffic management
Robert D. Frisina
Distinguished University Professor and Endowed Chair
University of South Florida
Citation: For high-impact contributions in bioengineering related to novel devices and drugs for sensory and nervous system disorders
Richard Heller
Professor
Department of Medical Engineering
Morsani College of Medicine and College of Engineering
University of South Florida
Citation: For distinguished contributions to medical engineering, particularly for advancing gene electrotransfer for therapeutic applications
Ashok Kumar
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
University of South Florida
Citation: For pioneering research in the broad field of thin film technology of multifunctional materials for nanomanufacturing applications and for untiring service to the broader materials community
Zhiyoung (Richard) Liang
Sprint Eminent Scholar Chair Professor
Associate Dean of Research
Director of High-Performance Materials Institute (HPMI)
FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Florida State University
Citation: For innovative development of products employing carbon nanotubes and other composite materials
Bruce J. MacFadden
Distinguished Professor, Emeritus
UF Florida Museum
University of Florida
Citation: For being an expert on fossil vertebrates and geochemistry, especially of Neogene mammals of the Americas; informal science learning in museums, K-12 education, communicating science to the public
Christopher J. Patrick
Distinguished Research Professor and Director of Clinical Training
Department of Psychology
Florida State University
Citation: For revolutionizing our understanding of psychopathic personality, and externalizing disorders more broadly; Pioneering a psychoneurometric approach to incorporating neurobiology into psychodiagnosis
Jeremy Pettit
Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry
Executive Director, Center for Children and Families
Florida International University
Citation: For transformative contributions to child and adolescent mental health, advancing understanding and evidence-based treatments for depression, anxiety and suicidal behaviors
Sartaj Sahni
Distinguished Professor of Computer and Information Science and Engineering
University of Florida
Citation: For contributions to Computer Science and Engineering education and fundamental research in the areas of data structures and algorithms
Hudson Santos
Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Studies
University of Miami
Citation: For advancing understanding of health origins and demonstrating how early adversity affects perinatal health and child development in diverse, high-risk populations
Joseph B. Schlenoff
Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor/Distinguished Research Professor
Leo Mandelkern Professor of Polymer Science
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Florida State University
Citation: For “saloplasticity;” the exploration of how to process polyelectrolyte complexes using salt water instead of heat
Robert Schurko
Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Director, Magnetic Resonance User Program at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Florida State University
Citation: For his contributions in chemistry and materials pioneering solid-state NMR spectroscopy to enable NMR access across the periodic table
Cherie Stabler
Professor and Department Chair
Crayton Pruitt Family & UF Foundation Preeminence Professor
Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering
University of Florida
Citation: For global contributions and leadership in designing translational materials in cellular transplantation for treating Type 1 diabetes

 

Angelina Sutin
Professor
Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine
College of Medicine
Florida State University
Citation: For pioneering personality psychology to uncover vital biopsychosocial predictors of poor lifespan health outcomes, including impacts of loneliness and discrimination
Mo Wang
University Distinguished Professor
Lanzillotti-McKethan Eminent Scholar Chair
Warrington College of Business
University of Florida
Citation: For breakthrough discoveries in the fields of worker aging and retirement, occupational health psychology, newcomer socialization, and quantitative research methods
Robert M. Wenham
Chair and Senior Member
Department of Gynecologic Oncology
Moffitt Cancer Center Professor
Department of Oncologic Sciences
Citation: For global impact on care and health of patients suffering from gynecologic cancers through translational research and innovative clinical treatment
New members will be inducted at the ASEMFL annual meeting, which will take place Nov. 7 and Nov. 8 at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management in Orlando.
About ASEMFL
Housed at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, ASEMFL is a not-for-profit organization of top scholars and researchers from universities, public agencies and industries statewide. The purpose of this organization is (a) to employ scientific advances to inform the Florida community of current and future challenges that face our global society, and in particular the State of Florida, and engage in discussions of how these challenges can be addressed, (b) to undertake studies, or contracts on its behalf, that are of interest to the State of Florida, (c) to bring to the national and international forefront the state-of-the-art research and education conducted in Florida’s universities, industries and other educational corporations, (d) to recognize the work of individuals in the State of Florida who have made major achievements in science, engineering, and medicine, (e) to  undertake studies on issues in science, engineering and medicine that should be of concern to the people in the state of Florida and provide unbiased, expert advice related to these issues, (f) to attract into the State of Florida individuals with impactful scientific accomplishments who have attained national and international recognition, (g) to enhance collaborations and partnerships of individuals and organizations in the State of Florida who have common research and educational pursuits, thus breaking geographical barriers for the benefit of the State, the nation, and the global community, and (h) to inspire the involvement and guide the direction of the future generations in science, engineering, and medicine.
For more information on the ASEMFL 2025 annual meeting, please visit asemfl.org. For media inquiries or news outreach, please contact Marisa Ramiccio at marisa.ramiccio@ucf.edu.