UConn professor of ecology and evolutionary biology Daniel Bolnick has been named to the latest class of members of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. The group recognizes leaders in academia, the arts, industry, journalism, philanthropy, policy, research, and science.

“We celebrate the achievement of each new member and the collective breadth and depth of their excellence – this is a fitting commemoration of the nation’s 250th anniversary,” says Academy President Laurie Patton. “The founding of the nation and the Academy are rooted in the inextricable links between a vibrant democracy, the free pursuit of knowledge, and the expansion of the public good.”

Bolnick came to UConn in 2018 from the University of Texas and his research is at the forefront of ecology, evolutionary biology, immunology, and genomics.

“This is a great honor, in recognition of 25 years of research insights,” says Bolnick. “But it is important to emphasize that this honor really should go to a team of people. My success rests on work alongside many talented students, post-docs, and collaborators.”

Bolnick has more than 170 peer-reviewed publications, which have accrued more than 30,000 citations.

“Becoming a fellow of the Academy is an incredible honor, and I am delighted that Professor Bolnick is being recognized for his exceptional contributions to evolutionary ecology,” says UConn Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Pamir Alpay. “His commitment to academic excellence and research that matters to Connecticut and the world sets a high bar. The academy honor shines a welcome spotlight not only on his work, but also on UConn as a home for outstanding faculty.”

Bolnick’s lab at UConn seeks to understand the evolutionary and ecological rules that promote genetic diversity within species: variation among individuals and divergence between populations. Research in the lab touches on a wide variety of species interactions, with an emphasis on host-parasite interactions.

This emphasis reflects both the importance of parasites in ecology, their large role in driving molecular evolution, and also the benefits of being able to leverage the large field of immunology to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms of adaptation.

This work has identified the genes underlying why some populations develop severe and costly fibrosis – an immune pathology that contributes to many deaths within the United States.

“By studying this immune trait in wild fish, we hope to identify biological causes of fibrosis risk in humans, and possible therapeutic tools,” says Bolnick. “For example, we believe some parasites have evolved strategies to shut down the fish fibrosis response. Their adaptation might offer new ideas for reducing fibrosis in humans.”

Bolnick has had multiple papers that are the most cited in their respective journals since their publication, including papers in Nature, Science, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

He was the first organismal biologist to win the Edith and Peter O’Donnell Prize in Science from the Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science and Technology, and one of the few evolutionary biologists to have his research supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

“Election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences recognizes not only scholarly distinction, but the broader value of knowledge in advancing the public good,” says Ofer Harel, dean of UConn’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “Dan’s innovative, collaborative work reflects that ideal, and we’re proud to see it recognized as an example of the outstanding scholarship in our college.”

Bolnick has been the principal investigator or co-principal investigator in grants totaling upward of $25 million.

He recently completed a term as the editor-in-chief of American Naturalist, one of the top disciplinary journals, and is past president of the American Society of Naturalists.

The Academy, chartered in 1780, was established to recognize accomplished individuals and engage them in addressing the greatest challenges facing the young republic.

The new class joins Academy members elected before them, including Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Hamilton in the 18th century; Ralph Waldo Emerson, Maria Mitchell, and Charles Darwin in the 19th century; Albert Einstein, Robert Frost, Margaret Mead, Milton Friedman, Martin Luther King Jr., and Jacques Derrida in the 20th century; and, in this century, Madeleine K. Albright, Antonin Scalia, Jennifer Doudna, Esther Duflo, John Legend, Anna Deavere Smith, Salman Rushdie, Xuedong Huang, and José Andrés.

Induction ceremonies for new members will take place in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in October 2026.