First Portuguese Scientist Elected to the American Academy of Microbiology

Cecília Arraiano joins the approximately 2700 renowned scientists who, over the last 50 years, have been elected Fellows of the American Academy for Microbiology. The coordinator of the Control of Gene Expression Laboratory at ITQB, a member of Associate Laboratory supported by the FCT, thus becomes the first Portuguese scientist to be part of this prestigious academy.

For Cecília Arraiano this election is a great honor, especially because "it is the first time that there is a Fellow from Portugal". A biologist with a PhD in Genetics, Cecília Arraiano has received several distinctions and has participated in scientific committees and societies. She is dedicated to studying the mechanisms that regulate the activation and inactivation of genes in micro-organisms. Her work, and that of her team, has implications for biotechnology and health.

According to the American Academy for Microbiology website, election as a Fellow marks "recognition, by peers, of excellence in microbiology." It is the result of a highly competitive peer review process, based on the candidate's "outstanding achievements and original contributions that have advanced microbiology." Many Fellows have been recognized with other distinctions, such as the Nobel Prize and the Lasker Award.