Dr. Melanie R. Mormile, professor of biological sciences at Missouri S&T, has been named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world’s largest general scientific society.

Mormile was selected by AAAS for her distinguished contributions to the field of environmental microbiology, particularly for enhancing the understanding of fundamental physiology and potential industrial applications of extremophiles.

An environmental microbiologist, Mormile has brought in over $5 million to S&T in externally funded research. She holds three patents on the industrial use of extremophilic organisms (organisms that survive in extreme environments).

“I am incredibly proud of Melanie and the impact of her research and creative work at the university,” says Dr. Mehrzad Boroujerdi, vice provost and dean of the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education (CASE) at S&T. “Her prolific scholarship, coupled with her leadership in mentoring and guiding faculty, has made her an invaluable member of the biological sciences department. This is a well-deserved national recognition.”

Mormile joined the S&T faculty in 1999 and has received numerous faculty excellence awards. She has served as a part of the CASE leadership team as associate dean for research and external relations. Prior to her service to her college, she served as associate provost of faculty affairs. Mormile was named Missouri S&T’s Woman of the Year in 2008. She is faculty advisor for Helix, an undergraduate organization sponsored by the American Society of Microbiology, and serves as the main faculty advisor for the Mars Rover Design Team, a position she has held since the team’s inception in 2012. The team is the current world champion and also won the international University Rover Challenge in 2017.

Additionally, Mormile served as editor-in-chief for SIMB News, a quarterly news magazine of the Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology from 2019-2024. Currently, she serves as counselor for the Missouri Branch of the American Society for Microbiology.

AAAS began electing Fellows in 1874. Fellows are singled out because of meritorious contribution to the advancement of science. Mormile will be presented with the distinction at the annual AAAS Fellows Forum on Friday, May 29, in Washington, D.C.