Nitin Baliga Among 63 Fellows Elected to the American Academy of Microbiology
ISB Professor Dr. Nitin Baliga has been elected to the American Academy of Microbiology as part of the 2026 Fellowship Class — a highly selective honor recognizing exceptional scientific achievement and leadership in the microbial sciences. Baliga joins 62 peers from 14 countries selected through a rigorous peer-review process.
SEATTLE — ISB Professor, Director, and Senior Vice President Dr. Nitin Baliga and 62 peers have been elected to the Class of 2026 Fellows of the American Academy of Microbiology, an honorific leadership group within the American Society for Microbiology. Each year, exceptional microbiologists are elected through a highly selective peer-review process based on their records of scientific achievement and original contributions that have advanced microbiology. This year, the Academy received 145 nominations and elected 63 scientists to the 2026 Fellowship Class.
“Academy Fellows are leaders in their field whose work influences the direction of scientific discovery and its role in society,” said Vanessa Sperandio, Ph.D., chair of the Academy Governors. “Election to the Academy is a significant professional milestone, and I am delighted to welcome Nitin Baliga as a member of the 2026 cohort.”
“Microbiology sits at the intersection of fundamental discovery and urgent global health and environmental sustainability needs. I’m grateful for the recognition, and more importantly, to be part of an interdisciplinary community working to bridge that gap,” Baliga said.
The 2026 Fellowship Class brings a wealth of knowledge across the microbial sciences, with representation from around the globe. The 63 fellows hail from 14 countries, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, China (mainland), the Czech Republic, Denmark, Israel, the Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
“On behalf of ISB, I’m delighted to congratulate Nitin on this outstanding honor. His election to the American Academy of Microbiology is a powerful recognition of the scientific rigor and impact of his work in microbiology and systems biology,” said ISB President and Professor Dr. Jim Heath. “Nitin brings a rare combination of deep technical expertise, intellectual curiosity, and leadership — he’s the kind of scientist who not only pushes the field forward, but builds the teams and culture that make sustained discovery possible. He is also a devoted science educator, having founded and led the ISB Systems Education Experiences program for the past 25 years.”
Learn about the 2026 Fellowship Class.
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About ISB
The Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) is a collaborative, cross-disciplinary, non-profit biomedical research organization based in Seattle. We focus on some of the most pressing issues in human health, including aging, brain health, cancer, chronic illness, infectious disease, and more. Our science is translational, and we champion sound scientific research that results in real-world clinical impacts. ISB is an affiliate of Providence, one of the largest not-for-profit healthcare systems in the United States. Follow us online at isbscience.org, and on YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Bluesky, and Instagram.
About ASM
The American Society for Microbiology is one of the largest professional societies dedicated to the life sciences and is composed of over 38,000 scientists and health practitioners. ASM’s mission is to promote and advance the microbial sciences. ASM advances the microbial sciences through conferences, publications, certifications, educational opportunities and advocacy efforts. It enhances laboratory capacity around the globe through training and resources. It provides a network for scientists in academia, industry, and clinical settings. Additionally, ASM promotes a deeper understanding of the microbial sciences to all audiences.
