Dr. King Named Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
By Erin Marlow, Communications Specialist in the Office of the Dean of the College
Dr. Bruce King, Thurman D. Kitchin Professor of Chemistry, was named a 2025 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), one of the world’s largest multidisciplinary scientific societies and a leading research publisher through their collection of Science journals. The title of an AAAS Fellow is a lifetime honor, reserved for individuals who have been members of AAAS for at least four consecutive years and whose work inspires and celebrates scientific excellence.
Dr. King’s distinguished academic and research career began with his M.S. in Medicinal Chemistry from West Virginia University, a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Cornell University, and post-doctoral research at the Scripps Research Institute in the lab of two-time Nobel Laureate K. Barry Sharpless.
At Wake Forest, Dr. King’s lab uses organic chemistry to investigate biological processes, especially redox (reduction/oxidation) reactions. Such reactions play important roles in energy and metabolism and are crucial for understanding ageing and disease progression. Currently, Dr. King and his lab focus on redox processes in bacteria with the ultimate goal of developing new antibiotics.
“The AAAS honor really is a validation of all of the wonderful and talented students who worked on these projects,” Dr. King said. “In addition, the Fellowship confirms the power of collaboration and teamwork in solving problems that are bigger than a single researcher. I have been so fortunate to have had excellent collaborators both here at Wake Forest and at many other institutions.”
Beyond the lab, Dr. King has held leadership positions across the University, including Associate Provost of Research from 2012 to 2017 and Chair of the Department of Chemistry from 2019 to 2025, where his mentorship of students and faculty fostered a collaborative environment within the department.
In addition to being an AAAS Fellow, Dr. King was an established investigator of the American Heart Association and was awarded the Wake Forest University Award for Excellence in Research and the Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar title early in his career.
Visit the American Association for the Advancement of Science website to learn about the fellowship program.
