Stony Brook Alumni Inducted Into National Academy of Sciences

Two Stony Brook University alumni were recently inducted in the National Academy of Sciences (NAS).

Peter Ungar, alumnus of the Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences (IDPAS), was inducted in recognition of his distinguished and continuing achievements in original research related to the reconstruction of past diets from dental microwear. He is serving as a distinguished professor and director of the Environmental Dynamics Program at the University of Arkansas.

Fredrick Kyalo Manthi, alumnus of the Turkana Basin Institute postdoctoral program, was inducted for his significant contribution in vertebrate paleontology and our understanding of human evolution. He is a senior research scientist in the Department of Earth Sciences at the National Museums of Kenya and a Postdoctoral Fellow at Stony Brook University.

"The election to the academy was a complete surprise - a total shock," said Ungar. "And the recognition from others in the academy is humbling. It means a lot."

"The induction into NAS is a big honor not just to me, but to Kenya and the African continent, the birthplace of humanity," said Manthi. "It is a clear testimony that Africa researchers are taking their rightful positions in origins sciences and is a great encouragement to budding African scientists."

The National Academy of Sciences was first established in 1863. Members are elected to the National Academy of Sciences in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.

"I'm pleased and proud to hear of Peter and Kyalo's induction into the National Academies. Stony Brook is always eager to celebrate the successes and achievements of our graduates, wherever they go and whatever they do," said Carl Lejuez, Stony Brook's executive vice president and provost. "Peter and Kyalo are some of several of our graduates and faculty to receive this tremendous honor in each of the academies; their achievement is one more example of how Stony Brook fosters critical thinking, interdisciplinary scholarship and creativity across areas of research and scholarship."

"Election to the National Academy of Sciences is one of the greatest honors that a research scientist can hope to receive based on a career devoted to scientific excellence," said Lawrence B. Martin, State University of New York distinguished service professor of anthropology and of anatomical sciences. "Kyalo Manthi (National Museums of Kenya) was one of the first postdoctoral fellows supported by the Turkana Basin Institute at Stony Brook University in its early years under the leadership of the late Dr. Richard Leakey. Peter Ungar was one of the early students in the Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences, where he received rigorous training in evolutionary biology, human and comparative anatomy and advanced imaging and quantitative techniques. Stony Brook could not be more proud of the roles that we played in supporting the development of the careers of these two outstanding scientists."

As inductees of the National Academy of Sciences, Ungar and Manthi join approximately 2,700 members and 500 international members, of which approximately 200 have received Nobel prizes. At the time of their election to NAS, they joined 120 new members and 24 international members in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.

Peter Ungar graduated with his PhD from Stony Brook University in 1992. He resides in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Fredrick Kyalo Manthi graduated from his three year postdoctoral program in 2009. He resides in Kenya.