Three University of Missouri faculty honored as 2025 AAAS Fellows

March 26, 2026
Contact: Eric Stann, [email protected]

At the University of Missouri, research moves with purpose. Across campus, faculty, staff and students are digging into the kinds of challenges that shape daily life - from public health and education to agriculture, technology and community well-being. Their work advances what we know and creates practical solutions that help people in Missouri and beyond. Each new finding adds momentum to a long-standing tradition of curiosity, collaboration and service that defines our mission.

In recognition of those contributions, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has named three Mizzou researchers 2025 AAAS Fellows.

The recipients are:

• Paul de Figueiredo, a NextGen Precision Health Endowed Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology in Mizzou's School of Medicine and a principal investigator at Mizzou's Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center.
• Roman Ganta, Curators' Distinguished Professor and McKee Endowed Professor in Mizzou's College of Veterinary Medicine and a principal investigator at the Bond Life Sciences Center
• Wesley Warren, professor of animal sciences in Mizzou's College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, professor of surgical research in the School of Medicine and a principal investigator at the Bond Life Sciences Center

AAAS is the world's largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science. Founded in 1848, the nonprofit fulfills its mission to advance science and serve society through initiatives in science policy, international programs, science education and public engagement.

Paul de Figueiredo

Paul de Figueiredo is being recognized for his distinguished contributions to microbiology, especially for creating new tools that help scientists better understand how microbes work - and for using those microbes in innovative ways to tackle major diseases.

His team also explores how certain microbes could be turned into new ways to treat cancer and autoimmune disorders. In collaboration with engineers, he has helped create advanced tools that reveal fresh insights into how microbes function and interact with their hosts.

"I am honored to accept this distinction on behalf of the research staff, students and trainees in my lab who are advancing the development of next-generation technologies that address challenges in biodefense, infectious disease, cancer and autoimmune disease," he said.

Roman Ganta

Roman Ganta is being recognized for his distinguished contributions to bacterial molecular genetics, especially for advancing research on the hard-to-study Ehrlichia and Anaplasma pathogens that cause disease in people and other vertebrates.

That foundational work drives his broader research program, which focuses on tick-borne diseases such as human and animal ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Ganta is working toward long-term solutions to reduce the toll these infections take on people, cattle, pets and other animals - including developing vaccines that could help prevent them in the first place.

"To be recognized as an AAAS Fellow has been an exciting milestone in my career," he said. "I have always been passionate about engaging in basic and translational research with impactful outcomes focused on reducing the burden of vector-borne infectious diseases in people and animals. It is a great privilege to be part of Mizzou, where I enjoy the opportunity to work with excellent colleagues and benefit from exceptional resources and a supportive environment."

Wesley Warren

Wesley Warren is being recognized for his leadership in generating and analyzing genome-scale data - work that has reshaped research across evolutionary biology, functional genomics, biomedicine and agriculture.

That expertise anchors his current research, which compares whole genomes to uncover how organisms adapt at the genetic level, offering insights that also deepen our understanding of human biology. Warren's lab now uses single-cell technologies to comparatively dissect and unravel the complexity underlying novel traits.

"It is a tremendous honor to be named an AAAS Fellow in recognition of my contributions to comparative genomics," he said. "This distinction marks a full-circle moment in a career devoted to advancing discovery across diverse species and deepening our understanding of the genetic blueprints of life. The University of Missouri provided the foundation that enabled me to pursue state-of-the-art genomic science and contribute discoveries that continue to support knowledge and conservation of many animal species."

MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources | MU College of Veterinary Medicine | MU School of Medicine

Bond Life Sciences Center | NextGen