Two University of Idaho professors earn elite researcher status for contributions to fisheries and global health

MOSCOW, Idaho — The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has named two University of Idaho faculty members — Professor Shirley Luckhart and Professor Emerita Christine Moffitt — to its 2024 class of fellows. 

The distinguished lifetime honor recognizes individuals whose efforts on behalf of the advancement of science or its applications are scientifically or socially distinguished. AAAS is more than 150 years old and is among the world’s largest general scientific societies, publishing the Science family of journals.

“These two scientists represent the best of U of I — curiosity, collaboration and a deep dedication to making a difference in the world,” said Torrey Lawrence, U of I’s provost and executive vice president. “Their work has not only advanced science but has transformed lives and communities.”

Shirley Luckhart

Luckhart was recognized for her contributions to malaria research. She has a joint appointment as a professor in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the College of Science.

“It’s not just an infectious disease; it’s a disease of poverty and poverty drives this,” Luckhart said of malaria. “It’s a major impact on global economies and social structure, with cases of the disease impacting more than 260 million people’s lives each year. It’s a great human tragedy that deserves attention.”

Luckhart is a molecular entomologist and co-director of U of I’s Institute for Health in the Human Ecosystem (IHHE), which she co-founded with her husband and fellow professor Edwin Lewis. Her research on vector-borne disease and the biological links between human, animal and plant health has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health since 1997.

Luckhart’s lab discovered how blood chemistry — including insulin and histamine levels — in malaria-infected mammals influences mosquito behavior and lifespan, findings that may lead to novel methods for reducing transmission.

The IHHE’s integrative training course on vector-borne diseases draws applicants from over 70 countries. Course participants come from many backgrounds, such as academia, government, non-governmental organizations, private industry and the military. Luckhart’s leadership continues to inspire a new generation of scientists to tackle global health issues through a cross-disciplinary, ecological lens.

Christine Moffitt

Moffitt, professor emerita of fishery resources in the College of Natural Resources, was honored by AAAS for her contributions toward understanding fish habitats and the effects of the environment on fish.

Moffitt is internationally recognized for her pioneering work on diseases in hatchery-raised fish, her leadership in salmon and freshwater ecology, and her commitment to scientific communication and mentoring. She was the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in fisheries at University of Massachusetts and the first female faculty member in the fisheries program at University of Idaho.

“I’m proud to be a scientist — it’s a life of discovery,” Moffitt said. “I’ve always tried to share that joy and the importance of science with others.”

Throughout her career, Moffitt emphasized expanding opportunity, mentoring a wide range of early-career scientists and establishing a scholarship for Hispanic and tribal students at the time of her retirement. She also actively supported the arts, championing the role of creativity and culture in science and society.

Now based on the Oregon coast, Moffitt continues to support science education and civic engagement, including through the League of Women Voters and public outreach on estuary science.

Luckhart and Moffitt are among an exclusive group of researchers from U of I who have earned the honor of AAAS fellow. Only four others are in the group: Jean’ne M. Shreeve, who was inducted in 1980; Lisette Waits, 2017; Eva Top, 2021; and Adam Jones, 2023. 

Moffitt and Luckhart join this year’s cohort of 471 scientists, engineers and innovators. The new fellows will be honored at a formal celebration on June 7 in Washington, D.C., and will be recognized in the journal Science.

For more information about the 2024 class of AAAS Fellows, visit aaas.org/fellows.

Media contacts

Danae Lenz
External Communications Coordinator
208-885-1605
dlenz@uidaho.edu

John O’Connell
Assistant Director of Communications
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
208-530-5959
joconnell@uidaho.edu