UIW Faculty Appointed as 2026 American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Fellow
Rachell Booth, PhD, professor of biochemistry in the UIW School of Mathematics, Sciences and Engineering, has been named a 2026 Fellow of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB).
ASBMB is a nonprofit professional society dedicated to building and empowering a diverse community of molecular life scientists to advance scientific discovery. Booth is one of just 16 faculty members nationwide selected for this prestigious honor in 2026, recognizing her exceptional service to the society and her outstanding record of professional achievement.
Booth has been involved in the ASBMB in multiple ways, including serving as the South-Central Regional Director of ASBMB Student Chapters for 10 years. During this time, Booth demonstrated remarkable leadership and student stewardship as she provided ASBMB members with resources to pivot to virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, co-organized conferences and provided her expertise to help judge poster presentations. Her favorite part of serving as Director is contributing directly to advancing research and strengthening the training of biochemistry and molecular biology students and faculty across the U.S.
She has often seen the positive impact ASBMB has on its students/members as it affords opportunities including networking with scientists from around the world, developing career-related skills and receiving recognition through research grants, scholarships, travel awards and induction into the ASBMB Honor Society (ΧΩΛ).
“Science advances through communication,” noted Booth. “Sharing data, insights and discoveries allows other researchers to tackle challenges such as treatment of diseases, food security and energy efficiency. We strive to give our students frequent opportunities to present their work so that they can master the essential skill of communicating science clearly and confidently to diverse audiences.”
Booth expressed that she is honored to be recognized as a 2026 Fellow, as she has found that the organization truly lives its Mission and that holds deep meaning for her. In this distinguished role, she looks forward to being a part of a dedicated community of scientist-educators who work hard to support students and each other.
“I am honored and deeply humbled by this recognition,” shared Booth. “It is incredibly meaningful to be among individuals in the ASBMB community that have significantly shaped biochemistry and molecular biology research and education.”
Congratulations, Rachell Booth, PhD!