TAMPA, Fla. (Aug. 5, 2020) – Sigma Xi, one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and engineering honor societies, has selected USF Senior Vice President Paul Sanberg for its inaugural class of Fellows.
Sanberg, USF’s Senior Vice President for Research, Innovation & Knowledge Enterprise, joins 19 highly accomplished and distinguished colleagues from around the nation in the new honor. The first class of Sigma Xi Fellows will be formally recognized at the society’s annual meeting and research conference, to be held virtually in November.
The Fellow of Sigma Xi distinction is awarded on a competitive basis. Fellows must be an active, full member for the last 10 years continuously, or a life member, with distinguished service to Sigma Xi and outstanding contributions to the scientific enterprise.
Sanberg was recognized for his pioneering research in neuroscience, bioengineering and regenerative medicine, and as the founder and president of the National Academy of Inventors, which honors and supports academic innovators worldwide.
Sanberg is an inventor on 164 U.S. and foreign patents, as well as the author of more than 685 articles and 14 books, with more than 35,259 citations to his published work. His work has been instrumental in translating new pharmaceutical and cellular therapeutics to clinical trials and commercialization for neurodegenerative diseases and stroke, and he has significant biotech and pharmaceutical industry experience in these areas.
“Since joining Sigma Xi as a student at the very beginning of my journey in academic research, it has been an honor to be part of the great tradition of scientific excellence that Sigma Xi represents,” Sanberg said. “I am both grateful and humbled to be a part of the inaugural cohort of Sigma Xi Fellows whose distinguished achievements not only have shaped the world in which we live, but inspire a new generation of scientists and innovators every day.”
Sanberg was the 2016 recipient of the Sigma Xi John P. McGovern Science & Society Award. When the University of South Florida Chapter of Sigma Xi lapsed a few years ago, he led an effort to reinstate the chapter and reinvigorate the mission of Sigma Xi among USF students and faculty.
Sanberg is a graduate of York University, University of British Columbia, Australian National University and completed his postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He has held previous faculty appointments at University of Cincinnati and Brown University. He is also the founder or co-founder of two start-up companies and three professional organizations, and Chair of the Advisory Board of the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame.
He is a Fellow of numerous organizations around the world, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS); American Psychological Association (APA); American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE); Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES); National Academy of Inventors (NAI); New York Academy of Sciences; Royal Aeronautical Society; Royal Societies of: Biology, Chemistry, Public Health, and Medicine; Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA); and Senior Member of IEEE. His recent honors include: Johns Hopkins University Society of Scholars, AIMBE Fellow Advocate Award, Bryden Alumni Award (York University, Canada), Fulbright Specialist (University of Melbourne, Australia), Florida Academy of Sciences Medalist, Florida Inventors Hall of Fame inductee, and inaugural AAAS-Lemelson Invention Ambassador.
Learn more about the inaugural cohort of Sigma Xi Fellows.