NAU Professor Bruce Hungate Elected to National Academy of Sciences in Historic First for University

NAU Professor Earns Rare National Science Honor

Bruce Hungate becomes first NAU faculty member to join prestigious academy of sciences

Northern Arizona University Professor Bruce Hungate has been elected to the 2026 class of the National Academy of Sciences, marking the first time an NAU faculty member has received this distinction.

The announcement came from Signals AZ, which reported the election details. Hungate is one of 120 new U.S. members elected this year to the National Academy of Sciences, which represents some of the greatest minds in science including MacArthur fellows, Guggenheim fellows and approximately 200 Nobel laureates.

After formal induction, Hungate will join the ranks of 3,262 active NAS members. The professor serves as NAU Regents Professor of ecosystem science and director of NAU Center for Ecosystem Science and Society.

Career and Achievements

Hungate came to NAU in 1998 after completing degrees at Stanford University and a Ph.D. at the University of California Berkeley. His postdoctoral work included positions at the Smithsonian Institution and Stanford University.

His research examines how ecosystems respond to and shape environmental change through work on soils, hot springs and humans. Recent studies have covered the impact of growing antibiotic resistance on public health, how soil microbes interact differently as the climate warms, and the role predatory bacteria play in soil nutrient distribution.

Hungate also serves as the Frances B. McAllister Chair in Community, Culture and the Environment.

Personal Statement

"Election to the National Academy of Sciences is a profound honor, and I am grateful to receive it as part of the NAU community, which has been my scholarly home for 28 years," Hungate said.

"As a microbial ecologist, I have spent my career studying how communities accomplish what individuals cannot, and this recognition feels true in exactly that sense. My work has been shaped by the creativity, persistence and insight of students, postdocs, staff and faculty colleagues across the sciences and humanities."

Hungate added that the honor reflects the community of inquiry NAU has built during his tenure.

University Leadership Response

NAU President José Luis Cruz Rivera called the election a landmark moment for the university.

"Bruce Hungate's election to the National Academy of Sciences is a landmark moment for Northern Arizona University and a powerful affirmation of the world-class research happening here," Rivera said.

"His pioneering work has deepened our understanding of the biological systems that shape our planet, and his recognition by the NAS reflects both the excellence of his scholarship and the impact of his discoveries. As the first NAU faculty member to receive this honor, Bruce has opened the door for future generations of NAU scientists, and we could not be prouder of his extraordinary achievements and the distinction he brings to our university."

NAU Vice President for Research Jason Wilder described the achievement as incredibly impressive.

"This recognition reflects Dr. Hungate's impactful career as one of the world's leading ecosystem and climate change scientists," Wilder said.

"His accomplishments in these fields have elevated NAU as a premier university for the study of ecosystem science, creating unparalleled opportunities for our students and NAU-led impacts that are globally important."

Additional Recognition

Hungate is also a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Ecological Society of America and the American Academy of Microbiology.

The professor has spent his career studying how microbial communities accomplish what individual organisms cannot. His work at NAU has examined antibiotic resistance in public health, soil microbiome interactions under climate change, and predatory bacteria roles in soil nutrient cycling.

This election represents a significant achievement for Flagstaff and Northern Arizona University as it marks the first time an NAU faculty member has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences.