Boyce Thompson Institute Celebrates Professor Maria Harrison’s Election to the Royal Society

The Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) proudly announces that Maria Harrison, the William H. Crocker Professor at BTI and an Adjunct Professor at Cornell University’s School of Plant Sciences, has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, the United Kingdom’s national academy of sciences.

Election to the Fellowship of the Royal Society is extended to individuals who have made substantial contributions to improving natural knowledge, including mathematics, engineering science, and medical science. Harrison joins an exceptional group of over 90 researchers from across the world who have been elected to the Fellowship this year. Sir Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society, stated, “This new cohort has already made significant contributions to our understanding of the world around us and continues to push the boundaries of possibility in academic research and industry.”

“It is a tremendous honor,” said Harrison. “I would like to recognize and thank all of the Harrison lab members and collaborators who have contributed to our research over the years—their achievements built the research record that led to this award. I am also grateful to the BTI staff for their support and to my faculty colleagues at BTI and across the Cornell campus who make this vibrant research community such an enjoyable place to work.”

This honor recognizes Harrison's contributions to understanding plant-fungal symbioses, which play crucial roles in plant nutrient uptake and soil health. Her work has shed light on the mechanisms underlying their development, nutrient transport, and regulation.

BTI’s President, Silvia Restrepo, expressed, “We are incredibly proud of Maria's election to the Royal Society. Her research has advanced our understanding of plant-microbe interactions and their potential to address global challenges in agriculture and environmental sustainability. This recognition is a testament to her dedication, innovation, and passion."

BTI has a long-standing commitment to advancing plant science research, and Harrison's election to the Royal Society further reinforces BTI's position at the forefront of this field. As the Institute continues to tackle pressing global challenges, such as food security and environmental sustainability, the expertise and insights of researchers like Harrison will be instrumental in finding innovative solutions.